Dallas Mavericks (3-1) at New Orleans (1-3)
The road to a 3-1 record hasn't been an easy hike for the Dallas Mavericks.
After a season-opening loss at home to the Washington Wizards, the Mavericks have battled uphill to three straight wins with defense and persistence. As the team has shot a low percentage in all three wins, the Mavs have learned how to win when they're not seeing the ball go in the basket.
It took a herculean effort from Dirk Nowitzki on Tuesday night to push Dallas to a 96-86 victory over the Utah Jazz. Nowitzki scored a franchise-record 29 points in the fourth period in the win against the Jazz, posting 40 on the night. Dallas enters New Orleans well aware that they must shot better and cognitive of the fact that No. 41 will need help with the scoring responsibilities if the Mavs' winning streak is going to run to four.
"It's something that we put an emphasis on in Training Camp," Mavs sixth man Jason Terry said. "The games last year that we shot 40 to 45 percent, we lost 80 to 90 percent of them. This year we're making it a point that if that shot ain't falling, which it ain't, we have to get it done somehow some way."
(Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)
Perhaps the Mavericks have the perfect opponent to break out of their shooting woes against in the Hornets. The division rivals have seen plenty of each other in the past season, playing four times annually and meeting in the playoffs two seasons ago when New Orleans ended the Mavs' season.
"New Orleans is a team that has kind of been a thorn in our side the last couple of year. We're looking to go down there and get a win. They're in our division," Terry said.
The Hornets have struggled this season, after an off-season trade brought in Emeka Okafor from Charlotte for Tyson Chandler. Despite the tough start, New Orleans still features arguably the league's best point guard in Chris Paul, who perennially ranks atop the league's assist charts.
"We know New Orleans is a good team," Mavs center Erick Dampier said. "They have good players on that team. They know how to play the game. They get the ball in the right guys' hands and they're good offensive players."
"It's going to be on us to make up our minds and get the stops and get run outs. We have guys that can put the ball in the basket, but defense is going to be the key for us each and every night."
The Mavericks and Hornets meet on Wednesday night, with the game airing locally on FSN Southwest and nationally on ESPN at 8:30 p.m. CT.
Follow Mavs.com’s Earl K. Sneed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/EarlKSneed.
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