A couple of Western Conference hopefuls right on top of each other in the standings meet up on Tuesday, Jan. 7 when the Dallas Mavericks host the Los Angeles Lakers at the American Airlines Center in Dallas.

The Los Angeles Lakers head to he American Airlines Center to face the Dallas Mavericks in a Western Conference matchup. The Lakers are 20-15, which puts them in fifth place in the west. The Mavs are 20-16, which puts them in sixth place, directly behind the climbing Lakers.