Jazz-Mavericks Game Recap

(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Utah Jazz 111 at Dallas Mavericks 93

Winners of back-to-back games, the Dallas Mavericks returned to the American Airlines Center floor not looking for another historic fourth quarter from Dirk Nowitzki against the Utah Jazz but they certainly could have used it.

After a 96-85 home win over the Jazz on Nov. 3, in which Nowitzki set a franchise record with 29 of his 40 points in the final period to help Dallas erase a 16-point deficit, the Mavericks simply wanted to get a convincing win against Utah on Saturday night. Playing without big man Drew Gooden (sprained right ring finger) and swingman Josh Howard (left thigh contusion) on the second night of a back-to-back, the short-handed Mavs didn't have the same continuity that sparked a key win over the San Antonio Spurs just 24 hours early. Instead the Mavericks crashed and burned, while the Jazz were the aggressors en route to a 111-93 win on Dallas' home floor.

(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)

"It hurts," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said about playing without Gooden and Howard. "But you've got to be able to win with the rest of those guys that are dressed, so no excuses there. This is one of the highest margins all year we've given up. We just didn't get the job done. Simple as that.

"It was disappointing. It's a home game and you want to play your best basketball at home and we just struggled tonight."

The Mavericks needed every ounce of energy from the home crowd as they began a three-game home stand. As Jazz point guard Deron Williams battled through a wrist injury to set the tone early with his scoring and play-making, the Mavericks found themselves down 26-18 after one. Utah's 18-4 points in the paint advantage told the story for the quarter, as Dallas hit just 7-of-23 shots from the field in the opening quarter.

"(Williams) is a good player, so he's going to give them a big lift. We struggled shooting the ball...When the shot-making isn't there, it's a bigger struggle," Carlisle said.

Things got worse for the Mavericks in the second stanza, as Utah's Wesley Matthews asserted himself and the Jazz lead ballooned to 15. Meanwhile, Shawn Marion's ability to get into the lane and finish at the rim kept the Mavericks' heartbeat ticking. A late charge by Marion and Nowitzki then cut the deficit to 50-40 at the end of the half.

Nowitzki's 14 first half points led all scorers, with Marion supplying 10. But the Mavs were out-shot by the Jazz, as Utah connected on 47 percent of their shots compared to Dallas' 41 percent. The Jazz also held a 28-23 rebounding edge, in addition to doubling the Mavericks in points in the paint (28-14), two areas of concern for Carlisle before the game.

The Utah advantage continued to grow early the third quarter, as Williams and Matthews utilized dribble penetration and the 3-point shot to push the margin up to as much as 24. With the Mavericks' offense out of sorts, the Jazz outscored Dallas 33-22 in the third, taking an 83-62 lead into the final period. Eight Dallas turnovers leading to 13 Jazz points in the third period disrupted any Maverick comeback attempt.

"(Turnovers) put a stop to everything," Marion said. "You can't make a run or a comeback when you're turning the ball over and you can't score on the offensive end."

(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)

But the Mavericks wouldn't go away quietly, cutting the Jazz advantage to 13 midway through the fourth behind an attacking Nowitzki and Jason Kidd's uptempo play. The normally pass-first point guard, Kidd, was looking for his shot in the fourth, but on this night the Jazz answered every attempt at late-game heroics that the Mavs could muster.

"When we did get a chance to make a run, it seemed like we couldn't get a stop," Marion said.

Both teams emptied their benches in the final minutes with the Mavericks clearly unable to put together enough to come back from the large deficit.

"I'm pretty disappointed because we lost the first three quarters pretty decisively," Carlisle said. "We got it going some in the fourth but at that point it was just too late."

By night's end, the Jazz had out-shot the Mavericks 53 percent to 41 percent. Utah's 50-34 edge in points in the paint overcame a 45-41 Mavs' advantage in rebounding. Utah also capitalized off of 13 Dallas turnovers, translating into 19 Jazz points at the other end.

"(The turnover differential) certainly wasn't helping us. They only had five for the game and we had 13 tonight for 19 points off turnovers. Uncharacteristic of us," Carlisle said.

After dominating the Spurs' bench, the Maverick reserves sorely missed Gooden and Howard as the Jazz finished with a 45-25 edge in bench scoring.

"We missed our energy," Gooden said after observing from the sidelines. "We can't use that as an excuse. Everybody has to be ready to play."

Nowitzki finished with a game-high 29 points, grabbing eight rebounds. Kidd added 19 points, while Jason Terry (16) and Marion (10) both scored in double figures.

Meanwhile, the Jazz got much more balance from their key contributors, as Williams led six players in double figures with 20 points, dishing out nine assists as well.

Now the Mavericks will try to get back on the winning track, in the second game of a three-game home stand, matching up with the defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night. The Mavericks and Lakers have split the first two games this season, both in L.A., but Dallas will be looking to avenge a 131-96 loss on Jan. 3. The Mavericks-Lakers matchup will air locally on KTXA 21 and KTXA HD at 7:30 p.m. CT. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by calling (214) 747-MAVS.

"We just have to get everybody back healthy and get ready for this game on Wednesday," Marion said. "It's not even so much that it's the Lakers, we have to get out here and protect home court."

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.

Follow Mavs.com’s Earl K. Sneed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/EarlKSneed.

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.

Follow Mavs.com’s Earl K. Sneed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/EarlKSneed.

Mavericks-Spurs Game Recap

(Photo by D. Clarke Evans/NBAE via Getty Images)

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Dallas Mavericks 112 at San Antonio Spurs 103

For both the Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs, hopes of winning the Southwest Division weigh heavily on the head-to-hand matchups between the two powerhouses.

Friday night, in the third of four matchups this season, Dallas tried to put the division in a stranglehold. With both teams owning a home court victory in the first two meetings of the season series, the Mavericks entered San Antonio looking to widen their two-game lead over the Spurs in the standings and hopeful that the home team's luck in the series would run out. In a good, old-fashioned Texas shootout, the Mavericks' big guns were firing on all cylinders down the stretch, as a dominate fourth quarter lifted Dallas to a 112-103 road win and a 2-1 series lead.

(Photo by D. Clarke Evans/NBAE via Getty Images)

"Last time we were down here, they were without (Tony) Parker and (Tim) Duncan, and those guys still ended up beating us," center Erick Dampier said after the win. "Tonight was just another night for us. It shows that when we go out there and play together, get stops and have fun, we give ourselves a chance to win every night.

"You can't take anything away from those guys. They're a good team. They've been the world champs, they know how to play together and they know how to win games."

For the first time in the series, both teams touched the court at full strength. Dampier returned from his two-game absence with a left knee effusion, while the Spurs featured Parker, after the All-Star point guard missed the first two games with nagging ankle problems. Meeting for the first time since a 99-94 Mavericks' win on Nov. 18, the two teams came out of the gates with a playoff-like intensity. Looking for Dampier and forward Dirk Nowitzki early and often, the Mavericks tried to take control of the painted area in the opening quarter with No. 25 and No. 41 taking turns terrorizing the Spurs interior defenders. But with San Antonio attacking the rim as well, Dampier headed to the bench in early foul trouble at the 6:41-mark of the period.

"Damp is so important to us, especially against these guys because he's the only guy that normally has the length to battle Duncan on the inside," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said.

The Spurs surged ahead as Parker connected on multiple 18-foot jumpers, but sixth man Jason Terry and the Dallas bench knotted the game at 26-all at the end of one.

With Dampier on the sidelines with two quick fouls, big man Drew Gooden provided the much-needed presence in the paint. But when Gooden headed to the locker room early in the second quarter with a dislocated right ring finger, Tim Thomas had to step in briefly at the five position. Meanwhile, swingman Josh Howard began to heat up from the perimeter to handle the scoring load for Dallas. The early fiery play then got to Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, as the veteran coach earned an ejection after arguing with officials and drawing back-to-back technical fouls at the 9:58-mark of the period. With Dampier picking up his third foul with 7:32 left in the half, Gooden made his return with the finger taped and back in place, bringing his energy and tenaciousness back to the court with him. Just over four minutes after he return to the court, Gooden headed back to the locker room with a cut under his chin. The Spurs emerged from the physical and emotional stretch with a 54-51 edge after Manu Ginobili and Richard Jefferson closed the half on a tare.

"We just kept hanging in there, as they played some tough defense on us," Nowitzki said. "I missed a lot of shots, so we had to learn how to buckle down defensively -- make it tough for Duncan and keep Ginobili out of the lane."

Behind 63 percent shooting and four double-figure scorers in the first half, the Spurs negated the Mavs' 9-0 advantage in fast break points and 8-1 edge in offensive rebounds after 24 minutes of play. Parker's 15 points led all scorers at the half, while Duncan added 14. Howard and Gooden posted 10 points apiece, though Dallas entered halftime shooting just under 44 percent.

San Antonio came out of the intermission aggressively, sprinting out to a 61-53 lead early in the third. But the Mavericks responded with a 12-2 run, sparked by rookie Roddy Beaubois, to take a two-point lead.

"I thought tonight also, Tim Thomas stepping in there and giving us a couple of buckets and solid play, and then Beaubois comes in, in the second half, and it just kind of changed the energy of the game," Carlisle said. "Those guys worked hard, they've kept ready and they deserved some opportunity to play and they delivered."

But led by their reserves, the Spurs' inside-outside game returned fire as San Antonio answered Dallas' run with 15 unanswered points. The third quarter ended with some testiness after double-technicals were called on Terry and the Spurs' George Hill. Meanwhile, San Antonio gained the upper hand with an 80-70 lead entering the fourth.

"Even if we go down 10 in the third, we still got 12 minutes left to play," Dampier said.

The final 12 minutes of play would indeed be decisive, and it belonged to the Mavericks.

(Photo by D. Clarke Evans/NBAE via Getty Images)

After scoring the last three points of the third, the Mavs began the fourth with a 6-0 run to get back into the game. With Nowitzki struggling offensively for three quarters, the Mavericks tried to get their leading-scorer going with open looks. Coming to life in the final period, Dallas returned to the combination of Nowitzki and Dampier, a formula that worked so well at the onset of the game.

"(Dampier) got the three quick fouls in the first half, then he got the fourth and we left him in and I thought his ability to play with four fouls for a stretch there were really key, because we were able to hold our ground in the game," Carlisle said of his starting center. "And then in the fourth quarter, he gave us a monster presence around the basket at both ends."

The two 7-footers powered Dallas' comeback train, tying the game at 87-all with 6:59 remaining. Back-to-back-to-back 3-pointers from Terry, Jason Kidd and Nowitzki then put the Mavs ahead 98-92 with 4:01 left.

"We were down and we were playing from behind ten or twelve points early in the fourth. Those couple of plays kept the energy going and kept hope alive," Carlisle said.

The Spurs continued to stay close with Duncan living at the foul line, but Terry's jumper over Duncan with 2:27 on the clock continued to keep San Antonio at bay. Just 47 ticks later, Terry nailed another jumper to put Dallas ahead 104-96. After consecutive trips by Parker to the charity stripe cut the Mavericks' lead to four, Nowitzki's three from the top of the key with just 51.0 seconds remaining put the lid on the win. The Mavs then put the finishing touches on the night on Dampier's second career 3-pointer with 5.4 seconds appearing on the game clock.

"I work on it every day,"" the center said while fighting back a laugh. "It was just a last-second shot. I work on that in practice and before the games. When the shot clock is running down, centers don't really come out and guard the big guys. I was open and JET (Terry) passed me the ball and I shot it."

Dallas outscored San Antonio 42-23 in the fourth.

Nowitzki saved his best for the last period, scoring 16 of his team-high 26 points in the fourth. The All-Star finished the night shooting 10-of-28 from the field, but 2-for-3 from behind the 3-point arch.

"Well, Dirk is a Hall-of-Fame basketball player and he showed why," Popovich said after seeing Nowitzki up close numerous times.

"Well, they always play me tough," Nowitzki said. "They play the floor and always push up on me. I had some fadeaways that I usually make, along with some lay-ups where I blocked myself. I just had to stay confident for me and my team."

Terry added 21 points, while Dampier (14), Howard (12), Marion (12) and Gooden (10) all scored in double figures. After the early shooting woes, the Mavericks finished the night shooting 49 percent.

"Dirk was hitting shots. JET (Terry) was hitting shots. J-Kidd was doing what he normally does -- getting to the lane and dishing the ball. It was a total team effort. We got to do that night in and night out in order for us to win," Dampier said.

Duncan's game-high 31 points while grabbing 12 rebounds paced the Spurs. Parker finished with 21 points, as San Antonio bettered Dallas with 53 percent shooting, albeit in a loss.

In a matchup of the two highest scoring benches, the Dallas reserves outscored their San Antonio counter parts 51-29.

"Our bench is key every night because we depend on those guys. We have a lot of confidence in them. When our first group struggles a little bit, they almost always pick us up," Carlisle said.

The Mavs also played the Spurs to a stalemate from behind the 3-point arch, as both teams hit on 7-of-15 from long range. Dallas also won the battle of the boards, cleaning the glass for a 39-32 rebounding edge and outscoring the Spurs 50-44 in the paint.

Dallas now returns to the American Airlines Center on the second night of a back-to-back on Saturday, hosting the Utah Jazz, with the game airing locally on Fox Sports Southwest at 7:30 p.m. CT. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by calling (214) 747-MAVS. It is the start of a three-game home stand.

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.

Follow Mavs.com’s Earl K. Sneed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/EarlKSneed.

Mavericks-Spurs Game Preview

(Photo by D. Clarke Evans/NBAE via Getty Images)

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Dallas Mavericks (24-11) at San Antonio Spurs (21-12)

Like any younger sibling trying to get out of their older brother's shadow, the Dallas Mavericks are ready to accomplish what the San Antonio Spurs already have.

(Photo by D. Clarke Evans/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Mavericks are ready to bring a championship to Big D, like the four Tim Duncan has led the Spurs to during his tenure in San Antonio. Now Dallas is ready to supplant their southern-based relative as Texas' "title town."

"This is your big brother, little brother," sixth man Jason Terry said of the rivalry. "They're big brother because they have all the titles...You never want to sleep on little brother, though. You know the saying, 'Little brother, in the end always wins.'"

The two teams split the first two games of the season, with both winning on their home floor. Friday night the two squads will meet for a third time in San Antonio, with Dallas trying to become the first to win on the road. The Mavericks come into the matchup holding a two-game edge over the Spurs atop the Southwest Division standings.

"It doesn't matter where we are playing -- in San Antonio, in the backyard, on the playground. It's going to be a tough game," Terry said. "They've already beaten us down there once, so it's a big game on the schedule."

San Antonio is a completely different ball club since Dallas last saw the Spurs, a 99-94 home win on Nov. 18. After Duncan and point guard Tony Parker battled through early season injuries, role players like Richard Jefferson, Antonio McDyess and rookie DeJuan Blair were forced to step up and play big minutes. Now Parker and Duncan are healthy, so too is swingman Manu Ginobili, making the Spurs' roster stacked with talent from top to bottom.

"If you've watched them over the last month, they might be the best team in basketball, the way they've come together. You knew it was going to take some time, they have some new pieces they had to implement," Terry said.

(Photo by D. Clarke Evans/NBAE via Getty Images)

For Dallas, keeping the role players' impact to a minimum is a focus but isolating two of San Antonio's "Big Three" is the priority coming into Friday's game.

"It's still Duncan, Parker, Ginobili," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said. "They still have three great players otherwise too."

While the Mavericks have a history of containing Ginobili, Parker and Duncan have terrorized Dallas in the past. With Parker missing the first two games in the season series, the Mavs expect to see a much different team. Slowing down the lightening-fast, All-Star point guard and San Antonio's mainstay at power forward is a must for the Mavericks to escape with a win, the coach said.

"Parker is an All-Star...His penetration is something we're going to have to try to limit," Carlisle said. "Whether it's transition, pick-and-rolls or just straight lining you up and driving you, it's a real job to stay in front of him. So we're going to have to have five guys engaged in that task.

"(Duncan) has only gotten craftier and smarter. He's still as great as he ever was. The difference now is that they've surrounded him with a supporting cast, to where he doesn't have to carry that huge load for them every night for them to be consistent and win. He's one of the Top 2 or 3 post players in all of basketball...He's a load in there."

Guarding said "load" will be a task for the Dallas big men all night long. Dallas has played the last two games without starting center Erick Dampier, due to the 7-footer's battle with a left knee effusion. Carlisle is hopeful that the big man can return to the court on Friday night, but if he can't then contending with Duncan will be a shared responsibility.

(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

"It's a tough job," Carlisle said of defending Duncan. "Last game we had to play without (Dampier), and it's work. You miss that length when you don't have it out there. But last game, Drew (Gooden) and Dirk (Nowitzki) and Kris (Humphries) guarded him, and if Damp can't go then we're going to have to do it by committee."

At the head of that committee if Dampier continues to sit will be Gooden, who is coming off of a 10-point, 18-rebound night in a 98-93 home win over Detroit. Gooden's hustle and fiery play in the post will be called upon once again if the Mavs' frontcourt is not fully intact.

"I love the way (Gooden) pursues the ball. Whether it's in the air, off the rim or if it's on the floor, he's after it. The energy that he exudes in doing that lifts our team up...That's what we need from everybody," Carlisle said.

Gooden will try to energize the Mavericks in the third of four meetings against the Spurs. The Mavericks-Spurs matchup will air locally on KTXA and KTXA HD on Friday night at 7:30 p.m. CT.

Dallas returns to the American Airlines Center on the second night of a back-to-back Saturday, hosting the Utah Jazz, with the game airing 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.

Follow Mavs.com’s Earl K. Sneed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/EarlKSneed.

Mavericks Practice Report 01/07/10

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Mavericks Practice Report 01/07/10

The Southwest Division has long been dominated by the San Antonio Spurs and Dallas Mavericks.

(Photo by D. Clarke Evans/NBAE via Getty Images)

Winning the season series and the bragging rights between the two squads has often led to the eventual division crowd. Now with the division-leading Mavericks ahead of the Spurs by two games in the standings, the next installment of the sibling rivalry has major early season implications when the two squads meet in San Antonio on Friday night.

"This is your rival," sixth man Jason Terry said. "This is your big brother, little brother...Who wants to win it the most. It doesn't matter where we are playing -- in San Antonio, in the backyard, on the playground. It's going to be a tough game.

"They're big brother because they have all the titles, so we're coming in there looking to try to do what they do. So, I always look at it that way. You never want to sleep on little brother. You know the saying: Little brother, in the end always wins."

The two teams split the first two meetings of the season, with both winning on their home floor. Now the Mavericks try to break that trend, matching up against point guard Tony Parker for the first time this season. With a healthy Parker, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili on the court at once, joined by new additions Richard Jefferson, Antonio McDyess and rookie DeJuan Blair, the Spurs have improved drastically since Dallas' 99-94 home win on Nov. 18.

"If you've watched them over the last month, they might be the best team in basketball, the way they've come together. You knew it was going to take some time, they have some new pieces they had to implement," Terry said.

(Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)

Even with the supporting cast playing well, Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said stopping the Spurs still hinges on defending San Antonio's Big Three.

"It's Duncan, Parker, Ginobili," Carlisle said. "They still have three great players otherwise too."

While Ginobili is an excellent isolation swingman, the Maverick defense will come into Friday's game looking to limit Parker's driving ability. With Parker operating as the "head of the snake," keeping the quick lead guard out of the lane is a must for the Dallas defense to have a successful night, the coach said.

"Parker is an All-Star...His penetration is something we're going to have to try to limit," Carlisle said. "Whether it's transition, pick-and-rolls or just straight lining you up and driving you, it's a real job to stay in front of him. So we're going to have to have five guys engaged in that task.

Though Duncan is a year older, Carlisle says his game is still as effective. Contending with the perennial All-Star's skill in the painted area will be a challenge for Dallas all night long.

"(Duncan) has only gotten craftier and smarter. He's still as great as he ever was. The difference now is that they've surrounded him with a supporting cast, to where he doesn't have to carry that huge load for them every night for them to be consistent and win. He's one of the Top 2 or 3 post players in all of basketball...He's a load in there," Carlisle said.

The Mavericks will do their best to contain Duncan, Parker, Ginobili and the Spurs' supporting cast in the third of four meetings between the two squads. The Mavericks-Spurs matchup will air locally on KTXA and KTXA HD on Friday night at 7:30 p.m. CT.

Dallas returns to the American Airlines Center on the second night of a back-to-back Saturday, hosting the Utah Jazz, with the game airing 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.

Follow Mavs.com’s Earl K. Sneed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/EarlKSneed.

Mavericks Practice Report 01/06/10

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Mavericks Practice Report 01/06/10

If practice makes perfect then the Dallas Mavericks are hoping that two days to prepare for the division rival San Antonio Spurs pays off with a strong 48-minute performance come Friday night.

A day after knocking off the Detroit Pistons with a 98-93 home win, the Mavericks returned to the practice court in preparation for the Spurs. Beating Detroit, a team that has now loss 10 straight, was one thing. Heading into San Antonio and knocking off the Spurs, a team just 2 1/2 games behind Dallas in the Southwest Division standings, is a much more daunting task.

(Photo by D. Clarke Evans/NBAE via Getty Images)

"Divisional games are very important for obvious reasons and they all count on the total record," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said of the the upcoming meeting with the Spurs. "There's significance in every game you play, and you have to win as many as you can. I'm sure (San Antonio) looks at it the same way."

The two teams split the first two meetings of the season, with both squads winning on their home floor. San Antonio's 92-83 win on Nov. 11, without Tim Duncan and Tony Parker, was answered one week later when Dallas left the American Airlines Center floor with a 99-94 win over a Duncan-led Spurs squad. Having yet to match up against Parker, Carlisle understands just how different Friday night should be with the cat-quick point guard on the floor.

"(Parker) is a great player," Carlisle said. "He was a major problem for us last year, and he's a major problem for everybody. A big part of our game plan will be trying to slow him down...Our whole team is going to have to do a good job, otherwise he's great at getting in the paint, finishing and causing havoc."

Visa versa, the Mavericks are hoping to have their full unit intact. Dallas has played the last two games without starting center Erick Dampier, as the 7-footer has been inactive with a left knee effusion. Carlisle is hopeful that the big man can return to the court on Friday night.

"We're not for sure yet, but (Dampier) is making some gradual progress. We'll see what's what after tomorrow and go from there," the coach said.

If Dampier can't go, the Mavericks are confident that their stable of bigs can step in and contend with Duncan. That assignment will fall on Drew Gooden's shoulders mostly if Dampier continues to sit, though Duncan will see every big body Dallas can throw his way over the course of the night.

"It's a tough job," Carlisle said of defending Duncan. "Last game we had to play without Damp, and it's work. You miss that length when you don't have it out there. But last game, Drew and Dirk (Nowitzki) and Kris (Humphries) guarded him, and if Damp can't go then we're going to have to do it by committee."

"Hopefully we will get (Dampier) back here soon and Drew can continue to still play with the urgency and effort he showed (Tuesday night)," sixth man Jason Terry said.

(Photo by D. Clarke Evans/NBAE via Getty Images)

Though the free agent addition has struggled at times with his scoring near the basket, Gooden has shown a rare ability to snag loose balls off the glass and on the floor.

"It is amazing what Drew Gooden can do for us and he is a valuable asset," Terry said of his teammate. "Especially, without Erick Dampier out there, he is our only big man on the roster, so he has a tough task."

The former Kansas standout's hustle was once again showcased in the win over Detroit, as Gooden overcame a 4-for-16 shooting night to post 10 points and grab a season-high 18 rebounds. A career-best nine of the 18 rebounds were offensive boards, though many came off of his own misses. Still, Carlisle loves what the veteran post man brings to the court nightly.

"I love the way (Gooden) pursues the ball. Whether it's in the air, off the rim or if it's on the floor, he's after it. The energy that he exudes in doing that lifts our team up, gets our crowd involved, so it's big for us.

"He didn't have a great shooting night, but he still impacted the game with his tenacity and that's what we need from everybody."

Dallas will need that tenacious energy to be contagious when they head to San Antonio to battle a Spurs team that has won eight of their last 10. In the third of four meetings between the two squads, the Mavericks-Spurs matchup will air locally on KTXA and KTXA HD on Friday night at 7:30 p.m. CT.

Dallas returns to the American Airlines Center on the second night of a back-to-back Saturday, hosting the Utah Jazz, with the game airing 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.

Follow Mavs.com’s Earl K. Sneed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/EarlKSneed.

Pistons-Mavericks Recap

(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Detroit Pistons 93 at Dallas Mavericks 98

There is no better refuge for an NBA team than the basketball court after a disappointing loss.

Tuesday night, the Dallas Mavericks returned to their haven to match up with the Detroit Pistons just two days after a 35-point defeat suffered at the hands of the defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers. The Mavericks faced a Pistons squad that was reeling on a nine-game losing streak, as Dallas tried to win the season series after snatching a 95-90 win in Detroit on Nov. 15. Though the first half wasn't pretty, behind sixth man Jason Terry and a strong second half effort, the Mavericks got back on track with a 98-93 win on the American Airlines Center floor.

(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)

"We definitely didn't get off to a good start but at home, here in the new year, we wanted to make sure we got the win," Terry said. "Whatever it takes to get it done, that is what we did tonight. In the second half we stepped up and played great Maverick basketball."

The Mavericks outscored the Pistons 62-49 in the second half to move to 12-5 at home this season.

"Twenty-four good minutes and 24 lousy minutes," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said when breaking down the win. "Maybe 15, I don't know. We played some good stretches in the first half. But you've got to put two halves together to get where we want to be, to get where we want to go. That's the priority right now."

With the game against Detroit sandwiched in between the lost to L.A. and Friday's game against the division rival San Antonio Spurs, the Southwest Division-leading Mavericks know that though Tuesday was a win, they will have to play a full 48 minutes in their tests ahead.

"Frankly, we haven't played at the level we need to play at in terms of energy, disposition, all those things," Carlisle said. "We've got a couple days to try to get it resolved. We have a tough game at San Antonio. That's kind of where we are.

"If we play that way in the second half, we can probably play that way in the first half, too. I thought the second half was great."

For the second straight game the Mavericks were without their big man in the middle of the lineup, as center Erick Dampier sat once again with a left knee effusion. Stepping in to provide the rebounding and gritty play in the paint would be Drew Gooden.

"We've got a group of good players. It shouldn't matter who starts. We should have enough to win our share of games. Who starts isn't the biggest issue for us. The biggest issue is consistent, hard play. That's where we have to pick it up," the coach said.

The Pistons where playing without combo guard Will Bynum (ankle), who scored 27 points in the November meeting between the two teams. Without a key contributor on the floor for both teams, the play in the opening quarter was sporadic to say the least. With the Mavericks missing on a stretch of seven straight field goal attempts, while Pistons forward Chris Wilcox finished above the rim early and often, the Mavericks found themselves trailing by as much as nine before ending the period down 22-14. Both teams struggled with their shooting in the first, as Detroit's 8-for-21 from the field was just better than Dallas' 6-of-21.

"Early on we were missing bunnies at the basket...What can you do about that but continue to play hard and continue to get stops," Terry said.

(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)

With Charlie Villanueva catching fire from deep early in the second quarter, the Pistons' lead grew to double digits. Meanwhile, Terry did his best to keep the Mavs close. Despite his best efforts, Terry and the Mavs entered the halftime break down 44-36.

"JET (Terry) really carried us offensively all night long," forward Dirk Nowitzki said. "He came in with the energy off the bench. He kept making shots and kept making big plays for us. That was great."

With Villanueva and Tayshuan Prince each scoring 12 first half points, the Pistons connected on 42 percent of their shots and 4-of-7 from behind the 3-point arch. Terry's 11 points helped the Mavericks stay within arm's reach, though Dallas shot just 35 percent in the half.

"We can't expect our fans to get into the game just because they are here," Carlisle said of the play early in front of the home crowd. "We've got to make things happen. Our energy wasn't where it needed to be in the first half. Second half, it was a lot better."

Looking for quick scoring and a boost of energy in the second half, Carlisle inserted Terry into the lineup in J.J. Barea's place to start the third quarter.

"JET (Terry) had it going good in the first half and was really getting into the game, so we decided to start him (in the second half)," Carlisle said.

The combo guard was the spark plug for a Mavericks' comeback attempt, but Terry's fiery play earned him a technical foul for arguing a missed call at the 9:23-mark of the third. With Terry joining Jason Kidd to quicken the tempo, Nowitzki and Shawn Marion took over the scoring duties as Dallas surged ahead briefly before entering the fourth knotted at 68-all. Nowitzki, Marion and Terry combined to score 30 points as the Mavericks outscored the Pistons 32-24 in the third.

"The third quarter came and we pushed the tempo and that is the way we like to play," Terry said. "We like to free will and not so much set it up in the half court, we like to get out and run."

(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)

Terry's assault on Detroit continued at the onset of the fourth, but the Pistons countered with an attacking Rodney Stuckey. That's when Kidd began to put his stamp on the game with his timely play-making, including his no-look bounce pass to Gooden to put Dallas up 85-78 with 5:30 remaining. The veteran lead guard then got Josh Howard into the act, as No. 5's 3-pointer put the Mavericks in charge with a 90-82 advantage with 3:43 showing on the game clock. But after Stuckey and Ben Gordon brought Detroit back to within one in the final minute with a 7-0 run, the Mavs turned to Nowitzki, and the team's leading-scorer kept the Pistons at bay with a pair of free throws with just 10.4 ticks left.

The Mavs then got a bit of luck, as a scrambling defense left Stuckey open for a game-tying 3-point attempt, which the guard missed.

"We got very lucky...Miscommunication and a guy gets a wide-open shot to tie the game," Carlisle said of the play. "That was dodging a bullet. I'm not exactly sure what happened...but sometimes you have to be lucky to win.

"The second half, we played hard enough to where the basketball Gods might give us that kind of a break, but it doesn't happen very often."

Marion grabbed the defensive rebound and, after a subsequent foul, calmly nailed a pair at the charity stripe with 6.5 seconds remaining. Stuckey's second long range miss in the final seconds found its way into Nowitzki's hands and the star dribbled the clock out.

Led by Terry's game-high 26 points and Nowitzki's 22-point, 12-rebound night, the Mavericks captured their 24th win of the season. Marion pitched in 18 points, while Howard added 12 points.

But it was Gooden that had his teammates and coaching staff raving, battling through a 4-for-16 shooting night in Dampier's stead to record 10 points and a season-high 18 rebounds. Though many of which came off of his own misses, the former Kansas standout grabbed a career-best nine offensive rebounds in the win.

"It is amazing what Drew Gooden can do for us and he is a valuable asset," Terry said of his teammate. Especially, without Erick Dampier out there, he is our only big man on the roster, so he has a tough task."

Richard Hamilton led five Pistons in double figures with 20 points, as Detroit finished the night shooting just under 48 percent. Dallas' 47-41 rebounding edge and 19-11 advantage in fast break points helped the Mavericks mask a 44 percent shooting night.


Now the Mavericks prepare to head to face the Spurs in San Antonio in the third of four meetings. The season series is tied 1-1, with each team winning on their home floor, including Dallas' 99-94 win on Nov. 18. The Mavericks-Spurs matchup will air locally on KTXA and KTXA HD on Friday night at 7:30 p.m. CT.

Dallas returns to the American Airlines Center on the second night of a back-to-back Saturday, hosting the Utah Jazz, with the game airing 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.

Follow Mavs.com’s Earl K. Sneed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/EarlKSneed.

Pistons-Mavericks Preview

(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Detroit Pistons (11-21) at Dallas Mavericks (23-11)

The true testament of how successful a team will be is how well they respond to defeat and adversity.

Not making any excuses for the way they played against the Los Angeles Lakers in a 131-96 blowout defeat on the road, the Southwest Division-leading Dallas Mavericks don't intend to hang their heads. Instead the Mavericks can't wait to hit their home court for the first time in 2010 on Tuesday night to do battle with the Detroit Pistons, a team riding a nine-game losing streak.

(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)

"Once we got on that plan ride, it was such a long flight," sixth man Jason Terry said of the team's trip back after losing in L.A. "We're back at home now, it's a new year and hopefully we can get things off to a good note with a win against Detroit tonight.

"No excuse, no excuse...Whether you lose by forty or one, it's still a loss. Tonight's another opportunity for us to get a win. We want to get off to a great start in the new year, so that's how we're approaching things."

What failed the Mavs against L.A. was the balanced team basketball display that has been featured throughout the season. As Dallas found out in a 95-90 win in Detroit on Nov. 15, the Mavericks will be playing against a Pistons team that runs several isolation plays. The Mavericks will due their best to keep from falling into the loll of mano-a-mano play and focus on a more team-oriented effort.

"They're a movement, pin-down team and some of their possessions end up in one-on-one situations," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said of the Pistons squad. "We're not a one-on-one team. We're a movement, pick-and-roll, post-up, fast-break team and if we get into that kind of stuff it's not our game.

"We've got to remember the things that made us an effective team to this point, and that is attention to detail at the defensive end and offensively getting it out and running -- then making sure we have multiple guys touching the ball."

If the Mavericks can return to the balanced play that was so successful before the Lakers loss, then they believe it will lead to improved play at the American Airlines Center. Despite their 11-5 home record, the Mavs admittedly have yet to showcase consistent dominance on their home hardwood. That is is something that must change, the coach said, with four of their next five games at home starting with Tuesday night.

(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)

"Anytime is a good time when you're at home. We've played well at times at home but we want to be more consistent and we can. It comes down to the same things I've been repeating over and over and over again -- defense, rebounding and ball movement. Those are the key things and making sure that we're dialed in for 48 minutes," Carlisle said.

"We just need that extra energy here," forward Shawn Marion said of what it will take for better play at home. "We just have to regroup at home tonight and get this thing going."

Dallas returns to the American Airlines Center on Tuesday night to host the Pistons, with the game airing 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.

Follow Mavs.com’s Earl K. Sneed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/EarlKSneed.

Mavericks-Lakers Recap

(Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Dallas Mavericks 96 at Los Angeles Lakers 131

The Los Angeles Lakers are the standard in the Western Conference.

But after a 94-80 win in L.A. on Oct. 30, the Dallas Mavericks served notice to the Lakers that Dallas may be ready to contend with the defending champions for the crown. Sporting the two best records in the West, the Mavs and Lakers hooked up at the Staples Center for a second time Sunday night. But this time it was the Lakers leaving their home floor smiling, after making a convincing statement of their own by handing the Mavericks a 131-96 blowout defeat.

(Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)


"Lose by one, lose by forty, either way it counts as one loss, so I guess that is the only positive thing we can take away from tonight," forward Dirk Nowitzki said of the loss.

"We wanted to come out and try and establish ourselves just like we did earlier in the year," reserve forward Tim Thomas said. "I am pretty sure they remembered that game and they wanted to get back."

The 131-point output by L.A. was a season-high for a Dallas opponent.

"Just an embarrassing effort," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said. "We all own it, so I don't know how else to put it. They played great and we played terrible. You know, it was atypical of the year we've had so far, but it's very disappointing.

"It's the first time all year we really didn't put up the kind of fight we really needed to. That's disappointing...It's on all of us, coaches, players, everybody. It's very disappointing."

After Pau Gasol missed the first matchup between the two squads with a hamstring injury, the Mavericks suffered a similar fate when they lost a 7-footer for the second game in the season series. Center Erick Dampier's status changed to inactive shortly after the pregame warm-ups, sidelined with a left knee injury. Still the Mavericks tried to battle without their starting five, playing on the second night of a back-to-back in the conclusion of a three-game road trip.

But the Mavericks aren't using the loss of Dampier or the schedule as an excuse for their play on Sunday night.

"It's just not an excuse for how we played...No excuses," Carlisle said.

(Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)

With Dampier out, big man Drew Gooden stepped into the starting lineup next to Jason Kidd, J.J. Barea, Shawn Marion and Nowitzki. The task for the starters was simple by words, but difficult to put into action: Stop the league's leading-scorer, Kobe Bryant. But early in the first quarter, Bryant deferred to Gasol as the Spaniard dueled with Nowitzki. With Bryant acting as a facilitator first and scorer second, the Lakers' role players set the tone early to take a 30-13 advantage after one. Dallas shot just 16 percent in the opening quarter, as L.A. looked for retribution from their October loss to the Mavs.

"I'm sure that they wanted to come out and play and win the game," Carlisle said.

During a span that ran from the 5:37-mark of the first quarter to 9:51 left in the second, the Mavericks missed on 13 consecutive field goal attempts. Falling behind by as much as 28, the Mavs found themselves down 64-39 at the half.

"Offensively, we just could not get anything going tonight, combined with not getting the stops, that's a rough combination," Nowitzki said. "Some nights you don't have it offensively, but you at least have to get some stops to stay in the game."

Bryant led all scorers at the half with 15 points while dishing out five assists. Nowitzki continued to give the Mavericks hope with 13 points after the first 24 minutes of play, but L.A. out-shot Dallas 59 percent to 28 percent. With a 26-20 rebounding edge, the Lakers held a 32-12 advantage in points in the paint.

"I do not know if it was so much their defense...We had great looks early on and we just didn't make our shots," Kidd said. "If we had, this might have been a different game, but the name of the game is to put the ball in the basket and we just didn't do that this evening."

It was good news for Dallas when the Lakers announced that Gasol would not return in the second half after straining his left hamstring. But the Lakers' supporting cast didn't let up in the third quarter.

With Gasol out, Andrew Bynum took over the scoring responsibilities in the paint and Bryant once again became a willing passer, going scoreless in the period to remain tied with Patrick Ewing for 15th on the NBA's all-time scoring list. Meanwhile the Lakers' lead ballooned to 103-63 headed into the fourth.

"They had whatever they wanted. Bynum was on the inside, the shooters were on, Kobe was making shots everywhere. On offense we just couldn't do anything right," Nowitzki said. "Instead of playing the game better, we started forcing shots and everyone started to try and do it single-handedly instead of playing together and playing the way we always do. So we got ourselves in an even deeper hole and it was just a tough outing for us."

In the final period, both teams emptied their benches as the final 12 minutes played out.

Dallas surrendered 63 percent shooting to the Lakers, while the Mavericks hit just 38 percent at the other end. L.A. dominated the interior, outscoring Dallas 52-36 in the paint and out-rebounding the Mavs 44-40. The 3-point line told the story as well, as the Lakers nailed 14-of-24 from behind the arch while the Mavericks connected on just 5-of-21 from deep.

Nowitzki's team-best 22 points came in a losing effort, while Thomas (12), Jason Terry (10) and Barea (10) all scored in double figures. Led by Jordan Farmar's game-high 24 points off the L.A. bench, seven Lakers scored in double figures.

"(The Lakers' bench) played well tonight," Bryant said. "Offensively, they did a good job."

The final two games between the Mavericks and Lakers are home games for Dallas. The Mavericks will look for a bit of revenge themselves when they host the Lakers on Jan. 13 in the third of four meetings. The Mavs' coach hopes his team remembers the feeling after Sunday night's loss when their next meeting with the Lakers comes around.

"I hope we don't forget about it," Carlisle said.

Dallas returns to the American Airlines Center on Tuesday night to host the Detroit Pistons. 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.

Follow Mavs.com’s Earl K. Sneed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/EarlKSneed.

Mavericks-Lakers Preview

(Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Dallas Mavericks (23-10) at Los Angeles Lakers (26-6)

The Los Angeles Lakers are where the Dallas Mavericks want to be, on top of the basketball world.

Without any question, the Lakers are the benchmark for success right now after claiming the NBA title a season ago, but the Mavericks have their eyes locked and glued on raising the Larry O'Brien Trophy above their heads this year. To do so, the Mavericks know they must first go through the Lakers to get to the golden ball. Dallas will get no better practice then Sunday night, as the two best teams in the Western Conference, record-wise, meet at the Staples Center for the second time this season.

"We feel like if we go out there and play the way we've been playing, play hard, get stops, get rebounds, we're capable of beating anybody," center Erick Dampier said.

(Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

The Mavericks have been in this position before, walking away from the Lakers' home floor with a 94-80 win over the defending champions on Oct. 30 in the first meeting between the two teams.

"We played really good basketball, but that was a long time ago. We've got a different team now in a lot of ways...They've had a chance to get used to each other and so have we," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said.

Two things are different about this matchup. L.A. played without big man Pau Gasol (hamstring), while the Mavs' Josh Howard was sidelined after surgery to repair his left ankle in the offseason. Now both clubs are full strength, making the matchup that much more intriguing.

"Josh will be back with us, so we have a full squad, too," Dampier said. "They're a good team, we're a good team. It's who goes out there and gets the job done, and plays the best."

The Lakers have spent much of their early schedule at home, going 18-3 on their very own hardwood to capture the best record in the league.

"At this point in the season, watching the standings isn't that meaningful," Carlisle said. "Everyone is aware of the Lakers' schedule and their situation, but they are a great team and they're very talented."

Meanwhile Dallas has shown that playing in unfriendly environments is not a daunting task for one of the league's best road teams. Outplaying oppositions away from the nest has brought out the best in the Mavs, sporting a 12-5 road record coming into L.A. The Mavs have split the first two games of a three-game road trip, hoping to cap the stretch with a win Sunday.

"We've played really well on the road. It seems the more hostile the crowd is the better we play. I guess it kind of fuels us a little bit," forward Shawn Marion said.

(Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)

With their ability to take home crowds out of the game, the Mavericks will be able to focus in on shutting down arguably the league's best player and the frontrunner for this season's MVP award, Kobe Bryant. Bryant's 30.6 points per game scoring average is tops in the league, so too are his three buzzer-beaters. Slowing down the NBA's best swingmen has not been a problem for Dallas this season, having already held Bryant, Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Kevin Durant to relatively quiet nights.

But the Mavericks certainly know what Bryant is capable of, and they don't want to see him live up to his potential before their very eyes on Sunday. Dallas will throw a swarming defense at Bryant, forcing the ball out of the premiere scorer's hands.

"Teams that play defense, if you look in the past, they all won championships," point guard Jason Kidd said. "That's what we're trying to achieve."

In a battle of the two best teams in the Western Conference, the Mavericks-Lakers matchup will air on KTXA and KTXA HD at 8:30 p.m. CT.

Dallas returns to the American Airlines Center on Jan. 5 to host the Detroit Pistons. 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.

Follow Mavs.com’s Earl K. Sneed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/EarlKSneed.