Trail Blazers-Mavericks Recap

(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Portland Trail Blazers 114 at Dallas Mavericks 112 F/OT

The Dallas Mavericks entered their matchup with the Portland Trail Blazers looking to avenge an 85-81 home loss on Dec. 22.

After Andre Miller's performance on Saturday night left the Mavericks scratching their heads, the December loss was the furthest thing from their minds.

(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

With Portland's All-Star guard Brandon Roy out with a hamstring injury, Miller showed up and showed out. Hitting on 22-of-31 shots he hoisted up, the veteran point guard poured in a career-high 52 points to power the Blazers to a 114-112 overtime win on Dallas' home floor, yet again. Though they had their chance to win, Miller was simply too much for the Mavericks down the stretch.

"Guys in this league, when they get in a groove, they can have special nights like that," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said of Miller's night. "We tried a lot of different guys on him...He played a phenomenal game. On nights like tonight, guys like him get the rolls. A lot of those hung on the rim and went in. So, you have to give him his due. It was a phenomenal effort. We obviously didn't do a good job on him."

"I've had a few heated nights in my career, but I think this was one of those nights where I just didn't stop shooting," Miller said of his career outing, eclipsing his previous career-high of 37.

The Mavericks were a little shorthanded as well, playing without reserve big man Tim Thomas after the veteran left the team for personal reasons. With no Thomas coming off of the bench, Carlisle needed more from his starting unit. Behind a quick start from forwards Shawn Marion and Dirk Nowitzki, the Mavs came out of the gates sprinting. But Miller ran the pick-and-roll to perfection with big man LaMarcus Aldridge in the opening quarter, powering Portland to a 26-21 edge after one.

"A poor start to the game defensively," the coach said plainly.

Playing without Thomas, big man Drew Gooden and rookie Rodrigue Beaubois sparked the Mavericks' second string to begin the second stanza. Also providing fireworks was forward Eduardo Najera, who saw his first game action since returning to the team via a Jan. 11 trade with New Jersey. The fan favorite got the hometown faithful out of their seats with a 3-pointer, putting the Mavs ahead 32-29 with 6:42 remaining in the first half. But the second quarter was all about Josh Howard, raining in 14 points with an array of shots to lift his team to a 47-44 lead heading into halftime.

The Blazers out-shot the Mavericks, connecting on 47 percent of their shots compared to Dallas' 44 percent shooting in the half. But Dallas held the scoring edge at the midway point despite Miller's 19 first half points.

"It all started with easy layups that got him going," Nowitzki said of Miller's early scoring attack.

Miller continued his scoring assault on the Dallas defense to start the third quarter. As they did in first quarter, the Mavericks countered with more Nowitzki and Marion in the halfcourt. But the Mavericks' offense was out of sorts, causing Nowitzki to succumb to the frustration, as the superstar was assessed a technical foul at the 1:06-mark of the quarter. Meanwhile, Aldridge came on strong in the period, giving the Blazers a seven-point edge before J.J. Barea's buzzer-beating three cut the deficit to 73-69 heading into the fourth. The Mavericks shot just 7-for-19, as Portland outscored Dallas 29-22 in the third.

"In the fourth quarter, it was just make something happen. We really didn't look great (in the third) and we were down," Nowitzki said.

With his team down, Nowitzki attempted to rally the troops. But Miller and Steve Blake continued to keep the Mavs at bay. Despite the best efforts of Portland's backcourt, the Mavericks knotted the game at 88-all on a driving score by Jason Terry with 5:09 remaining. The two teams then exchanged jabs, and the lead, like prize fighters, as Nowitzki and Miller refused to let their teams lose.

Nowitzki got a little help from Jason Kidd, as the veteran lead guard knocked home a three to put Dallas ahead 97-96 with 1:48 remaining. Miller came right back with a three-point play. The game was once again tied at 99-all when Nowitzki sent Aldridge to the line with 59.0 ticks left in regulation, but the big man went 0-for-2 at the charity stripe. After collecting the rebound, the Mavericks went to their go-to guy, and Nowitzki once again thrived. No. 41 swished home a patented jumper to put his team ahead two with 41.9 seconds on the game clock.

After a Portland timeout, Marion was called for a foul, sending Miller to the line where he calmly tied the game once again. Matched up one-on-one with Aldridge, Nowitzki got the ball on the right elbow, but Aldridge poked the All-Star forward in the eye. Back at the line with 26.8 seconds, Nowitzki nailed a pair of clutch free throws, as the Mavericks went back ahead on the scoreboard. But as he had all night long, Miller brought his team back, this time connecting on a running hook to tie the game at 103-all.

(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

As they have his whole career, the Mavericks expected another game-winner from Nowitzki, but No. 41's go-ahead shot attempt bounced off of the iron and into Juwan Howard's hands with 1.3 ticks left for Portland to end things.

"I had a good look at the game-winner. It's a shot that I've got to make," Nowitzki said.

After a timeout, the Blazers went to Aldridge, but the big man's fadeaway jumper hit the front of the rim as time expired.

"You can't let teams hang around at home, you can't turn it into a shot-making contest," the coach said. "We can't be adrenaline junkies and take it down to the last possession every night. We should be a better basketball team than that."

The extra period began with a three from Miller, as his career night continued. The veteran point guard hit the 50-point mark on a jumper with 3:21 left in the overtime.

"I didn't look at it as scoring the ball, but just going out and making plays and being the point guard," Miller said. "The shots came, and since they were going in, I was just going to keep shooting."

But a three from Terry and Kidd's tip-in had the Mavs in front 112-108 with 2:22 on the clock. After a pair of free throws from Jerryd Bayless, Miller knotted the game again with a driving score. Portland then surged ahead on Howard's jumper with 44.9 seconds remaining. The Blazers then forced a Nowitzki miss, grabbing the rebound and calling timeout with 20.3 seconds left.

But the Dallas defense held its ground, forcing a Blake miss from 3-point range. Barea grabbed the subsequent rebound and called timeout with just 3.2 seconds available for a tying shot. Again the Mavericks went to Nowitzki, but his shot over Nicolas Batum rimmed in and rolled out as time expired.

"In overtime, the same thing," Nowitzki added. "I had a couple of good shots. This is definitely a tough one to swallow."

"You're going to have nights when it comes down to the last shot and you don't make it. But the question you've got to ask is, 'Is that the play to reflect on or is it a total of a lot of other things going on that put you in that position?' In my view, it's a lot of other things going on," Carlisle concluded.

The game finished with 20 ties and 13 lead changes. The Mavericks are now 3-3 in overtime games.

Miller's output is the third best performance against the Mavericks in the team's history, and his 22 made field goals is an American Airlines Center record.

"It seemed like Miller got to the basket whenever he wanted," Nowitzki summed up the night.

Nowitzki finished with a team-high 28 points to lead six Mavericks in double figures. Terry (18), Howard (17), Barea ((13), Marion (12) and Kidd all scored in double figures. Kidd also record his 14th double-double of the season, dishing out 10 assists, albeit in a loss. Kidd's assists total was one more than Portland's entire team, as most of the Blazers' offense was Miller's scoring.

Aldridge added 21 points as four Blazers scored in double figures.

Portland finished the night out-shooting Dallas 54 percent to 47 percent, though the Mavs hit 7-of-14 from behind the arch. The Mavericks did out-rebound the Blazers 42-39 and the Dallas bench outscored Portland's reserves 44-18. But it wasn't enough to overcome a 60-46 points in the paint differential in the Blazers' favor.

Now, the Mavericks head back out on the road and touch down in Salt Lake City on Monday for a battle with the Utah Jazz. The two teams have split the first two games of the season series, with the Jazz most recently leaving Dallas with a 111-93 win on Jan. 9. The Mavericks-Jazz matchup will air locally on Fox Sports Southwest at 8 p.m. CT.

"Utah's a tough place to play," Nowitzki said. "They're really starting to play better...I think they're really starting to come along, and really being the force at home that they really have been the last couple of years.

"It's a tough building to play in, but we've usually been good at recovering from losses and turning losses into something positive."

Dallas returns home to host the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by calling (214) 747-MAVS. The game will air locally on Fox Sports Southwest at 7:30 p.m. CT. The Mavericks will be out to avenge a 111-103 home loss on Nov. 24.

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

Trail Blazers-Mavericks Preview

(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Portland Trail Blazers (27-21) at Dallas Mavericks (30-16)

Saturday night's matchup between the Dallas Mavericks and Portland Trail Blazers figures to look much differently than the first time the two teams met this season.

(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)

Losing a hard fought Dec. 22 contest 85-81 on their home floor, the Mavericks understand that they can not drop both home games against the Blazers. Fortunately for Dallas, the two teams look a little differently these days.

"They're different," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said of the Portland squad. "In the last eight to 10 days, they've kind of redeveloped a style."

The Blazers are certainly different because they are playing without leading scorer Brandon Roy (right hamstring), who scored 23 points in the December meeting. Roy took over that game late, scoring 10 points in the fourth quarter to help his team escape the American Airlines Center floor with a win. Meanwhile, the Mavericks have inserted guard Jason Terry into the starting lineup, getting instant scoring from last season's Sixth Man of the Year. Dallas' newly appointed starter says it is important that the Mavericks come out and send a message early on Saturday.

"For us, it's all about how we come out and play. We're a beast if we can come out and jump on a team early," Terry said.

With no Roy in the lineup, Portland has had other players step up and rally in the All-Star's absence. After battling through an early season injury-riddled stage, the Blazers are proving that they are more than a one-man show.

"They're a little different (without Roy), but they play harder," Terry said. "This is another opportunity for guys to step up in his absence...These guys are basically hired guns. They come out and shot to kill. And you never know what to expect out of them."

Still, the Blazers have dropped three straight games, and the Mavericks would love to hand them their fourth consecutive loss.

"They're a team that's going to play a precise game, not matter who they have. And you better play a precise game, both defensively and offensively, and bring the effort or they're going to be tough to play."

(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Mavericks will be looking to combat Portland's versatile style with a more assertive effort coming from the Dallas bench. The reserves have struggled since Terry moved to the first unit, taking with him the vast majority of the scoring from the Mavericks' second-stringers. It is certainly an area of concern for Carlisle and his coaching staff.

"We've just got to make sure that whoever is in the game, we're playing with the right level of intensity and the right disposition. With JET (Terry) in the starting lineup, it's taken a little bit of our scoring away from our bench, obviously.

"But, you know, we've got Josh (Howard), J.J. (Barea), (Drew) Gooden, Roddy (Beaubois) and a bunch of other guys sitting over there that are good players. Whoever goes in the game, we need them to play the game -- when the shots are there you step into them, when they're not you move it again...We've got to have everybody playing at a high level."

The Mavericks host Portland on Saturday night, with the game will airing locally on TXA 21, TXA HD and HD NET at 8 p.m. CT. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by calling (214) 747-MAVS.

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

Mavericks-Suns Recap

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Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Dallas Mavericks 106 at Phoenix Suns 112

Thursday was shaping up to be one heck of a day for Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki.

The Phoenix Suns made sure Nowitzki's day came to a disappointing ending.

(Photo by P.A. Molumby/NBAE via Getty Images)

In the evening, Nowitzki learned that he had been named as an All-Star reserve selection, playing in front of his NBA hometown fans next month after his ninth consecutive selection. By the nighttime, the 7-footer became the Mavericks' all-time leader in career games (884) played in a Dallas uniform, passing Brad Davis on the franchise's list. Unfortunately for Nowitzki, he and his teammates could not complete the trifecta, as the Suns used a big fourth quarter and a strong effort defensively on No. 41 to hand the Mavericks a 112-106 road loss.

"(The Suns) played a very physical game and I thought that was the difference," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle summed up the night. "Their level of aggression was higher than ours. Grant Hill really worked extremely hard the whole game and made it difficult for Dirk to catch the ball, and made it difficult for him to get clean shots."

Coming in with the Western Conference's best road record, the Mavericks tried to put the Suns away early, after narrowly escaping with a 102-101 home win over Phoenix on Dec. 8. A big first quarter from guard Jason Terry, who was recently inserted into the starting lineup, helped the Mavericks seize control from the opening tip. With Terry shooting over former Mav Steve Nash, the Dallas lead reached as much as 12 before the opening period ended at 34-25 in the Mavericks' favor. In his fifth straight start, Terry led the way with 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting at the end of one. Meanwhile, the Dallas defense forced six Suns' turnovers in the quarter, compared to zero giveaways for the Mavericks.

The Suns' reserves powered the Phoenix attack early in the second stanza, cutting into the Dallas lead.

"Their bench was the difference," Carlisle said plainly.

But Nowitzki, Terry and center Erick Dampier continued to keep the Suns at bay, as the Mavericks overcame four second quarter turnovers to take a 59-55 edge into the halftime break.

Both teams shot lights-out in the first half, as the Suns' 55 percent shooting was just better than 54 percent from Dallas. With Terry's 15 first half points leading the way, the Mavericks sprinted to their early advantage by capitalizing and scoring after Phoenix miscues. Dallas scored 16 points off of the Suns' 10 first half turnovers.

(Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images)
Behind Nash's play-making, the Suns came out of the intermission with life and it reflected on the scoreboard, as Phoenix took its first lead of the game at 67-66 on Jason Richardson's 3-pointer at the 8:32-mark of the third. But point guard Jason Kidd's ability to knock down shots from behind the 3-point arch powered a 9-1 Dallas run to put the Mavericks back in front. The Mavs then got Nowitzki going, as the superstar made an assertive effort to reach the charity stripe on his way to scoring 12 points in the quarter. Then J.J. Barea brought the period to a dramatic end, banking in a running 16-footer to give the Mavericks a 90-84 advantage entering the fourth.

But the Suns' bench, and their ability to stretch the court with outside shooting, tormented the Dallas defense to begin the final period.

"Their second group was a lot better than the guys that were on the floor. They got (their bench players) in the game and got the lead...And their starters come back in and they go from there. They gave them energy and life," Kidd said.

When Phoenix's starters returned, a scrambling Suns defense would not allow Nowitzki any open looks. The momentum was with the home team, as the Suns built up a four-point lead during a stretch of six straight Dallas misses, leading to a 9-0 Phoenix run.

"We've got to do a better job of executing and defending. It's as simple as that. They made plays...They made plays on offense and defensively they were very aggressive, and they made it hard," the coach said.

Struggling to score, Carlisle switched to a "small ball" lineup with Barea, Terry, Kidd, former Sun Shawn Marion and Nowitzki. Still, Nash kept the Mavericks at a safe distance, raining in a three with 3:17 remaining to put Phoenix up 105-100. Nash torched his former team again, driving past Nowitzki for a lay-in to put the Suns up 109-104 with just 29.3 ticks left. After a pair of free throws from Terry cut the Dallas deficit to three with 22.7 seconds remaining, Hill answered with a 2-for-2 free throw trip at the other end. After a Carlisle timeout, the coach drew up a play to find Terry on the wing for a three, but Jared Dudley intercepted Kidd's feed and dribble to the other end, drawing a foul on Nowitzki with 14.1 seconds on the game clock. Dudley calmly knocked down a pair. A missed three from rookie Rodrigue Beaubois put a cap on the night, as Dudley grabbed the game's final rebound and dribbled the clock out.

The Suns focused in on stopping Nowitzki, holding the star scoreless (on just one shot attempt) in the final period. Meanwhile, Phoenix outscored Dallas 28-16 in the quarter.

"They outplayed us, give them credit," Terry said. "We've got plenty of people on this team that can score. They played good (defense) on Dirk. We've just got to make sure we do what we have to do to score the basketball.

"It's unbelievable to me that we've come halfway through the season and we still look like we're searching in the fourth quarter. It's not that hard. The fourth quarter, that wasn't Maverick basketball."

The Suns finished the night out-shooting the Mavericks, 55 percent to 50 percent. It is the Mavericks' first loss (11-1) this season in a game in which they've shot at least 50 percent.

"We had the looks around the rim but we just couldn't capitalize," Kidd said. "The ball didn't go down for us when we needed it to, and on the other end, we just couldn't get stops."

Terry led the Mavericks with 21 points, as all five Maverick starters scored in double figures. Nowitzki added 19 points, while Marion (15), Kidd (13) and Dampier (12) all reached double figures.

Despite not playing a second in the fourth, Phoenix's Amar'e Stoudemire finished with a game-high 22 points to lead five Suns' players in double figures. Nash posted a double-double with 19 points and 11 assists.

Phoenix did a lot of its damage from outside the 3-point arch, connecting on 9-of-15 from deep. The Suns also overcame 15 turnovers with a 37-34 rebounding edge and a 50-36 advantage in points in the paint. The Phoenix reserves also outscored their Dallas counterparts 43-26.

"We've got to get the ball into people's hands that can put it in the basket. Their bench outplayed us all night. Clear as day, and it can't happen," Terry said.

Now the Mavericks return to Dallas to host the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday night. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by calling (214) 747-MAVS. The game will air locally on TXA 21, TXA HD and HD NET at 8 p.m. CT. The Mavericks will be out to avenge an 85-81 home loss on Dec. 22.

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

Mavericks-Suns Preview

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Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Dallas Mavericks (30-15) at Phoenix Suns (26-21)

In their past two games, the Dallas Mavericks have won by an average margin of victory of nearly 26 points per game.

The funny thing is, one of those wins was a franchise record for the largest margin of victory in team history, a 128-78 road win in New York, and the other was Dallas' 10th straight win in games decided by one point. After tying the best streak in NBA history for consecutive wins in one-point contest, with a 108-107 home win over Milwaukee, the Mavericks are just proud to say that they have collected back-to-back wins.

"Hey, a win is a win, whether you win by one or you win by 50," Mavs guard Jason Terry said.

Though the Mavericks would prefer a result closer to the ladder on a nightly basis.

Fittingly, the Mavericks claimed just a one-point victory, a 102-101 home win, over the Phoenix Suns in their Dec. 8 meeting. It was a game the Mavs had a stranglehold of, but the Suns refused to go away late behind clutch 3-point shooting from former Mav Steve Nash.

Dallas expects another tightly contested game when they enter Phoenix for the second matchup between the two teams. Thursday night, forward Dirk Nowitzki will set a new franchise mark for the most games played in a Maverick uniform. After seeing this Phoenix team once this season, Nowitzki says this Suns squad reminds him more of the rival that the Mavericks met seemingly every year in the playoffs earlier in the decade.

"They really spread the floor well. They really went back to the offense they used to run...It's going to be a challenge, but I think defensively we've been good pretty much all year," the 7-footer said.

(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)

With Nash and big man Amar'e Stoudemire, the Suns feature two Western Conference All-Star starters. The two stars give any team a great deal of concern on the defensive end, and point guard Jason Kidd says the Mavericks are no different.

"(The Suns) can put up a lot of points in a hurry. They love the three-ball. Nash and Stoudemire are one of the top tandems in the league, so you've got your work cut out. They play extremely well at home, they just came off of a tough lost to Charlotte, so we've got our hands full," Kidd said.

Offensively, the Mavericks are riding the "jet stream" of having Terry in the starting lineup. The team is 3-1 since Terry took over the shooting guard spot in the first unit.

"We all know (Terry) can score, he defends and I think for him it's more of a comfort level starting...With JET (Terry) starting, I think his level of play has certainly risen. He's helped us a lot on getting off to a good start," Kidd said of his backcourt mate.

(Photo by Danny Bollinger/NBAE via Getty Images)

Terry, the reigning Sixth Man of the Year, would like to stay a first-stringer after his 21-point night against Milwaukee.

"I've put my bid in and I think Coach knows going forward...I'm comfortable in that role and hopefully we can continue to get wins," Terry added.

For Mavs coach Rick Carlisle, the decision over who starts is a fluid concept. With Terry, Josh Howard, J.J. Barea and rookie Rodrigue Beaubois all seeing time this season at the two guard spot, the decision over who starts has only made the Dallas bench more explosive.

"The policy around here, we don't talk about lineups," Carlisle said. "Whoever is coming off the bench, whether it's JET or Barea or Josh or the combination of all of them, we expect all those guys to perform and perform well."

All of the Mavericks will have an opportunity to perform well on a national stage, as Thursday night's game will air nationally on TNT at 9:30 p.m. CT.

Dallas returns home to host the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday night. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by calling (214) 747-MAVS. The game will air locally on TXA 21, TXA HD and HD NET at 8 p.m. CT. The Mavericks will be out to avenge an 85-81 home loss on Dec. 22.

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

Mavericks Practice Report (01/27/10)

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Mavericks Practice Report 11/27/09

If Jason Terry had his way, every game would begin and end with him on the court.

The reigning Sixth Man of the Year has always been a mainstay for the Dallas Mavericks down the stretch of games, but he is growing accustom to his recent starting role at the shooting guard position. So accustom that he is slowly lobbying to his coach to stay in that role permanently.

"I've put my bid in," Terry said. "And I think Coach knows going forward, with the progression of (rookie Rodrigue Beaubois), how he's playing helps my cause."

Mavs coach Rick Carlisle inserted Terry into the starting lineup four games ago. The Mavericks have gone 3-1 since the sharpshooter joined the first unit.

"I'm comfortable in that role and hopefully we can continue to get wins," Terry added.

The point hasn't quite hit home for Carlisle, but Terry's play has caught the coach's eye.

"The policy around here, we don't talk about lineups," Carlisle said. "He's been doing a good job, but I haven't heard him lobbying."

(Photo by Tim Heitman/NBAE via Getty Images)

If Terry is working behind the scenes to stay with the first-stringers, then his play on the court is speaking loud enough for him. Terry is coming off of a 21-point performance in the Mavericks' 108-107 win over the Milwaukee Bucks. While the Mavericks claimed an NBA record-tying 10th straight win in games decided by one point, Terry was a big reason for the team's success.

"We all know (Terry) can score, he defends and I think for him it's more of a comfort level starting," point guard Jason Kidd said of his backcourt mate. "But you've got to go with the matchups, and Coach is one that can change lineups on the go. But with JET (Terry) starting, I think his level of play has certainly risen. He's helped us a lot on getting off to a good start."

But if Terry is in the starting lineup, then that impacts the minutes of the likes of swingman Josh Howard, as well as reserve guards J.J. Barea and the first-year pro Beaubois. With Howard in the sixth man role, alongside Barea and Beaubois who played together in the backcourt, the Mavericks' bench played well against the Bucks. But now they all, including Terry, will be asked by Carlisle to do it again, whether they are starters or key reserves.

"Whoever is coming off the bench, whether it's JET or Barea or Josh or the combination of all of them, we expect all those guys to perform and perform well," the coach said.

(Photo by Danny Bollinger/NBAE via Getty Images)

The interchangeability of Barea and Beaubois gives Carlisle a few more options. For the first time, in Tuesday night's win, the two combo guards hit the court together during valuable game time. Carlisle liked what he saw.

"They played well last night," Carlisle said of the duo of Barea and Beaubois. "They haven't played together much, besides at the end of games where there have been huge point spreads. Look, anything that works, I'm certainly willing to look at it again."

"I thought it was good for us to have that kind of lineup with the speed factor," Kidd said after watching the uptempo play from the two young guards. "J.J. is quick, but Roddy (Beaubois) is fast...I thought it was a positive thing. If it's a slow game, we can get the tempo in our favor. They did a great job out there."

Regardless of who is on the court, the Mavericks are hopeful that the momentum of back-to-back wins continues when the team hits the road and lands in Phoenix with a nationally televised game against the Suns on the docket.

Fittingly, the Mavericks claimed a one-point victory, a 102-101 home win, over the Suns in their Dec. 8 meeting. Now the Mavericks try to win by a wider margin, with the matchup airing nationally on TNT at 9:30 p.m. CT.

Dallas returns home to host the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday night. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by calling (214) 747-MAVS. The game will air locally on TXA 21, TXA HD and HD NET at 8 p.m. CT. The Mavericks will be out to avenge an 85-81 home loss on Dec. 22.

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

Bucks-Mavericks Recap

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Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Milwaukee Bucks 107 at Dallas Mavericks 108

Back on Nov. 16, the Dallas Mavericks needed overtime and a lucky roll on a buzzer-beating jumper from Dirk Nowitzki to defeat the Milwaukee Bucks.

Tuesday night, the Mavericks needed just 48 minutes to take down the Bucks, though they needed every bit of those 48 minutes to do so. And a little more luck didn't hurt.

With a strong defensive stand in the final seconds, the Mavericks escaped the American Airlines Center floor with a 108-107 win. Dating back to January of 2007, it is the team's 10th straight win in games decided by one point, which ties an NBA record. The achievement and the win prove to Mavs coach Rick Carlisle that his team is a clutch bunch.

"It says that we have guys that can keep cool in those situations," Carlisle said. "You've got to be able to execute at both ends to be able to have that kind of a run. My hat's off to (the players). I know this streak goes back now a couple of years. It's unusual. But to have a successful season, you have to be able to win close games and we've had a lot of them. We've won our share. The fact that we're experienced and have been here before certainly helps."

"In a close ball game we're not going to get rattled at all. We have a great team that understands what needs to be accomplished in a tight ball game," Jason Terry said of the historic streak.

(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)

The night began with Nowitzki tying Brad Davis for most career games (883) played in a Maverick uniform. Dallas got point guard Jason Kidd (personal reasons) and center Erick Dampier (left knee effusion) back in the starting lineup after missing the franchise record-setting 128-78 win over the New York Knicks, the largest margin of victory in team history. With their starting lineup intact, including Terry at the starting shooting guard spot after being featured mostly as a sixth man, the Mavericks looked to keep the momentum going against an upstart Bucks squad. As forward Shawn Marion finished above the rim, the Mavs grabbed an early advantage. Despite Bucks rookie sensation Brandon Jennings' and big man Andrew Bogut's best efforts, the Mavericks held a 28-27 lead at the end of one. Bogut and Jennings combined to score 19 in the opening quarter.

"We had great energy when we came out," Terry said. "I didn't see too many mental breakdowns. Our effort was there, and that's all we can do. You can't control the score of the ball game."

The Mavericks turned to their own rookie, Rodrigue Beaubois, in the second quarter. The Guadeloupe product sped up the tempo and provided timely scoring from the outside, including a 3-pointer with 5:32 left in the half to give Dallas a 47-41 advantage. Meanwhile, Nowitzki and Marion continued to attack the basket, offsetting a monster first half from Bogut at the other end. Milwaukee's 7-footer wasn't enough to overcome a balanced Dallas attack early, as the Mavericks took a 59-53 edge into the halftime break.

(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)

Bogut's 20 first half points, on a perfect 9-for-9 shooting, led all scorers after 24 minutes of play.

"They have a great player. Andrew Bogut is an All-Star if you ask me," Terry said.

But Marion and Nowitzki each posted 10 points while Terry added nine to pace the Dallas attack. Milwaukee out-shot Dallas in the half, 55 percent to 52 percent, but the Mavericks held a decisive advantage on the glass with a 22-14 rebounding advantage. Dallas also got every one into the act, using 18 assists to get scoring from nine Mavs.

Bogut's perfection ended on the opening possession of the second half, as Dampier sent back his shot attempt with a block. Still, the Bucks' deadly 3-point shooting quickly erased Dallas' lead early in the third quarter, until a pair of threes from Kidd and Terry put an end to Milwaukee's momentum. But the third quarter was a duel between Nowitzki and Bogut, with Dallas' star and his teammates getting the upper hand and taking an 83-77 lead into the fourth period.

Milwaukee began the fourth on a 7-2 run, cutting the Dallas lead to 85-84. The Bucks continued to come, eventually tying the game at 93-all with 6:43 remaining. But down the stretch, the ball found its way into Nowitzki's and Terry's hands, and the two sharpshooters showed that they know what to do with it. After the duo combined to score 15 straight, Kidd stepped in and rained in a 3-pointer to put the Mavs up 108-101 with 2:07 left. On the next possession, the Bucks' Carlos Delfino answered Kidd with a three of his own. Delfino then connected on a 32-foot, rain-making three to beat the shot clock and cut the Dallas lead to one with just 27.6 ticks on the game clock.

"The shot (Delfino) hit to bring it to one, we're up four, we had that game under control and that was just an amazing shot," Terry said.

"Milwaukee is a persistent team," Carlisle said. "We had a chance when it was 108-104. If we had gotten a stop and a score, it would have helped us."

After a Dallas timeout, the team once again went to Nowitzki, but Luc Mbah a Moute picked No. 41's pocket, forcing a steal and calling timeout with 3.0 seconds remaining for Milwaukee's game-winning attempt.

"They hung right in, which they do...The play where Dirk had the ball, we wanted to go to him and try to get a shot as late in the clock as we could. They made a good play to knock it loose," the coach added.

Bucks coach Scott Skiles went back to Delfino, but the swingman's driving floater had to find a way over Dampier's outstretched hands. Luckily for the Mavericks, the shot hit off the back of the iron as time expired to secure the one-point win for Dallas.

"It came down to a scramble on that last play. Marion fell down, Damp had to take his guy. He did a good job of getting up and making the shot difficult for Delfino. It's an escape. We were able to do it by getting a stop at the end, which is great for us...Happy to win," Carlisle said.

The victory ties the best mark in league history set by the St. Louis Hawks, who won 10 straight one-point contests from 1959-1960.

"It just shows that we're a veteran ball club -- we're not going to panic," Kidd said. "We can win a game with a shot at the end, or if we needed our defense to step up and get a stop, like tonight, we did that.

"That shows that this is a little bit different team. You always look at the Mavs as being an offensive juggernaut, and it shows that we can play both sides. And when we have to, we can get stops."

The Mavericks captured the win despite a career-high 32 points, on 13-for-14 from the field, coming from Bogut.

"(Bogut) is very skilled," Nowitzki said of his Milwaukee counterpart. "There's not a lot of big guys that have a soft touch right and left. He really had it going."

Meanwhile, Nowitzki led the Mavericks with 28 points, getting 21 points of support from Terry. While Marion (12) and Howard (13) each scored in double figures, Kidd racked up his 13th double-double of the season with 11 points and 12 assists.

Delfino added 22 points, as the Bucks finished the night out-shooting the Mavericks 53 percent to 51 percent. But the Mavericks out-dueled Milwaukee from behind the arch, knocking down 10-of-18 threes compared to the Bucks' 9-of-18.

"We've been fortunate...You give up nine threes and 50 percent shooting from the 3-point line, and it's going to be tough to win," Carlisle said.

"Our offense wasn't bad today, we shot over 50 percent and we shot the ball well from three," Nowitzki added. "Sometimes when you can't get any stops, you have to find a way to win with offense and that's what we did tonight."

The Mavs, who just completed a five-game road trip, head back out of the road and touch down in Phoenix to battle the Suns on Thursday night. Fittingly, the Mavericks claimed a one-point victory, a 102-101 home win, over the Suns in their Dec. 8 meeting. The Mavericks-Suns matchup will air nationally on TNT at 9:30 p.m. CT.

"(The Suns) really spread the floor well," Nowitzki said. "It's going to be a chllenge."

Dallas returns home to host the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday night. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by calling (214) 747-MAVS. The game will air locally on TXA 21, TXA HD and HD NET at 8 p.m. CT. The Mavericks will be out to avenge an 85-81 home loss on Dec. 22.

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

Bucks-Mavericks Preview

(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Milwaukee Bucks (18-24) at Dallas Mavericks (29-15)

There truly is no place like home for the Dallas Mavericks.

After being away from the American Airlines Center during a five-game East Coast road trip, the Mavericks return to the home court on Tuesday night. Going 3-2 on the extended stay away from Dallas, concluding in a franchise record 50-point win in New York, the Mavericks have already turned their attention to a Milwaukee Bucks squad that pushed Dallas to the limit in the first meeting between the two teams.

"(The win in New York) is in the past," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said after the team's Tuesday morning shootaround. "We've got to move on to this one, and (the Bucks) are a hard competing team. So, this is going to be another really good test for us. It's all about meeting the physicality, the persistence and the intensity. And against Milwaukee you have to compete on defense but you've also got to compete on offense, because they really challenge every inch on the floor."

The Mavericks found out first-hand how big of a challenge the Bucks present on Nov. 16, when Dallas escaped Milwaukee with a 115-113 overtime win on Dirk Nowitzki's game-winning, buzzer-beating jumper.

Carlisle expects nothing less than another closely contested game in the second meeting. But the coach would also like to see his team showcase a dominant performance on the home floor against a team that is just 5-17 on the road, as Dallas enters the game with a 13-7 record in front of the hometown faithful.

"We're in the middle of the pack in the whole league, in terms of home record. We know we have to get better. And tonight's another opportunity to take a step in that direction, but I don't expect it to be easy," Carlisle said.

(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Duplicating a 50-point win is nearly impossible, but the production from unheralded players is something the team hopes traveled back with them from the Big Apple.

With starting point guard Jason Kidd (personal reasons) and first-team center Erick Dampier (left knee effusion) out against the Knicks, the Mavericks utilized their depth to capture the record-setting win. Players like Drew Gooden and Rodrigue Beaubois demonstrated that they are ready to perform at a high level should their numbers be called. Though Kidd and Dampier are expected to return to the lineup on Tuesday, Carlisle would still like to see his bench players continue to be ready for the "prime time moments."

"(The bench players) have to continue to do it. The job of our depth guys, our bench guys and our backup guys is to be ready to step forward when needed and perform big. Drew had a very good trip and played very well against New York. Roddy (Beaubois) did a terrific job for us, and now we just have to keep going with it."

Gooden already had a big game against Milwaukee, posting 22 points and grabbing 14 rebounds in the November meeting.

"I'm taking my time and just going out there and trying to approach the game the same way every night," Gooden said, fresh off of a 15-point, 18-rebound effort against the Knicks. "I feel like I've been doing that for awhile, and it's just starting to pay off now."

Dallas hopes Gooden's improved play continues against an upstart Bucks squad, though Carlisle's mind is more so fixed on shutting down the opposing team's 3-point shooting.

"They're a tough team to play," the coach said. "They hit 14 threes on us in that game, and we managed to survive that, but that's difficult to do. Limiting the number of threes made and open looks is a real key. We have to play a hard 48 (minutes) and we have to play well."

(Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images)

Atop the Mavericks' list of concerns on Tuesday night is stopping rookie Brandon Jennings, who scored 25 points against Dallas in a losing effort.

"(Jennings) is a great young player. He's dynamic, he's explosive...He shoots the three extremely well, which sets up his penetration. He presents a lot of challenges," the coach said.

But the Bucks also pose a threat on the inside, as big man Andrew Bogut has terrorized opposing defenses. Milwaukee is 10-2 when Bogut scores at least 19 points. Dallas held the 7-footer to just 13 in November.

"Bogut is having a great year," Carlisle added. "There's a strong correlation between him having big scoring games and them winning. So, we know that he is a guy we have to key in on."

The Bucks also have recently added former Mav Jerry Stackhouse into the fold, after the swingman spent five seasons in Dallas.

"(Stackhouse) can bring scoring, toughness, leadership, big game moxy and he's played well for them so far," Carlisle said.

Dallas tries to capture the season series over the Bucks when the two teams meet on Tuesday night. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by calling (214) 747-MAVS. The game will air locally on Fox Sports Southwest at 7:30 p.m. CT.

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

Mavericks-Knicks Recap

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

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Dallas Mavericks 128 at New York Knicks 78

Playing without key players is nothing new for the Dallas Mavericks. Sunday afternoon they had to do it again, and the result was no different then the past: Another Dallas win.

Though when is a franchise record 50-point win ever routine?

"A 50-point win...The last time I had a 50-point win, it's been awhile," forward Shawn Marion said. "I don't think I've ever had a 50-point win. That's crazy."

That's crazy, indeed.

The Mavericks entered Madison Square Garden without their floor general, point guard Jason Kidd, and with starting center Erick Dampier sidelined. Still a short-handed Mavs squad finished off a five-game road trip in style, downing the New York Knicks in blowout fashion. With seven Mavericks scoring in double figures, while a stifling Dallas defense held the Knicks to just 33.7 percent shooting, the team set a new mark for the largest margin of victory with a 128-78 win. The victory tied for the third largest margin separating two teams in NBA history, and it handed the Knicks their worst home loss in their illustrious history.

"We played well, we defended well and we made shots. And so that's a good combination," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said of the win. "Clearly it wasn't their night, but we had something to do with it."

"Any time you hold a team to 33 percent shooting in their own gym, you did a heck of a job. And offensively we moved the ball, we didn't force anything and we got some good looks...It's a solid effort on both ends of the floor," leading scorer Dirk Nowitzki said.

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

Already hitting the court without Nowitzki and swingman Josh Howard for stints this season, Dallas had grown accustom to having players step up when stars went down. Kidd returned to Dallas for personal reasons, missing just his second game since returning to the franchise in February of 2008. Dampier was once again bothered by a left knee effusion, a nagging injury that has kept the big man off the court for three games. But the end result was the same, as all 11 Mavericks that saw game action scored to help the Dallas squad claimed its most lopsided victory ever.

"It feels good, but I don't care if we won by just one point. A win is a win," Marion said.

Starting a lineup of J.J. Barea, Jason Terry, Marion, Nowitzki and Drew Gooden, the Mavs went to work with a blue collar approach. After Gooden scored Dallas' first six points of the day, the Mavericks turned to the outside shot, including Terry's 3-pointer at the 5:08-mark of the first quarter. The long range bomb gave Dallas 900 straight games with a made three. But with the Knicks playing without Slam Dunk champion Nate Robinson (strained right hamstring), the New York role players stepped up early. Still, the Mavericks owned a 27-25 edge after one behind Terry's 10 quick points.

After going scoreless in the opening period, Nowitzki looked to take charge in the second stanza. But the early minutes of the quarter were about Marion, including the versatile forward's first successful three of the season. With rookie Rodrigue Beaubois utilizing his quickness to push the tempo, while the shots from behind the 3-point arch continued to found the bottom of the net, the Mavericks' superiority showed on the scoreboard. The first-year guard showed the promise that the Dallas front office saw when they picked him up in a Draft Day trade, raining in shot after shot from deep to help the Mavericks open up a 14-point lead.

"Roddy (Beaubois) has worked extremely hard, and J-Kidd has spent a lot of time mentoring him...Helping prepare him for a situation where we would need him to play point," the coach said. "He stepped in there and he ran the team well, he hit shots, he defended well, so you can see that the hard work has paid off."

But when Beaubois picked up his third foul with 3:04 left in the first half, he was forced to head to the bench. With Nowitzki struggling with his shooting, Terry gladly picked up the slack to increase the Dallas lead to 17 before taking a 59-43 advantage into the halftime intermission.

"Myself, I didn't really have a lot of great looks there in the first half," Nowitzki said of his early struggles. "But the team was great, we were still up 16, so I didn't want to force anything. So, I just stayed aggressive during the second half and made some plays."

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

Terry's 15 points and Beaubois' 11 powered the Mavs to 49 percent shooting, but the story after the first 24 minutes of play was Gooden. In Dampier's stead, Gooden recorded a double-double in the first half with 10 points and 15 rebounds. The former Kansas standout's rebounding output was just two boards shy of a Dallas record for rebounds in a half, shared by Nowitzki and Popeye Jones.

"Drew Gooden has worked extremely hard to fit his abilities and skills in with what we're doing as a team. It hasn't been easy throughout the entire year, but in the last two or three weeks he's caught his stride a little bit," Carlisle said of his reserve big man.

Meanwhile, the Dallas defense held the Knicks to just 39 percent shooting in the half.

"It all started defensively for us," Nowitzki said. "They really live and die with the 3-point shot, and I think we really tried to take that out of the game."

The third quarter was all about the Mavs' explosive offense, as a run-and-gun Dallas squad looked to eliminate any notion of a New York comeback attempt. Back-to-back scores from Barea gave the Mavericks a 74-49 lead with 6:40 remaining in the period. With Nowitzki getting in on the act from behind the arch, the Dallas lead ballooned to as much as 43 before the Mavericks took a 97-56 blowout into the final quarter. Dallas outscored New York 38-13 in the third, with seemingly everything going the Mavericks' way.

"We stayed focused there in the third quarter, even though we had a lead. We played like it was a tie game," Nowitzki said.

"I don't know what it was...We were just so aggressive out there, on both ends of the floor," Marion added. "Taking them out of everything and anything that they wanted to do."

With the final result no longer in question, the fourth quarter was more about game minutes for the Dallas reserves, a circus finish from Beaubois, thunderous dunks from Tim Thomas and James Singleton and a 53-point Mavericks' lead. When the buzzer sounded, the scoreboard showed the Mavs' most dominating win to break the former record, a 45-point win against Golden State on January 15, 1985.

"We've been in a lot of close games. We've won a lot of close games. We haven't had many games like this. So, it's good once in a while to be able to win by a margin and be able to sit some of your guys. But it doesn't happen very often in this league, particularly this year, where you've got so much parity from top to bottom," Carlisle said.

"It's surprising that it went the way that it did, but sometimes those things happen. This is a good win for us...Look, once in a blue moon these things happen, but fortunately for them it counts for one loss. It's a win for us and you move on. If you're them you flush it. And if you're us, we got to get ready for the next one. Forget about it."

Nowitzki and Terry shared game-high honors with 20 points apiece, while Marion (15), Gooden (15), Beaubois (13), Barea (11) and Singleton (10) all scored in double figures. The Mavericks finished the day shooting 58 percent from the field, including a season-high 12 made 3-pointers on 22 attempts. Dallas was on in every way, also knocking down 16-of-17 at the foul line.

Jared Jeffries led New York with 14 points, though the Knicks clearly struggled offensively. Compared to Dallas' 3-point assault, the Knicks hit just 4-of-25 from behind the arch.

"I don't think they really got any good looks at hitting threes until in the fourth quarter," Marion said. "We were just on them."

Gooden also finished with 18 rebounds, though the Knicks slightly out-rebounded the Mavs 46-45.

Dallas finishes up 3-2 during their extended stay on the East Coast. Now the team returns home to host the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday night. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by calling (214) 747-MAVS. The game will air locally on Fox Sports Southwest at 7:30 p.m. CT.

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