Mavericks 99, Lakers 91: Darren Collison scored 17 points and the absence of Dirk Nowitzki didn’t prevent Dallas from spoiling the Los Angeles debuts of Dwight Howard and Steve Nash in the season-opening game for both squads.

Brandan Wright added 14 points on 5-of-5 shooting for the Mavericks, who will be without Nowitzki for about another month after recent knee surgery.

Pau Gasol had 23 points and 13 rebounds for the Lakers and Kobe Bryant played despite a foot injury and scored 22 points on 11-of-14 shooting. Howard had 19 points and 10 rebounds before fouling out and Nash had just seven points and four assists in a disappointing first outing for Los Angeles, which went 0-8 in the preseason and is searching for cohesion.

Dallas also is heavy on new players and stretched a 48-46 halftime lead into an eight-point advantage entering the final quarter. The Mavericks’ lead reached 93-77 with 5:37 left on Wright’s three-point play and Los Angeles couldn’t forge a threatening run.

O.J. Mayo scored 12 points, while Roddy Beaubois, Vince Carter and Shawn Marion added 11 apiece for Dallas.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The victory was only Dallas’ fourth in its last 18 regular-season contests against Los Angeles. … Mavericks center Chris Kaman (calf) missed the contest and will also sit out Wednesday’s game at Utah. … The Lakers were just 12-of-31 from the free-throw line with Howard going 3-for-14. Dallas was 14-of-18 from the line.