Jazz-Mavericks Game Preview

(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Utah Jazz (19-17) at Dallas Mavericks (25-11)

The Dallas Mavericks would prefer not to have to rely on superhero-like performances from Dirk Nowitzki in the fourth quarter to claim a win, but if it leads to a victory then they certainly won't complain.

Friday night, the Southwest Division-leading Mavericks made a huge statement to the rest of the Western Conference, entering San Antonio and exiting with a 112-103 win over the Spurs. Trailing by double digits for much of the second half, the Mavericks outscored the Spurs 42-23 in the final quarter. Nowitzki was once again the catalyst, pouring in 16 of his team-high 26 points in the fourth to help Dallas widen its lead in the division standings to three games."Dirk is a Hall-of-Fame basketball player and he showed why," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said after witnessing Nowitzki once again put his team on his back.

"I just had to stay confident for me and my team," Nowitzki said after the win.

(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)

Nowitzki, who battled through shooting woes for the first three quarters, has made a routine out of fourth quarter explosions. The Utah Jazz know that for themselves after witnessing it first-hand in Dallas' 96-85 home win on Nov. 3. That night, Nowitzki rained in a franchise-record 29 points in the fourth, en route to a 40-point night.

"He got it going and he couldn't stop going," teammate Shawn Marion said of Nowitzki's historic night.

No. 41's fourth quarter output was the most a Maverick has ever posted in a quarter, eclipsing Mark Aguirre's 24-point period on March 24, 1984. Nowitzki's outburst also came with his team down 16 points in the fourth, scoring 14 straight Dallas points during one stretch.

"We just looked for a spark there and we had to get something going," Nowitzki said. "Once I made a couple of shots and got to the line some, the ball was just finding me somehow."

"It was great to watch Dirk. I had a great seat," point guard Jason Kidd said after the win. "Then to watch the team stay together and not fragment, and fight. We played well for one quarter and found a way to win."
But now, with Utah limping to a 4-6 record in its last 10 games and just a 6-11 road record, the Mavericks will be looking for a full 48-minute effort and their third straight win. Though the Mavs are playing on the second night of a back-to-back, Dallas will be looking to start a three-game home stand off with a win.

The Mavericks-Jazz matchup 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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