Mavericks-Pacers Preview

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Dallas Mavericks (11-4) at Indiana Pacers (6-7)

The Dallas Mavericks displayed a blueprint for how basketball should be played in their 130-99 victory over the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night.

Now with the Thanksgiving holiday behind them and the Indiana Pacers staring Dallas in the face, the Mavs hope to prove that the high-tempo, hot-shooting play showcased against the Rockets was no fluke.

"(Dallas' play on Wednesday night) is what makes this league fantastic," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said about the blowout win over Houston. "Our guys bounced back well (after a 111-103 loss to a short-handed Golden State team). Our tempo was perfect. Consistency with our effort and overall team play will be key for this team."

"After the Golden State game, we got refocused," big man Drew Gooden said after the Mavs' Friday morning shootaround. "At Houston, we went on a run, got deflections, got back on defense and got into a good rhythm. It was a good effort for us and got us back on track for the road trip."

The effort was certainly live and in living color on Wednesday night, and the team play as well, as Dallas' bench posted 68 points led by sixth man extraordinaire Jason Terry and the versatile Tim Thomas. Dallas will need another team effort, meaning another big night from the bench, if the Mavs want to move to 2-0 on their current three-game road trip.

"We have guys on the bench that have been around and know how to play the game," Thomas said.

Now the Mavs will attempt to duplicate their last performance against a very game Pacer squad, that always plays its best ball against the elite teams in the league.

(Photo by Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images)
Two of the league's best scorers showdown in Indy on Friday


The Pacers are expected to have Mike Dunleavy back after missing 10 months with a right knee injury. Indiana should also have the NBA's eighth leading scorer, Danny Granger, back on the court after the forward sat out the team's 86-73 win over the L.A. Clippers on Tuesday night due to a knee sprain. Granger averages 25.2 points per game, but the Mavs' Dirk Nowitzki sits sixth in the league in scoring, posting 26.9 points every time he's laced up his sneakers.

Nowitzki and Granger headline the Mavericks-Pacers matchup, which will air locally on Fox Sports Southwest at 7 p.m. CT.

Dallas returns to the American Airlines Center on Nov. 30, when they play host to the Philadelphia 76ers. That game will air locally on Fox Sports Southwest at 7:30 p.m. CT. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by calling (214) 747-MAVS.

The Mavericks and the NBA have introduced the official NBA All-Star game ballot, featuring Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Kidd, Josh Howard, Shawn Marion and Jason Terry. For more on how to vote for your favorite Mavs for the All-Star game, to be held at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, visit Mavs.com.

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