After stunning the Lakers 99-91 on Tuesday night in a sold-out Staples Center in L.A., the Mavericks turned around and lost in Utah 113-94 on Wednesday.

The Mavericks have been on the court for eight quarters this season. So far they have only played in seven.  

Against Utah, Dallas blew a seven point third quarter lead by allowing Mo and Marvin Williams to take over the game by drilling the Mavericks with 3-pointers. 

Mo Williams hit back-to-back 3-pointers and a lay-up to break a 74-74 tie. Marvin Williams followed with a three from the left corner making it an 11-0 run.

Mavs’ rookie center Bernard James ended the scoring drought with a bucket, but Utah quickly responded with an Enes Kanter jumper followed by a Marvin Williams layup to put the game out of reach at 89-76.

“When you get beat by 24 in a quarter that is a convincing beating,” said head Coach Rick Carlisle. “We just didn’t match their aggression in the third and that was the difference in the game.”

The third quarter meltdown for the Mavericks was the polar opposite of their third quarter performance against L.A.

The Lakers are the most talked about team in the NBA and Tuesday was supposed to be an unveiling of a super team that now boasts all-stars all across the board.

With guards Steve Nash and Kobe Bryant, forwards Pau Gasol and Metta World Peace (formerly Ron Artest) and Center Dwight Howard they Lakers should have rolled over a undersized Dallas team.  The Mavericks were without seven footers Dirk Nowitzki and center Chris Kaman due to injuries. 

Despite being smaller than it would like, Dallas played a balanced game and was able to keep L.A. from getting into a rhythm.

The Lakers frustrations culminated in a Howard flagrant one foul on Maverick forward Elton Brand with 7:13 in the third. 

At the point of the foul Brand had been on a fast break and Dallas was on the verge of extending its lead to seven points.  Brand hit both free throws and the Mavericks rode the momentum from that for the rest of the game. 

In both games Dallas point guard Darren Collison scored a team high 17 points-performing exceptionally well in his Maverick debut.

He also helped hold Nash to seven points and four assists, marking the first time the eight-time All Star has been held to less than 10 points and five assists while playing at least 20 minutes.

The Mavs had six players in double digits versus the Lakers and four against the Jazz, indicating that being a balanced team will be the identity of Dallas this season.

The team is shooting 42 percent from the field, 43 percent from beyond the arc, averaging 21 assists a game but is being out rebounded 13.5 a game. 

The Mavericks ended their road trip with a split but head home to face the Bobcats, the Trail Blazers, and the Raptors. All three are beatable teams. 

Dallas will face off against the Bobcats Saturday at the American Airlines Center at 7:30 p.m.