VIDEO: Nowitzki schools Kobe in the paint

Kobe Bryant was back in the starting lineup for the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night against the Dallas Mavericks after missing two games with a sore back.

His back appears to be fine. It's just his pride that hurts now, courtesy of Dirk Nowitzki leaving him in the dust with a sweet up-and-under in the post.

If this is indeed the last time we see "The Black Mamba" and "The Germanator" square off in an NBA game, then at least we'll have one lasting image of the two going toe-to-toe - even though Bryant supporters would like to forget he jumped on Nowitzki's fake.