Mavericks-Kings Preview

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Mavs try to sweep the Kings off their throne
Dallas Mavericks (52-27) at Sacramento Kings (25-54)

Clinching only the third Southwest Division crown in Dallas Mavericks franchise history was nice, but the team believes it has more on deck.

After the Mavericks escaped Portland with an 83-77 win on Friday night, coupled with San Antonio's loss to Memphis, Dallas once again seized the division title. Now it's time to turn their attention towards a possible No. 2 seed in the Western Conference playoff picture.

Entering Saturday, the Mavs sit in the two hole, but the team is in a virtual dead heat with Denver for the spot. Fortunately for the Mavericks, they don't expect to give ground as they head into Sacramento to play a Kings squad that they've beaten three times this season.

"We'd love to finish second and have home-court (advantage in the playoffs) as long as we can," forward Dirk Nowitzki said.

Nowitzki certainly did his part Friday night, scoring 40 points and snatching down 10 rebounds for his 19th double-double of the season. The 7-footer connected on 11 of 24 shots, also swishing 17-of-17 from the free throw line. Just another day's work for the nine-time All-Star.

"Dirk's our guy," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said of Nowitzki. "We play through him. He's going to make good things happen for us."

And good things certainly did happen. Not only did the Mavericks clinch the division, they also avoided a season sweep by the Blazers. In a game that resembled a playoff battle, the Mavericks served notice that they can match any team's intensity and physicality.

"It was a tough, physical game," Nowitzki said. "Both teams didn't give up a lot...The last time we played (in Portland), they were just way more physical and they were way more ready. They were more physical, they got every loose ball and we talked about that -- about how we had to be ready from the jump. And I think we did a better job staying with them and playing a more physical game. It was great."

"You play a game in the 70s, and you're looking at a playoff-type game. I love the way we battled. I love the way both teams battled. We really wanted this game (Friday night) and you can tell," Carlisle added.

Now the Mavericks look for that intensity to carry over in the second half of the team's final back-to-back of the regular season. But this time, the roles are reversed. The Kings are the ones trying to avoid a sweep.

While Nowitzki is the answer offensively, on the defensive end the Mavericks know that if they are to move to 4-0 against Sacramento it will be because they shut down rookie standout Tyreke Evans. The 6-foot-6 point guard is undoubtedly the hands-down favorite to win this season's Rookie of the Year Award. His 20.1 points per game season scoring average and 5.8 assists have been elevated against Dallas, averaging 21.0 points, 7.3 assists and 4.3 rebounds against the Mavericks, albeit in three losses.

"It's just going to be a matter of time, if (Evans) can get some minutes under his belt, until he's an elite player in this league," Jason Kidd said of his point guard counterpart.

"(Evans) is a terrific young player. He does a little bit of everything. We're going to have to have a lot of guys coming at him, and we're going to have to be ready to double-team him if we need to," Carlisle said is the strategy to stop the first-year sensation.

In all likelihood, the Mavericks will be without forward Shawn Marion, who has missed the last two games with a strained left oblique muscle. But the Mavs have won 21 of 26 meetings between the teams, including the last five matchups. Those are the type of stats to beware of, according to sixth man Jason Terry.

"They're scrappy. They're a scrappy bunch, and if you don't come out ready to play, it's going to be a grind-it-out game," Terry concluded.

Dallas will be looking for the sweep and their third consecutive win overall, as the squad heads into Arco Arena. The Mavericks-Kings matchup will air locally on Fox Sports Southwest at 9 p.m. CT.

NOTE: The Mavericks conclude their three-game road trip against the Los Angeles Clippers at the Staples Center on Monday night. Dallas can also sweep that season series, after winning the first two games against the Clippers. That game will air locally on KTXA and KTXA HD and nationally on NBA TV at 9:30 p.m. CT.

The team returns to the American Airlines Center for the final regular season game against the San Antonio Spurs on April 14. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by calling (214) 747-MAVS.

For up to the minute news on the Dallas Mavericks, visit Mavs.com. Follow Earl K. Sneed on Twitter at www.twitter.com/EarlKSneed.