Mavericks-76ers Preview

(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Dallas Mavericks (28-14) at Philadelphia 76ers (13-28)

(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)

The City of Philadelphia is probably not showing the Dallas Mavericks a ton of brotherly love right now.

Twice in approximately a year's span the Mavericks have broken the 76ers' heart.

First it was Dirk Nowitzki's buzzer-beating, 17-foot jumper over Reggie Evans that secured a 95-93 road win on January 19, 2009. Then it was Jason Terry's turn on Nov. 30, as the reigning Sixth Man of the Year knocked in a game-winning jumper with just 1.4 ticks on the clock to capture a 104-102 win on the home floor. It was all routine for the Mavericks, who have shown an uncanny ability for theatrics in the clutch moments.

"(Jason) Kidd went through his progressions -- Plan A, Plan B, Plan C. And luckily we hit on it. I won't tell you which plan it was, but it hit," Terry said of the game plan on the play that eventually downed Philly in the November meeting.

"It was something that we fill comfortable running," Kidd said of the play call. "It's going to be Dirk or JET (Terry), and JET was wide open and we have a lot of confidence in him doing the right thing. He did it again for us. He was Plan A, because I saw he was wide open. Dirk is Plan B, C and D."

Dallas is coming off of a 94-93 win in the nation's capital over the Wizards, a game in which the Mavericks found a new way to win a close game. Shawn Marion's game-sealing blocked shot on Caron Butler proved to the Mavericks that they can also clinch games on the defensive end, something the team may need to rely on as they travel to meet the Sixers for a second time.

"Winning on a defensive possession –- you wouldn't say that in the past about the Mavericks. It would be us trying to get a basket on the other end. This year we've focused on playing defense. That's what we're focused on right now and Shawn made a great play on Caron at the end," Kidd said.

Thanks to Marion's block, the Mavericks have won nine straight games decided by one point. Against a Sixers squad that has lost three of four, all in which Philly led in the fourth quarter, the Mavericks will once again look to clutch play down the stretch.

"When it comes to that situation, it's second nature to us. We don't tense up," Terry said.


Terry certainly doesn't tense up in new situations, as the veteran stepped into the starting linuep against Washington for just the second time all season, due to Josh Howard's stomach illness. The result was 21 points from Terry in a starting role, though No. 31 figures to return to his reserve role after Howard returned to practice on Thursday.

(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)

Meanwhile, all of the Dallas scorers have had their lives made easy by Kidd's play-making of late. The pass-first point guard has averaged 16 assists the last two games, both Dallas wins, as the Mavericks have started a five-game road trip with a 2-1 record. Mavs coach Rick Carlisle credits much of the success to Kidd.

"(Kidd) is leading the team as well as he ever has," Carlisle said. "He's got a real pulse on the team and a good hand on the controls. It's really key. He's done a lot of directing of things defensively too, and he gives the rest of the guys a lot of confidence. So, we need him to continue to do what he's doing, obviously."

The team will need more of Kidd's on-court leadership against the Sixers in the fourth matchup of a five-game road trip. The Mavericks-76ers game will air locally on Fox Sports Southwest at 6 p.m. CT.

The Mavericks return home to host the Milwaukee Bucks on Jan. 26. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by calling (214) 747-MAVS.

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