The Los Angeles Lakers will host the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night as they look to pick up their first win against their rivals in the third and final meeting of the season. The Mavericks have dominated this matchup as of late, winning eight of the last 10 meetings, including the first two this season.

The Lakers are looking to build momentum:

The Lakers are coming off a morale-boosting win over the Oklahoma City Thunder, and they're looking to carry that momentum into a key Western Conference Finals matchup. On the other hand, the Mavericks have avenged their recent loss to the New Orleans Pelicans in the absence of star player Luka Doncic.

Historical Matchup:

This game marks the 174th regular season meeting between the two storied teams. The Lakers hold a 116-57 advantage in the all-time series, with the first meeting dating back to 1980.

Injury woes continue:

Both teams have been plagued by injuries this season. The Mavericks' Luka Doncic recently missed three games with a foot injury, while Kyrie Irving missed most of December. On the other hand, the Lakers' LeBron James and Anthony Davis have been dealing with injuries since late November.

Injury Updates:

For the Mavericks, Luka Doncic is back after missing three games with an ankle sprain, but Dante Exum is still out with a plantar sprain. Derrick Jones Jr. and Grant Williams will play despite minor injuries.

The Lakers have a much healthier roster with only four players on the injured list. Cam Reddish and Gabe Vincent are out with injuries, while Anthony Davis and LeBron James are both available after battling ankle issues.