Dallas stuns Lakers 99-91 in LA debut for Canadian Steve Nash

Los Angeles fans showed Steve Nash their love as he made his regular-season debut with the Lakers, but the Canadian point guard and his teammates couldn’t reward the support.

The 38-year-old from Victoria managed just seven points while converting three of nine field goal attempts as the Lakers lost 99-91 to the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday before a sellout crowd of 18,997 at the Staples Center.

He connected on just one of four three-point attempts while also contributing two rebounds — both on defence — and four assists.

“Obviously it was a disappointing night for us,” said Nash, who joined the Lakers in a sign-and-trade deal from Phoenix in the off-season. “We have high expectations and tonight we didn’t play well … It wasn’t good enough. I thought we started out well enough, we had a pretty good stretch there in the second quarter and then before halftime they got back and took the lead by one and jumped on us in the second half. Like we have been saying in camp, we’ve got a ways to go”

Nash, wearing No. 10, received a large ovation from the crowd as he was introduced before the game. Only Kobe Bryant, who played after being questionable with a foot injury, drew a louder cheer.

“The crowd’s been amazing to me, not only just at Staples, but just throughout the city,” he said. “I’ve gotten a tremendous amount of support. They’ve made me feel very welcome.”

Before the season tipped off with his new team, he gave a wave to fans seated courtside, including movie star Jack Nicholson.

The cheers continued as Nash sank a three-pointer to give the Lakers a 3-0 lead and drained a jump shot to put the hosts up 9-5. Nash earned his first assist as a Laker while dishing the ball off to Dwight Howard for a slam dunk.

During timeouts, Nash was featured on the large video screen plugging a Lakers charity and telling the crowd about himself.

“My first car? I went to university,” he said. “They didn’t pay us college athletes, so I didn’t have a car.”

After figuring prominently in the early going, Nash subbed out with just over three minutes left in the first quarter and did not get back in until about 10 minutes later, returning midway through the second. Coach Mike Brown said he merely wanted to give Nash a rest.

He was not the only one to get a long respite, though, as Brown rested four of his starters for an extended stretch.

After taking a 48-46 lead just before half-time, the Mavericks pulled away in the second half, and the Lakers could not recover, despite make a run late in the game.

“(Nash) is learning just like the rest of us are learning,” said coach Brown, who is introducing a new offence this season. “He had great moments and then he had moments that weren’t so good. I think that’s across the board for everybody that was out on the floor.”

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