Rider Still Learning the Triangle

Those who wondered how far Isaiah Rider had come in the triangle offense need no longer be curious.

In a game Coach Phil Jackson considered important enough to give only eight players serious playing time, Rider played two minutes Friday night against San Antonio.

“I just thought we needed to have some real precise execution out there,” Jackson said. “He’s still a little of a novice out there in what we’re trying to do in situations where we get overplayed, when we have a lot of ball pressure. We needed some guards, ballhandlers, out there who really understood what we had to do to accomplish that. They really put pressure on us in the second half.”

Though Rider has played 24 minutes in three games since he arrived at Staples Center an hour late before a game, Jackson insisted the punishment was long over with.

“I went to him after the game and confirmed with him that he’s still in my plans,” Jackson said, “but that this is that kind of game. I notified guys before the game that I’d shorten the rotation.”

Rider appeared pleased in the postgame locker room. He laughed easily with teammates after the victory.

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Dallas Maverick owner Mark Cuban is expected to attend tonight’s game at Staples Center.

Cuban, whose attempts to bully referees has earned him a special place on NBA enforcer Stu Jackson’s speed dial, spent some of his summer vacation tweaking the Lakers over their spending habits.

Of Cuban’s presence, Jackson said, “Oh, we’ll see what it brings.”

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Former Laker coach Del Harris will be on the Dallas bench, but has resumed his assistant’s duties.

Coach Don Nelson returned to the bench Saturday night at Golden State after missing a game recuperating from a biopsy on his prostate. Harris coached during the Mavericks’ loss to Portland.

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The Lakers have missed 28 of their last 32 three-point shots. . . . Horace Grant has averaged 10.7 rebounds in his last three games. . . . Along with scoring a career-high 43 points Friday, Kobe Bryant also made a career-best 16 field goals.

TONIGHT

vs. Dallas, 6:30

Fox Sports Net

* Site--Staples Center.

* Radio--KLAC (570).

* Records--Lakers 12-5, Mavericks 11-6.

* Record vs. Mavericks (1999-2000)--3-1.

* Update--The Lakers haven’t lost a season series to Dallas since the 1986-87 season. Since then, they are 46-6, including 19 consecutive victories at home. Michael Finley averages 18.4 points and Dirk Nowitzki averages 17.4 points and 8.1 rebounds. Former Clipper Loy Vaught averages about 15 minutes a game. The Mavericks are a jump-shooting team, and have only one player--Eduardo Najera, in 46 attempts--shooting better than 50%.

* Tickets--(800) 462-2849.