Mavericks-Knicks Preview

(Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Dallas Mavericks (28-15) at New York Knicks (17-25)

The Dallas Mavericks can not wait to take a bite out of the Big Apple.

(Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)

After suffering a 92-81 loss in Philadelphia on Friday night, Sunday's matinee tip with the New York Knicks can not come soon enough for the Mavericks. More importantly, the Mavs are ready to bring a five-game road trip to a close with a win in "the Mecca of Basketball," Madison Square Garden. The final game of the East Coast trip will also serve as the rubber match, as Dallas currently sits 2-2 on their expedition away from Big D.

"We have one more game on this trip to make it 3-2. That can be a good trip and we can end it on a good note," forward Shawn Marion said.

But if the Mavericks are going to get back on the winning track and return to Dallas on a good note then they must first address the poor shooting that was on display in Philly. The Mavericks shot just 39.5 percent in the loss to the 76ers, something that must change against an upstart Knicks squad.

"We had some good looks," leading scorer Dirk Nowitzki said after the loss. "We know we're more of a jump-shooting team, but it seemed like there was a lid on the basket."

The cold-shooting night carried over to the other side of the ball, causing continuity issues on the defensive end, according to Mavs coach Rick Carlisle.

"We struggled. At key times we couldn't get shots to go down and at key times we couldn't get stops, so it's a bad combination," the coach said.

"Our undoing was our inability to get anything consistently going offensively or defensively. We had small spurts, but we never sustained it. The end result is a loss, which is disappointing."


One thing that will help the Mavericks avoid being disappointed on Sunday will be getting the duo of Nowitzki and Jason Terry going early against the Knicks. The two were needed most with the team down double digits, but the Sixers did a good job of keeping the Mavericks' go-to scorers from getting hot at the right time. Instead the No. 1 and 2 Dallas scoring options struggled, causing the Dallas offense to go through a long drought down the stretch.

"There were a bunch of possessions in a row where we couldn't score," Nowitzki said.

The two combined to shoot just 6-for-25 and collectively tallied just 19 points against Philly. If the two struggle it is certainly a recipe for failure.

(Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)

Defensively the Mavericks will have to contain New York's "walking double-double," David Lee. The big man appears headed for a certain All-Star reserve selection, averaging better than 19 points and 11 rebounds a game. The Lee and Nowitzki matchup figures to be the key to the game, with the player that gets the upper hand likely leading his team to a victory.

Dallas enters New York hoping to showcase the uptempo style of play that has led the Mavericks to a 15-8 road record, which is good for the Western Conference's best mark away from home. Fortunately for the Mavs, the Knicks are just 10-12 at home.

The Mavs, who swept the two games between the teams last season, will meet the Knicks for the first time this season. The game will air locally on Fox Sports Southwest at noon CT.

Dallas returns home to host the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday night. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by calling (214) 747-MAVS.

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