Dallas Will Be Looking for Payback

After a few days of much-needed rest, but not quite the healing for which they had hoped, the Lakers now try to end a streak of a different kind.

Their lurching, careening trip continues tonight, with Lamar Odom and Chris Mihm doubtful to play, just in time to try to halt the Dallas Mavericks’ 11-game win streak less than a week after allowing Indiana and Charlotte to break skids of six and 13 losses.

The Lakers, 1-4 on their trip, get a Dallas team that hasn’t lost since Jan. 11 and will be mindful of the last time the Lakers were the opponent, when Bryant had 62 points in only three quarters of a 112-90 Laker victory Dec. 20 at Staples Center.

“Dallas is going to be more than ready for us after the last game we played against them,” Laker Coach Phil Jackson said.

The Dallas media certainly remembered, asking Bryant a variety of questions about 62, 81 and, of course, the possibility of hitting 100 some day.

“That’s crazy,” Bryant said.

But some fans want to see it, he was told.

“They probably believe in UFOs too,” he said.

Odom thought he would try to practice Monday, but the torn cartilage in his ribs wouldn’t allow it to happen, and Mihm’s sprained right shoulder was tender enough to keep him off the court entirely.

Odom planned to run the court and take a few shots but could not take part in a full practice.

“I’m going to listen to my body,” he said.

So the Lakers, who lost to Indiana, Charlotte and New Orleans by a combined 52 points, will again be short-handed, against one of the hottest teams in the league.

“We have all the excuses in the world,” Bryant said. “We’re young, a couple guys down, etc., etc. But we’ve just got to man up and get ready to play.”

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The Lakers have given up 100 or more points in seven of their last eight games, a flashback to last season’s generosity in which they finished 27th in the league in scoring defense.

“We’ve had trouble in all aspects of the game,” Jackson said flatly.

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Rookie forward Ronny Turiaf will officially receive his work visa today and is eligible to play tonight for the Lakers.

Turiaf, a French citizen who signed with the Lakers on Jan. 17, has not been able to play because he has only a student visa.

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TONIGHT

at Dallas, 5:30 PST, Channel 9

Site -- American Airlines Center.

Radio -- 570, 1330.

Records -- Lakers 24-23, Mavericks 37-10.

Record vs. Mavericks -- 2-0.

Update -- The Lakers are the only team to beat Dallas twice, winning 109-106 in Dallas and 112-90 at Staples Center. In the latter, Bryant made 18 of 31 shots and 22 of 25 free throws for 62 points in only three quarters. Dallas averages 99.7 points, sixth-most in the league, and gives up 93.3 points, ninth in the league.