Jason Kidd had an interesting way of describing the Mavs’ shooting struggles in a 73-70 loss to the Lakers in Los Angeles on Thursday night, calling to mind a nearby body of water.

"We couldn’t throw it in the Pacific," No. 2 said. "Sometimes you have to make shots too in this league and we just couldn’t do it tonight."

Both teams struggled with shooting, possibly an effect of a grueling schedule that has seen each team play more games in three weeks than they would normally play in an entire month. Both teams shot under 40 percent from the floor and posted season lows in scoring. But the Lakers made one more shot, a trey by Derek Fisher with 3.1 seconds left, to win.


The Mavericks played strong defense on Kobe Bryant, but couldn’t come up with the shots to beat LA (Getty Images).

But Jason chose to be encouraged by the team’s defense rather than discouraged by the offense. It was that defense which kept the game within reach. Dallas’ D limited Kobe Bryant to just 14 points after the Lakers star had erupted for 40 in each of his four previous games. The chances were there to win, the Mavs just needed to find a way to take advantage.

"We couldn’t make a shot in the fourth. We couldn’t make a shot pretty much the whole night. We couldn’t throw it in the Pacific and we still had a chance to win," No. 2 said "I thought defensively we were competing."

Jason was a big part of that defensive effort, pulling down a season-high seven rebounds, all off the defensive glass. He also picked off two steals to become just the third player in NBA history to reach the 2500-steal plateau. No. 2 also finished with three points and two assists.

J-Kidd hit his lone bucket halfway through the third — a well-timed three-pointer that put the Mavs up 44-43 at the eight minute mark. The two teams traded some back and forth baskets throughout the fourth quarter, but the Mavs couldn’t hang on.

"It was one of those NFC kind of games, just hand off the ball and run," he told Mavs Moneyball. "It was just an ugly game, but, you want to win those ugly games."

After the game, Lakers head coach Mike Brown praised the Mavs’ ability to hang on with just their defensive contribution.

"You look at a Dallas team that shoots 39% and scores 70 points; you have to be doing a little something right defensively."

Playing their 14th game in a grueling three-week stretch, the Mavs would’ve liked to kick off their four-game road trip with a win over the Lakers. But Jason acknowledged postgame that sometimes it’s just not in the cards.

"It’s a lot of basketball and you’re going to have some games that are extremely ugly and this is one of them," he said. "That being said, we just got to stay focused and keep playing and stay together."

TEAM USA MOVES ON
After winning his second Olympic gold medal with Team USA at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, Jason Kidd said he was retiring from international play.

That retirement became official on Monday when 2012 USA basketball preliminary roster was released and Jason was not in the 20-man pool.

"I’ve done my job," Jason told The Record. "I wish the best for USA Basketball because they’re going to send a talented team."

J-Kidd retires from international play with a pristine 56-0 record that includes gold medals at the 2000 and 2008 Summer Olympic Games. USA Basketball assistant coach Chris Collins told CBS Sports that No. 2’s leadership will be sorely missed in this year’s hunt for the Olympic gold.

"He held everything together in 2008," Collins said. "He wasn’t our best player, but he was the most valuable guy."

NEXT UP
Jason and the Mavs had an off-day in LA on Monday, but return to the Staples Center court tonight to take on LA’s other team, the Clippers. Tip is scheduled for 9:30 CT on ESPN.

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