(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.
(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com Dallas Mavericks 81 at Philadelphia 76ers 92
Though the Dallas Mavericks have been "road warriors" this season, owning the Western Conference's best road record, they hit a speed bump on Friday night.
Dallas entered Philadelphia quite confident, fresh off of a 94-93 road win over the Washington Wizards after a Shawn Marion game-clinching block. But with the Mavericks meeting up with the 76ers in the fourth matchup of a five-game road trip, the fatigue from their extended stay on the East Coast seemed apparent Friday night. Holding the Mavericks to under 40 percent shooting while utilized a strong night from their bench, the Sixers handed Dallas a 92-81 loss, sending the Mavericks to 2-2 on their current journey away from home.
"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," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said of the defeat.
"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."
(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) With guard Jason Terry in the starting lineup for the second straight game, the uptempo Mavericks took charge in the opening quarter. Terry matched up with the recently named Eastern Conference All-Star Game starter, Allen Iverson. In the halfcourt, the low post dominance of Erick Dampier stabilized the Dallas offense as the Mavericks built up an early eight-point advantage. But after leading the entire first quarter, the Mavs held just a 25-24 edge at the end of one.
"Our first quarter, I thought was good. We didn't finish it particularly well, but most of the time we played well during that stretch," Carlisle said.
Returning from his one-game absence with a stomach illness, Josh Howard gave the Mavericks a spark early in the second quarter. But the Sixers would make a living off of Dallas turnovers in the period. On the court without Marion, who suffered a laceration to his right hand late in the first quarter, the Mavericks found themselves playing from behind early in the second stanza.
"I think my hand hit off the back of Thaddeus Young's heel or something like that," Marion said. "But it's part of it, things happen during the course of the game. You just got to fight through it though."
Meanwhile Young's offensive assault paced Philly, putting Dallas in a double digit deficit. With his right middle finger taped to protect three stitches, Marion returned to the hardwood in the final minute of the half. But his team still entered halftime down 54-48.
"(Marion) is playing extremely well, and it certainly didn't help us when he went out...He had to go out and get some stitches in his finger on his shooting hand, but he came back and said he was okay to play and played well when he was back in there," the coach said.
"But that's one of those things that happens. You're going to have some freak things happen and lose guys for stretches to get stitches or whatever. And you have to play through that."
With leading scorer Dirk Nowitzki just 1-for-6 from the field in the first half, the Dallas offense sputtered to just 42 percent shooting, compared to Philly's 44 percent. The Mavericks' nine turnovers in the first 24 minutes of play certainly helped the Sixers' cause, but Young's 18 first half points in a reserve role told the story midway through the night. Dallas stayed close with Marion's 10 early points.
It took nearly four minutes of play in the third quarter before the Mavericks scored, as Nowitzki drained his second field goal of the night on a jumper at the 8:09-mark. While the Dallas offense went through a drought, the Sixers' offense continued to increase Philly's advantage. In a low-scoring affair, the Sixers outscored the Mavericks 18-12 in the third to open up a 72-60 lead heading into the final quarter.
"We couldn't recuperate (from the early deficit) and it was frustrating. For the most part, in the third quarter we were stopping them. We held them to 18 points in that quarter, but we couldn't get shots. It was like there was a lid on that basket. It's so much harder stopping people when you can't score on them, especially when they've already got a cushion," Marion said.
"We had some good looks," Nowitzki added. "We know we're more of a jump-shooting team, but it seemed like there was a lid on the basket. Especially for the third quarter, where we actually got some stops in a row, but we couldn't get the lead under ten because there were a bunch of possessions in a row where we couldn't score. So, we never really cut the lead. Our defense wasn't really bad in the third quarter, and we tried to make a push in the fourth quarter, but they kept making big plays."
(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) Thanks to big man Drew Gooden, who scored Dallas' first seven points in the fourth, the Mavericks continued to compete. But Philly's Marreese Speights answered Gooden bucket for bucket. Down 16, the Mavericks found success attacking the rim. As J.J. Barea's peskiness on defense bothered Iverson, the Mavs cut the Philly advantage to nine. But the perennial All-Star found a way to all the loose balls in the fourth, before eventually putting the game away on a driving three-point play with 2:33 remaining to put a halt to the Mavericks' momentum. Carlisle soon conceded the loss, emptying the bench in the final minute.
"Our lapses were ill-timed," Carlisle summed up the night. "When we got a couple shots to go, we couldn't get the stops. They're a talented team. They're certainly better than their record. They've had a lot of close, tough losses. They're good enough to beat you if you don't play a good game, and we just did not play a good game from start to finish."
While Philly's 43 percent shooting was not stellar, it was still better than Dallas' 39.5 percent from the field. The Sixers' 49-42 dominance on the glass and 52-38 advantage in points in the paint were key, but their 56-34 edge in bench scoring was detrimental to Dallas' fate. "Their bench really was a major factor in the game. Young comes in the game and has 18 in the first half. Speights ends up with 14 points, going 7-for-13. So those guys made a bigger impact on the game than we hoped to have let them. That's a big part of it," Carlisle said.
Nowitzki led five Mavericks in double figures with a team-high 15 points on 4-for-13 shooting. Gooden (14), Marion (12), Howard (11) and Dampier (11) all scored in double figures but it was not enough to overcome a rough night for Terry, who collected just four points on 2-of-12 shooting in just under 35 minutes.
After his big first half, Young finished with a game-high 22 points to led five Sixers' scorers in double digits.
Now the Mavericks hit the road again. In the final test of their five-game road trip, the Mavericks touch down in New York on Sunday to battle the Knicks for the first time this season. Dallas swept the two games between the teams last season. The Mavericks-Knicks game will air locally on Fox Sports Southwest at noon CT.
"We have one more game on this trip to make it 3-2. That can be a good trip and end it on a good note," Marion said.
The Mavericks return home to host the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday night. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by calling (214) 747-MAVS.
(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.
Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com Dallas Mavericks 94 at Washington Wizards 93
The Dallas Mavericks have been preaching a defense-first philosophy since Training Camp. Thanks to perhaps the best individual defensive play by a Maverick player this season, Dallas snuck away from the Verizon Center with a 94-93 win over the Washington Wizards.
With the game in the balance, Mavs forward Shawn Marion matched up mano-a-mano with Caron Butler. The player appropriately nicknamed "The Matrix" won the battle, ending a hard fought contest with a clinching block.
"It came down to our best defender against their best offensive player," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said. "At the end, Marion made a great individual defensive play. What he did was like hitting the game-winning shot. It's a great win against a great team. Our guys knew that this was going to be a tough game, and it was."
Looking to ride the momentum of a 99-90 road win over the Boston Celtics, Dallas entered the nation's capital with hopes of winning the middle matchup of a five-game road trip. The Mavericks were also looking to prove that they are a much better team than the one that dropped a 102-91 home loss on Opening Night to the Wizards. But just like the season opening loss, Dallas would once again be forced to match up with the Wizards without swingman Josh Howard, as the former All-Star was sidelined with a stomach virus. Even without Howard, the Mavericks moved to 2-1 on their current expedition away from the Lone Star State, due in large part to the Dallas defense.
"Winning on a defensive possession –- you wouldn't say that in the past about the Mavericks," point guard Jason Kidd said. "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.
"Washington is playing extremely well and this was a big win –- bigger than the one in Boston because we backed it up and validated it. Any time you win on the road in the NBA you're doing something right."
(Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images) With the Wizards continuing to play without the indefinitely suspended Gilbert Arenas (allegedly brought guns to the arena), the Mavericks entered the game with the best road record in the Western Conference. With the void in the Dallas starting lineup, Carlisle inserted sixth man Jason Terry into the first unit. Terry, getting his second start of the season, energized the Dallas squad in the opening quarter with his unique ability to score from the outside and at the bucket in transition. Meanwhile, the Dallas defense was stifling at the rim in the first quarter, collecting three blocked shots in the period. But after leading by as much as 12, a 7-0 Wizards' run shrunk the Mavericks' lead to 25-20 at the end of one. Terry and forward Dirk Nowitzki combined to score 18 of Dallas' 25 points in the quarter.
Led by big men Drew Gooden and James Singleton, the Dallas reserves did their job to begin the second quarter. Before the starters had a chance to return to the court, the Mavericks' bench increased the margin to a 14-point advantage in Dallas' favor. For Washington, Randy Foye continued to provide hope with his ability to score and play-make for others. Getting help from Butler, Foye and the Wizards cut the deficit to just 50-47 headed into the halftime break.
"A lot of times they will run something, it's just an action to get (Foye, Butler or Antawn Jamison) open and you're not sure. Those plays are really tough to guard," Carlisle said of trying to slow down the Wizards' offensive attack.
Nowitzki led all scorers at the half with his 18 points, while Foye kept the Wizards close with 16. While the offensive efficiency slipped in the second quarter, the Dallas defense held strong the entire first half, forcing nine Wizards' giveaways and sending back six shots via blocks in the first 24 minutes of play.
The Mavericks were forced to turn to their bench early in the second half, as center Erick Dampier picked up his fourth foul at the 10:46-mark of the third quarter bringing Gooden back onto the court. And just like he had in the first half, Gooden stepped up to the challenge, establishing a go-to scorer in the low post. With Kidd finding Gooden and Marion for easy buckets near the basket, the Dallas offense got back on track. But at the other end the Dallas defense couldn't contain the Wizards' offense, as Washington closed to within three, 70-67, heading into the final period.
"(The Wizards) have a good complement of guys and you can tell that they like playing together by watching the games," the coach said. "I personally think that they are going to hang around in the playoff race."
(Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images) It didn't take long for the Wizards to surge in front in the fourth, using a 6-0 run to take a 75-74 lead with 9:11 remaining. It was Washington's first lead since the game's initial basket. But the Mavericks countered with a healthy dose of Nowitzki and Terry, off of Kidd's uptempo play. Back-to-back scores from the two veteran sharpshooters gave Dallas an 84-80 edge with 5:13 left. The Mavericks then sent a resonating message with an alley-oop lob pass from Kidd to Dampier for a one-handed finish. Kidd and the Mavs appeared to make all the right plays down the stretch, as the pass-first lead guard found a cutting Terry for a layup to put Dallas up 92-87 with 1:59 on the game clock.
But the Wizards stayed alive from behind the 3-point arch, cutting the Dallas lead to just 94-93 with back-to-back threes from Foye and Mike Miller with just 27.1 ticks remaining.
"I was really disappointed with the two threes that we gave up. It came down to us executing and getting a good shot. We also had to get a stop," Carlisle said of the final minute.
The Wizards' heartbeat continued to tick after Nowitzki committed an offensive foul on a drive with 6.7 seconds left. After a Washington timeout, the game came down to the one-on-one matchup between Butler and Marion, and the Mavericks' best defender did not shy away from the challenge.
(Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images) As Butler pulled up for the shot, Marion met the star in the air, blocking the shot and sending away the Wizards' hopes of a victory. The ball found its way to Kidd as time expired, with Dallas claiming the one-point win. It is the Mavericks' ninth straight win in games decided by one point.
"I knew (Butler) was going to get it so I just wanted to play good defense," Marion said. "I don't think he really had a path to take it to the basket. I was just in a great position to guard whatever he did. All you have to do sometimes is get a good contest and I was able to block the shot. We knew it was going to be Butler.
"It fires you up when a game is competitive. You go out there and take what's given to you and you take advantage of the situation. I got a beat on it and was able to get a good defensive stop."
The game-winning block was one of nine Mavericks' rejections on the night, though none were as big as Marion's in the final seconds.
"Shawn has been our best defender all season long. He's a smart defender, he's long, he's athletic, and he can still move his feet and challenge shots and stay in front of guys," Nowitzki said of his teammate. "He made a great defensive play, sliding his feet, and still was able to contest and get a hand on the ball. It really saved us because I got the charge. It was a big win for us."
The Dallas defense also collected nine steals and forced 16 turnovers.
Off of Kidd's game-high 15 assists, the Mavericks dished out 27 dimes helping four Mavericks score in double figures. Nowitzki's game-high 28 points led the way, while Terry (21), Gooden (14) and Marion (12) all reached double digits in scoring.
"(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."
Foye led the Wizards with 26 points, getting help from Butler's 20 points (on 7-of-20 shooting).
Despite connecting on just 4-for-20 from 3-point range, the Mavericks still out-shot the Wizards from the field, 46 percent to 44 percent. The two teams played to a 41-all stalemate in the rebounding battle.
Next up, Dallas travels to Philadelphia to tangle with the 76ers in the fourth game of a five-matchup road trip. The Mavericks-76ers game will air locally on Fox Sports Southwest at 6 p.m. CT. Dallas escaped with a 104-102 home win on Nov. 30 in the first game between the two squads this season.
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.
Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com Dallas Mavericks (27-14) at Washington Wizards (14-26)
A lot has changed since the Dallas Mavericks and Washington Wizards tipped off the 2009-10 season.
(Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images) Since handing the Mavericks a 102-91 home loss in the Season Opener on Oct. 27, the Wizards have spiralled to the bottom of the Southeast Division and the team has watched the league suspend their leading scorer, Gilbert Arenas. The NBA sent "Agent Zero," who scored 29 points and dished out nine assists in the Wizards' October win, away indefinitely for allegedly bringing guns into the Verizon Center locker room. Since his Jan. 6 suspension the Wizards are 3-5.
Meanwhile, the Mavericks have gone in the completely opposite direction, using defense and fast break offense to sprint to the top of the Southwest Division. Dallas' style of play was on full display for the nation to see against the Boston Celtics on Monday night, when the Mavericks used stellar defense to create transition offense and a 58-40 advantage in second half scoring en route to a 99-90 victory. The Mavericks will look for more of the same when they touch down in the nation's capital for the middle matchup of a five-game road trip, having split the first two games after a poor showing defensively in Toronto.
"I think with this team it starts defensively," forward Dirk Nowitzki said of his ball club. "We did a great job in the second half (against Boston). We just gave up 40 points, forced some shots, stuck with their shooters and our offense finally came to us. But it always starts on the defensive end for us, and that's what won us the game.
"We don't want to grind it out all the time, but for us to play a free-flowing offense, we need some stops and we finally got some stops in the second half. And we were running...We were moving the ball and it was fun to watch."
(Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images) But the Wizards are 2-0 on their current six-game home stand. If Dallas hopes to disrupt that then they must rely on Nowitzki and point guard Jason Kidd. Nowitzki's 37 points against Boston grabbed the headlines, but Kidd's 13-point, 17-assist night made life easier for Mavs coach Rick Carlisle. The pass-first veteran is quick to point out that his duty is to run the show, and finding No. 41 is always a smart move.
"I mean, Dirk putting the ball in the basket helps," Kidd said. "But just running the pick-and-roll, running the offense, knowing who is going to be there and guys putting the ball in the basket...I felt comfortable in making the right decision."
Against an Arenas-less Wizards squad, the Mavericks will once again try to establish their uptempo play early.
"We want to play uptempo," the coach said. "We want to get up and down the floor, but we don't want to be willy-nilly about it."
Washington will still have forward Antawn Jamison and his 22.7 points per game scoring average on the court, after the former All-Star missed the first meeting with a shoulder injury. Stopping Jamison and his teammate Caron Butler will be a touch task, but Dallas will look to demonstrate a defensive physicality on the perimeter and in the interior, which was a key to the win in Boston.
"Strong defense is something that travels and is something that is a winning formula. We just have to stay with it...We have a physical team. We start a 6-7 two guard and a 6-8 small forward, and both of those guys are strong and athletic. And our point guard is big."
The Mavericks-Wizards matchup will air locally on Fox Sports Southwest at 6 p.m. CT. It is the third matchup of a five-game road trip for the Mavericks.
Dallas returns home to host the Milwaukee Bucks on Jan. 26. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by calling (214) 747-MAVS.
Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com Dallas Mavericks 99 at Boston Celtics 90
A case of short-term memory loss is exactly what the Dallas Mavericks needed after the disappointment of Sunday's 110-88 loss in Toronto to begin a five-game road trip.
Monday night made Dallas' misfortunes the day before a distant memory.
(Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) Needing to put Sunday to back of their minds, the Mavericks traveled to Boston on the second night of a back-to-back to meet up with the Celtics for the first time this season. The two division leaders also came in with the second-best records in their respective conferences. With a flawless second half engineered by point guard Jason Kidd and Dirk Nowitzki's 37-point night, the Mavericks made a statement to the rest of the league and erased any recollection of Sunday with a 99-90 win, running their Western Conference-best record away from home to 14-7.
"Well, I don't know if we even know what happened (Sunday)," Kidd said. "Some say we were in Toronto, some say we just came straight to Boston, so you know, that's the league. We had a horrible showing and we were very fortunate to have a back-to-back situation where we could get that taste out of our mouth."
"It was a great win for us and it was much needed," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said.
The Mavericks seemed to still have the previous game on their brains to start Monday night's MLK holiday affair, quickly falling behind 9-2 out of the gates. With his team struggling, Kidd picked up the slack with an assault from behind the 3-point arch. Soon the future Hall-of-Famer's teammates followed suit, as the Mavericks briefly went ahead before an 8-0 Celtics' run closed the quarter with Boston up 25-20.
Dallas' five first quarter turnovers greatly contributed to their early deficit.
Playing without Kevin Garnett (knee), Boston needed someone to step up and provide timely scoring. Eddie House did just that early in the second quarter. With Dallas' frustration building and the Celtics' advantage growing, Carlisle was assessed a technical foul at the 5:49-mark of the period. Despite Nowitzki's best efforts, the Mavericks trailed by as much as 11 before entering halftime down 50-41.
Nowitzki led all scorers at the half with 15 points, while Ray Allen's 13 pushed Boston out in front. The Celtics out-shot the Mavericks 55 percent to 47 percent after the first 24 minutes of play, capitalizing off of eight Dallas giveaways with a 12-3 edge in fast break points.
"We just wanted to hang in there and we had a couple of plays at the end of the first half that deflated us a little bit -- a turnover, they scored and a missed shot," Carlisle said. "At halftime, we just said, 'Hey, let's hang around and fight, and lets give ourselves a chance.' We probably played the best we have played during the second half, defensively and offensively."
The third quarter was much more kind to Dallas, beginning the period with a 9-2 run. Led by Nowitzki and center Erick Dampier, who came alive in the painted area, the Mavericks surged ahead on the scoreboard. The two 7-footers combined to score 24 points in the quarter, as Dallas finished the third with 10 unanswered to outscore Boston 34-18 in period. The dominate play gave the Mavericks a 75-68 advantage headed into the fourth.
With Dampier on the bench to begin the final period, Nowitzki was completely fine handling the scoring load. Meanwhile, Kidd's play-making controlled the tempo and got forward Shawn Marion involved around the bucket. The veteran point guard and sixth man Jason Terry then opened up an 89-75 lead after back-to-back 3-pointers with 8:02 remaining. Even when the offense slipped, the Dallas defense took away any Celtic hopes of a comeback, though Allen and Rasheed Wallace did their best with shots from the perimeter.
"The thing that we just have to keep talking about and preaching is the shots are going to come. Shots come and go, but strong defense is something that travels and is something that is a winning formula. We just have to stay with it," Carlisle said.
Nowitzki's jumper at the 3:27-mark ended a stretch of six straight missed shots for the Mavs and gave Dallas a 95-82 lead. With his team nursing a 10-point advantage inside of the final minute, Nowitzki put Boston to bed for the night with a 1-for-2 trip at the foul line with 41.8 ticks left. The two teams then emptied their benches as Dallas closed out its 27th win of the season.
The Mavericks outscored the Celtics 58-40 in the second half.
"We did a great job in the second half," Nowitzki said. "You know, we just gave up 40 points, forced some shots, stuck with their shooters and our offense finally came to us. But it always starts on the defensive end for us, and that's what won us the game.
"We don't want to grind it out all the time...For us to play a free-flowing offense, we need some stops and we finally got some stops in the second half. We were running, we were moving the ball and it was fun to watch."
(Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) Nowitzki's 37 points (22 in the second half) was a game-high, leading five Mavs in double figures. Meanwhile, Kidd filled up the stat sheet with 13 points, a season-high tying 17 assists and four rebounds.
"Dirk putting the ball in the basket helps," Kidd said of the 17 assists. "Just running the pick-and-roll, running the offense, knowing who is going to be there and guys putting the ball in the basket...I had the ball a lot today and I felt comfortable in making the right decision."
Paul Pierce led the Celtics with 24 points while Allen added 21.
Both teams finished the night shooting pretty efficiently, as the Mavericks' 57 percent from the field bettered the Celtics' 51 percent. Attempting eight more free throw attempts (24 total), the Mavericks used the charity stripe to overcome 15 turnovers. Dallas also won the battle on the glass, out-rebounding Boston 35-32, while matching the Celtics in points in the paint, 46-all.
"The defense really keyed everything. We had good transitions and good looks. Dirk got loose, Marion got to the rim and Kidd was spectacular...I just thought that the balance that we were able to keep was key."
The Mavericks hope that balance continues as their journey keeps running through the East Coast, meeting the Washington Wizards on Wednesday night. Dallas will try to avenge a 102-91 home loss in the Season Opener. The Mavericks-Wizards matchup will air locally on Fox Sports Southwest at 6 p.m. CT.
Dallas returns home to host the Milwaukee Bucks on Jan. 26. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by calling (214) 747-MAVS.
Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com Dallas Mavericks (26-14) at Boston Celtics (27-11)
The Dallas Mavericks have shown the ability to bounce back after disappointing losses all season long.
Monday, while celebrating the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, the Mavericks will have to respond to disappointment once again.
Playing on the second night of a back-to-back, the Southwest Division-leading Mavericks will continue along to the second matchup of a five-game road trip through the Eastern Conference, just 24 hours after suffering a 110-88 loss to the Toronto Raptors. The Mavericks have no time to feel sorry for themselves, meeting up with the Atlantic Division-leading Boston Celtics for the first time this season. The Celtics won both games between the two teams last season.
(Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) "We're going to challenge each other to come out (Monday night)," sixth man Jason Terry said. "It's another opportunity and get a win. Let's just flat out get a win."
But for the Mavericks to get a win in the matchup between the second-best records of the East and West, the defensive intensity will need to pick up. According to Mavs coach Rick Carlisle, his team has lacked consistency on the defensive end.
"Our inability to sustain anything really consistent defensively was the problem for us," the coach said after Sunday's loss. "When we get stops, we can get out in transition, we can get good shots.
"Every team in this league is looking for consistency. When we struggle with it, we're like every other team, we struggle. We have to play better."
The Mavs' offensive production off of the bench suffered against Toronto as well. Aside for Terry's 18 points in the loss, the rest of the Dallas reserves posted a total of 16 points off the bench. That is something that must change, not only against Boston but going forward, Terry said.
"For our second unit to come in and play the way that we did, it's embarrassing. I've challenged them. I've challenged myself. I'm a part of that group, so we have to come out and do a much better job," Terry said.
"We know going into a game, our bench can not come out and put up production like we did (Sunday). That's embarrassing."
Despite Sunday's loss, Dallas still has the West's best road record at 13-7. But the Mavericks are just 5-5 in their last 10 games. Fortunately for Dallas, the Celtics are a banged up squad.
(Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) Boston will be without big man Kevin Garnett (knee), while Rasheed Wallace is optimistic that can give it a go against the Mavs despite a foot injury. Reports say that the team is expected to have Paul Pierce, after the All-Star collided knee-to-knee with teammate Shelden Williams in practice.
The Mavericks-Celtics game will air nationally on TNT at 7 p.m. CT. It is a part of a triple-header on the network to celebrate the MLK holiday.
Dallas returns home to host the Milwaukee Bucks on Jan. 26. 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.
Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com Dallas Mavericks 88 at Toronto Raptors 110
Beginning a long road trip with a win can ways provide a boost to a team on an extended stay away from home. The Dallas Mavericks won't have that luxury after the first matchup of a five-game road trip.
In an early tip-off on Sunday, the Mavericks began their trip away from home with the Western Conference's best road record. After claiming a 129-101 home win and shooting 62 percent against the Toronto Raptors in Dallas' second-best offensive showing of the season on Nov. 7, the Mavericks looked for a repeat performance north of the border in the Air Canada Centre. Unfortunately for the Mavericks, this time the Raptors were the offensively potent team in their matinee matchup. A dominate Raptors' second quarter helped Toronto split the season series and handed Dallas a 110-88 road loss.
"Our inability to sustain anything really consistent defensively was the problem for us," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said of the loss. "When we get stops, we can get out in transition, we can get good shots.
"Every team in this league is looking for consistency. When we struggle with it, we're like every other team, we struggle. We have to play better. And give Toronto credit, they played extremely well."
(Photo by Ron Turenne/NBAE via Getty Images) Dallas looked for leading-scorer Dirk Nowitzki early and often in the opening quarter, while the Raptors countered with big man Chris Bosh. With Jason Kidd passing Glen Rice for fifth on the all-time list for made 3-point field goals on a bomb from long range at the 2:40-mark, coupled with 10 first quarter points from Nowitzki, the Mavericks seized control early with a 23-20 lead after one. The early advantage broke an eight-game stretch of Dallas deficits at the end of the first quarter.
"The first quarter was a good quarter for us, based on the score," the coach said. "They didn't shoot well, I thought we had something to do with that. We didn't shoot particularly well either, but we had a lead. And then we went through a stretch where we turned it over, we were dry and weren't defending –- that's three bad things to have happening at once."
The Raptors rallied with an 8-2 run to start the second quarter and surged ahead on the scoreboard. With Nowitzki and the starters resting on the sidelines, the Mavericks' second unit struggled to find the bottom of the net.
"Our second unit comes in the game and we think it's just going to be easy," sixth man Jason Terry said. "Their second group came out there full of energy -- making shot after shot, making plays. We didn't bring it...You had guys playing uncharacteristically. There are certain things we have to get accomplished, especially with that second group. We don't have Dirk out there, so there's certain things we have to run. We have to stay discipline and we definitely have to defend. But on the offensive end, we have to know what we're looking for, and we didn't. We were searching out there."
When Nowitzki returned to the court, he deferred to Terry. Still Bosh and the Raptors were a determined bunch, outscoring the Mavs 34-18 in the second quarter and equaling their largest lead as they entered halftime with a 54-41 lead.
"The second quarter was our undoing. When they scored 34, we scored 18. Turnovers led to uncontested shots and we went through a drought. When you go through a drought, you have to stop them and we didn't do it. The end result is a loss," Carlisle said.
"It is frustrating especially with this long road trip we have got," forward Shawn Marion said. "I thought we started the game off pretty well and they made a run. It seemed like they made some changes."
Bosh's 17 points led all scorers at the half, while Nowitzki kept Dallas in the game with his 14. Toronto's 50 percent shooting from the field bettered the Mavericks' 43 percent, due in large part to easy scores off of Dallas' seven first half turnovers.
The Mavericks' comeback attempt in the third quarter began with an attacking Marion, as the former Raptor found success raining in floaters over the long arms of the Toronto defenders. Continuously keeping the Mavs at bay, the Raptors increased their advantage with an inside-outside game plan. The frustration began to get to the Mavericks, as Nowitzki picked up his fourth personal foul and a technical for arguing the call with 1:44 left in the period. Meanwhile, the margin grew to 19 before Toronto eventually took an 84-68 lead into the fourth.
"Our problem is not the officials or those kinds of things, our problem is staying on task and knowing what's important to help us win," Carlisle said. "Look, we have to keep hammering and hammering away on it, we have to keep pointing it out, have to keep showing film, we have to keep reminding them and we'll get better."
(Photo by Ron Turenne/NBAE via Getty Images) The final period began with Carlisle shifting to a "small ball" lineup of rookie Rodrigue Beaubois, Terry, Josh Howard, Marion and Nowitzki. But while the unit played at a faster pace, it did little to impact the scoreboard. With Andrea Bargnani closing the Mavericks out with an array of shots midway through the period, both teams emptied their benches in the final minutes conceding a Raptors' win.
Nowitzki finished with a team-high 19 points, while Terry led the reserve effort with 18. Marion's 15 points and Kidd's 12 made it four Mavericks who scored in double figures.
Bosh's game-high 23 points were just ahead of Bargnani's 22, as Toronto featured five double-figure scorers.
The Raptors finished the day out-shooting the Mavericks from the field, 49 percent to 45 percent, also winning the battle of the boards with a 45-41 rebounding edge. Toronto utilized 10 Dallas turnovers to push the tempo out to a 23-9 advantage in fast break points.
Though the play of the second unit is normally decisively in the Mavericks' favor, led by Jose Calderon's 15 points off the bench, Toronto's reserves outscored their Dallas counterparts 38-34.
"Our starters did an outstanding job. But for our second unit to come in and play the way that we did, it's embarrassing. I've challenged them. I've challenged myself. I'm a part of that group, so we have to come out and do a much better job," Terry said.
"We know going into a game, our bench can not come out and put up production like we did tonight. That's embarrassing."
Now the Mavericks look to get back on the winning track Monday, on the second night of a back-to-back, heading into Boston to battle the Atlantic Division-leading Celtics. The Mavericks-Celtics game will air nationally on TNT at 7 p.m. CT. It is the first meeting between the two teams this season, after Boston swept the two games last year.
"We're going to challenge each other to come out tomorrow night," Terry said. "It's another opportunity and get a win. Let's just flat out get a win."
Dallas returns home to host the Milwaukee Bucks on Jan. 26. 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.
Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com Dallas Mavericks (26-13) at Toronto Raptors (20-20)
A five-game East Coast road trip could not come at a more inopportune time for the Dallas Mavericks.
After dropping the first two matchups of a three-game home stand, the Mavericks broke through with a 99-98 win against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Though the victory was by the narrowest of margins, getting a win and much-needed momentum was a necessity.
"It wasn't pretty, but definitely before you go on a big road trip you never want to leave with a loss," forward Dirk Nowitzki, who scored a game-high 32 points, said of the one-point win. "We found a way as a veteran team to grind it out and get a win."
Now the Mavs hit the road, amid the frigid eastern winter season, leaving the refuge of the American Airlines Center and the Dallas forecast.
"We've got some tough games on this trip. We've got to be ready...It's going to be cold, too. It's been cold here but it's going to be really cold on that East Coast. Get your coat and button up," forward Shawn Marion said.
(Photo by Ron Turenne/NBAE via Getty Images) The expedition away from home begins north of the border against the Toronto Raptors. Toronto just may be the perfect opponent for the Mavericks to match up against, after scoring one point shy of a season-high number of points in a 129-101 blowout home win against the Raptors in a Nov. 7 meeting.
That game, the season debut for swingman Josh Howard, was also the first time the Dallas squad showed how explosive they can be. The Mavericks shot a stellar 62 percent from the field en route to capturing the win.
"That's the first game I think everyone was clicking on the same cylinder. It looked good and felt good," Marion said.
But despite their .500 record, the Raptors sport a 12-6 mark at home and have won seven of their last 10 games.
The Mavs also found out how versatile the Raptors are, headlined by the frontcourt of Chris Bosh and Andrea Bargnani. The duo combined for 48 points in the loss. According to Mavs coach Rick Carlisle, containing the two big men is no easy task for any team.
"They both shoot the ball really well. They both put the ball on the floor. It's an awareness thing. If you're a big guarding those guys you have to be ready to close out away from the basket and then be ready to move your feet when they put it on the floor. It's tough. It's one of the toughest matchups in the league, because they both shoot the ball so well. They both drive the ball so well," the coach said.
(Photo by Ron Turenne/NBAE via Getty Images) Meanwhile, the Mavericks may have found their recipe for success, finding Nowitzki and sixth man Jason Terry continuously down the stretch against the Thunder. The newest member of the 20,000-point club and reigning Sixth Man of the Year combined to score 16 of the final 18 for Dallas in the win. Nowitzki finished with a game-high 32 points while Terry added 21 in his reserve role.
"That's Maverick basketball," Terry said. "Myself and Dirk, we take a huge responsibility at the end of the game. But it's all about effort, desire and the will to win."
Sunday, the Mavericks will enter Toronto with the will to win and a Western Conference-best 13-6 road record. The Mavericks-Raptors game will air locally on Fox Sports Southwest at 11:30 a.m. CT.
Dallas returns home to host the Milwaukee Bucks on Jan. 26. 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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