Another finishing click

Pick a game, almost any Lakers game this season, cue it up on the TiVo and see the similarities.

Lakers fall behind, Lakers snap to attention, Lakers win with ease.

Friday was no different against the Dallas Mavericks, the latest example of a loss-turned-victory thanks to a second-half rally.

The Lakers' offense was a mess and their new trademark defense was all marked up, but then they rallied for a 114-107 victory at Staples Center.

Kobe Bryant posted a season-high 35 points after a poor start, Trevor Ariza had a season-high 15 points, and the Lakers (13-1) moved to within three victories of the 16-1 start of the 2001-02 team.

The Mavericks led by 12 midway through the third quarter and by 11 with less than four minutes left in the period, and then the Lakers checked into the game, as if a motivational switch had been flipped.

Bryant, who scored 23 points in the second half, had made only six of 15 shots at one point, but he finished 14 for 26.

The game was still up for grabs when he reentered with 7:46 to play and the Lakers ahead, 92-87.

He made a 20-footer. Then he drove baseline around Antoine Wright for an easy layup. Then Ariza made a long jumper from the top of the key, followed by a three-pointer from the corner, the latest sampling of his added outside touch.

The Lakers led, 103-93, with 5:16 to play. Game over.

Another rally overcame another sluggish start.

"There's a certain sense that you don't have to work that hard every night when you come out," Lakers Coach Phil Jackson said. "You really have to in this game. There's so many teams that can surprise teams. If you're just not ready, you're 10 down, you're on your heels right away. We have to be much more alert coming into ballgames."

Already this week, the Lakers had to outscore New Jersey in the second half, 64-39, to emerge with a 120-93 victory.

Then came their lethargy against Dallas, almost as if they're fascinated with the prospect of falling behind by just enough points to be able to make a stirring comeback.

As a matter of fact, they did the same thing a little more than two weeks ago against . . . Dallas.

The Lakers trailed after the first, second and third quarters on Nov. 11, but they took the fourth quarter, 30-20, in a tense 106-99 road victory.

The Mavericks had won five consecutive games before Friday, and their point guards gave the Lakers fits.