LOS ANGELES - The Mavericks were in familiar territory, right there at the scene of the ugliest crime in franchise history.

On Dec. 6, 2002, they were 30 points ahead of the Los Angeles Lakers, and 27 up going into the fourth quarter. They cratered epically. It's the biggest lead the Mavericks have ever lost.

On Friday night, they pulled into the fourth quarter ahead, 78-60, and had the Lakers a few scoops of dirt away from being buried.

This time, there was no collapse.

The Mavericks persevered through some tense moments in the fourth quarter, went to a zone defense to combat Kobe Bryant and hung on for an uplifting 94-80 victory over the defending champions at Staples Center. The Mavericks got rid of that sour taste left from their season-opening loss to Washington and handed the Lakers their first defeat.

"We wanted to prove to ourselves that we could play better than that," said Jason Terry, whose 3-point shooting in the third quarter helped open a 22-point lead.

The Mavericks clearly had a bruised ego from the opener, when they lost by 11 at home. They played like a different team against the Lakers.

"This is the team we're supposed to be," said Jason Kidd. "That one the other day was the different one.

"You hate to say it after one game, but this was a character game. With the expectations and the way we felt about that game at home, this was something that was almost a must-win. Hard to say Game 2 is a must win, but character-wise, we needed it."

Added coach Rick Carlisle: "We always take it personally when we get our ass kicked. And that's unfortunately been part of our personality the last year and a half and it's something we're trying to correct. We're doing things to get in the habit of playing hard and persistently on the defensive end."

In other words, it shouldn't take a humiliating defeat to bring the best out of the Mavericks. But whatever it was Friday, they'll take it.

The Mavericks led virtually throughout and took control in the third quarter, when their lead reached 78-56 and they held the Lakers to 31.6-percent shooting and forced six turnovers.

Dirk Nowitzki had nine points in the quarter and Erick Dampier controlled the paint with seven rebounds in the period.

After that, it became a matter of survival. The Lakers made their predictable run, closing within 80-68 with under eight minutes left.

But Kidd orchestrated two consecutive nice feeds to Shawn Marion, who laid the first one in and dunked the second, putting the Mavericks up 16 with 6:40 to go. Marion finished with 18 points in support of Nowitzki's 21.

And defensively, the Mavericks limited Bryant to 6-of-19 shooting.

"Yeah, the zone really helped us," Nowitzki said. "We lost that game back a few years ago, and they made a little run tonight. Kobe was trying to take over, but the zone worked great."

Still simmering: The fun between Mark Cuban and Ron Artest will not stop.

Before Friday's game, Cuban, who has speculated that Artest could be bad for the Lakers' chemistry, said he was amused when Artest said that Cuban has to say those sorts of things to keep fans interested, among other things.

"He's probably mad because I heard he went out with Khloe before L.O. did."

That would be Lamar Odom, who is married to Khloe Kardashian.

That quote should be enough to keep the situation properly stirred.

Cuban was asked if he could see a risk-reward situation where he would take a chance on somebody like Artest. He said he already has.

"We got Shawne Williams and took a chance on him," Cuban said. "It didn't work out and we put him out to pasture."

Cuban added that he'd be happy to get Artest a job - "as a manager of a dairy queen."

Gooden hobbled: Drew Gooden suffered a strained muscle near his right rib cage and plans to have an MRI on it when the team returns to Dallas on Sunday.

Gooden came out of the game early in the fourth quarter and did not return. He said the injury, which happened when he got tangled up with the Lakers' Josh Powell, would be iced overnight and he said his status for the Clippers' game was up in the air.

Ringing endorsement: D.J. Mbenga said it was a remarkable experience being presented with his championship ring from last season's title run.

"You think of all the injuries and practices and everything you go through, then you see that and it makes it you understand why you do it all," Mbenga said.

Josh Powell, also a Laker reserve, also is a former Maverick on the title team.