Timberwolves-Mavericks Recap

(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Minnesota Timberwolves 117 at Dallas Mavericks 108

Like Dirk Nowitzki in the Dallas Mavericks' starting lineup, victories over the Minnesota Timberwolves have become a virtual certainty.

(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)

Friday night, the Mavericks took the court against the Timberwolves without Nowitzki in the first unit, after No. 41 was a late arrival to the team's shootaround before the game. Still, Dallas had claimed 13 straight victories over Minnesota. But nothing was a certainty on Friday. The Timberwolves broke that streak with a clutch performance late, handing the Mavs a 117-108 home loss.

The Mavericks have played without Nowitzki before, but it has been a long time since the superstar wasn't in the starting lineup in a game in which he saw action. It had been since December 14, 1999 to be exact.

"I was late. It's my fault. I'll take the blame," Nowitzki said. "I actually made that decision (not to start). We all got to be accountable. I made a mistake.

"That was a distraction. That was my fault, and I've got to take it like a man. But we still should have come up with the win tonight."

With Nowitzki on the bench, Mavs coach Rick Carlisle sent out a starting lineup of Jason Kidd, Jason Terry, Josh Howard, Shawn Marion and Erick Dampier. But the Mavericks found themselves down 15-9, when Nowitzki checked into the game at the 6:48-mark of the opening quarter. The 7-footer's presence on the court alone was not enough, as the Timberwolves took a 32-29 edge at the end of one. Both teams came out of the gates shooting over 50 percent, as Minnesota hit on 12-of-22 shots from the field while Dallas connected on 11-of-21 at the other end.

To begin the second stanza, the Mavericks got a spark on offense off the bench from rookie Rodrigue Beaubois. Unfortunately for Dallas, the first-year pro had his struggles containing Timberwolves guard Ramon Sessions at the other end. Defensively, the Mavs had trouble slowing down Al Jefferson as well. But in the ladder stage of the quarter, the Dallas defense stiffened, turning stops into transition offense. The formula of stellar defense and quick offense equaled a 13-0 Dallas run, including back-to-back threes from Terry. Still, the half ended on a sour note for the Mavericks, as Damien Wilkins drained a buzzer-beating three to cut the Dallas advantage to just 61-57 heading into the break.

"We had a mental lapse right there," Terry said. "Every possession is critical...It was a mental breakdown. They get the momentum, hit a three from halfcourt."

The Mavericks held the shooting edge at the half, knocking down 51 percent to Minnesota's 49 percent. But the Timberwolves stayed close with 7-of-10 from behind the 3-point arch. Dallas did its damage on the boards, out-rebounding the away team 28-15. Terry and Howard matched Jefferson for scoring high honors after 24 minutes of play, as all three posted 11 first half points.

The second half began with Howard on the sidelines and Nowitzki on the hardwood, as the Mavericks shifted back to their routine first-stringers. Meanwhile, the Wolves charged back ahead after scoring the first seven points of the third quarter. The Mavericks found themselves down six before Kidd's three-point play stopped the bleeding and cut the deficit to 71-68. Dallas continued to hang around with Terry's assassin-like barrage from long range. But the Jonny Flynn-led Wolves pushed their lead into double digits with a 9-0 run, before eventually taking an 89-80 lead into the fourth. Minnesota outscored Dallas 32-19 in the third.

"If we have multiple breakdowns every possession then we're not going to have a good defense," Terry added. "It's not one person, but all of us take part in it...This ain't going to happen. We have to make it happen."

The Mavericks once again got a boost from Beaubois to begin the fourth, but Jefferson and Kevin Love continued to keep a double figure distance between the two squads. But the Wolves lit a fire inside the Mavs when Sessions was called for a flagrant foul after a hard hit on Beaubois' breakaway. Just a few ticks later, Beaubois cut the deficit to 102-96 with a three at the 6:36-mark. The rookie continued to get the clutch minutes, as Carlisle stuck with him down the stretch.

(Photo by Garrett W. Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)

"(Beaubois) was active. We all know he's made progress. Finishing a game like that is something he hasn't quite done...He certainly came up and made some plays. A couple times, he got in tough situations. But his intentions were very good and his effort was good. There were a few rookie mistakes in the fourth quarter that were costly, but he definitely played aggressively," the coach said of the young guard.

"It makes me feel comfortable, because he's showing that he is trusting me," Beaubois said of the confidence Carlisle is giving the budding star. "I have to keep working to show him that he's right, and to help the team win games."

Meanwhile, the Dallas defense responded to the energy from the home crowd, collecting turnovers and rebounds on their way to seven straight stops. The result was a 12-2 run, knotting the game at 104-all with 3:01 remaining on a pair of free throws from Nowitzki. After a pair at the line from Kidd gave the Mavs the lead, Corey Brewer swished home a three to put the Wolves right back in front.

Down one, Nowitzki sent Brewer to the line for three free throws after fouling the swingman on a shot from behind the arch.

"That's a tough call there, I thought," Nowitzki said of the play. "You know, we're down one, I fouled a shooter on a three. I saw the shot clock winding down, so I knew he was going to shoot. I stepped up and really wanted to contest it hard. I might have over-contested it, and he did a good job selling it. So, tough call there.

"Next thing you know, you're down four and you got to make some plays happen. So, I think that was the call that really decided the game. It was my fault, I was probably too overaggressive."

A 3-for-3 trip for Brewer at the charity stripe put the Wolves up 112-108 in the final minute. Wayne Ellington's three with 32.3 ticks left sent a knockout punch. Minnesota then finished the Mavericks off by cashing in at the foul line. The Wolves finished the game with a 10-1 run to claim the victory.

"We had seven straight stops to take the lead, and then they scored the last five times. It's disappointing," Carlisle said.

Minnesota finished the night shooting 53 percent, as six Wolves scored in double figures led by Flynn's 19 points. Love's double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds anchored Minnesota's second unit, after all five starters scored in double digits.

"They shot 55 percent in the first quarter. The second quarter was by far our best when they shot 43 (percent) and we did a much better job -- more proactive. They shot 60 in the third and 55 in the fourth. Those numbers don't lie. It just ends with another disappointing loss."

The Wolves torched the Dallas defense from deep, nailing 12-of-22 shots from behind the arch.

Meanwhile, in his reserve role, Nowitzki scored a game-high 21 points on just 6-of-15 shooting. Terry added 20, while Beaubois posted a career-high 17 points off the bench.

"I tried to help the team, but I'm not really happy about (the career night) because we lost the game," Beaubois said.

Kidd (17), Howard (11) and Marion (10) made it six Mavericks to score in double figures, but the team shot just under 43 percent on the night.

Dallas dropped their 19th loss despite outscoring the Wolves 24-5 in fast break points. The Mavericks also held a 21-14 advantage in second chance points after winning the rebounding edge, 42-40.

After falling to the Western Conference's worst team, Carlisle will be looking for his team to reach deep inside and show him something more come the Mavericks' next game.

"I just think this team has more pride than they are showing. We'll keep studying it, but the answer is pretty obvious -- play harder," coach said. "We need to dig down and find some pride. It's as simple as that."

Now the Mavericks finish up with two games on the road before the All-Star break. The team travels to Oakland to square off with the Golden State Warriors. The two teams have split the first two games in the season series, with the Mavericks capturing a 110-101 home win over the Warriors on Wednesday night. The Mavericks-Warriors matchup will take place on Monday night, airing locally on Fox Sports Southwest at 9:30 p.m. CT.

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

Timberwolves-Mavericks Preview

(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Minnesota Timberwolves (11-38) at Dallas Mavericks (31-18)

When the Dallas Mavericks experienced their first three-game losing streak of the season, they didn't panic. The Mavericks knew it was just as likely that they could run off a streak in the other direction.

After Wednesday night's 110-101 home win over the Golden State Warriors, the Mavericks believe that consecutive tallies in the win column are in their future. The veteran squad tries to take another step in the right direction on Friday night, when they welcome the Minnesota Timberwolves to the American Airlines Center. The matchup with the Timberwolves is the first of Dallas' final three games before the All-Star break.

"It's big," guard J.J. Barea said of his team putting together a winning streak before All-Star Weekend. "We had a good practice (Thursday), we've got to take this game seriously and try to get these three wins before the break."

Taking Minnesota seriously sounds simple, but the Timberwolves hold the Western Conference's worst record, making the rebuilding squad an easy opponent to look over. But the Mavericks do not plan on succumbing to the urge to overlook the Minnesota team, despite their 3-21 road record. Dallas has won 13 straight games (tied for the longest streak in the NBA) against the Timberwolves, including an 89-77 road win on Nov. 13.

(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)

"Minnesota is a tough, young team that plays hard," guard Jason Terry said. "I don't expect anything different (from the Timberwolves). We're just going to have to come out again and try to put together a good performance."

Terry poured in a game-winning jumper with .2 ticks remaining the last time the Minnesota team paid a visit to Dallas, a 96-94 win on April 13. He'd prefer that Friday's contest not be so close.

Meanwhile, the Mavericks are hopeful that center Erick Dampier will be able to return to the court, after missing the win over Golden State due to complications from a left knee effusion. The nagging injury has sidelined the 7-footer at times this season, but Mavs coach Rick Carlisle doesn't see it as a major concern.

"(Dampier) is doing better. He practiced and we'll see where things are on Friday," the coach said. "He has made progress with it."

(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)
Dallas is also trying to get swingman Josh Howard accustom to his new sixth man role. Howard will have to be the catalyst for the Mavericks' bench with Terry inserted at the starting shooting guard spot. Coming off of a 19-point night, the former All-Star appears to be rounding back into his old form.

"It was good to see. (Howard) was out there in rhythm, making plays, making shots, good strong drives to the basket and that's what he's going to have to continue to do," Terry said of his teammate. "For us to be successful, we need him playing well.

"I talk to him every day. It ain't ever about him being a sixth man, it's just about coming in and doing what you have to do to help the team. He's focused in on it. He's been putting in the extra work, and it's paying off."

The Mavericks hope Howard continues his hot play when the team host the Timberwolves on Friday night. The game will air locally on Fox Sports Southwest at 7:30 p.m. CT. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by calling (214) 747-MAVS.

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

Mavericks Practice Report (02/04/10)

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Mavericks Practice Report (02/04/10)

Wednesday night's 110-101 win over the Golden State Warriors was crucial for the Dallas Mavericks, but the team from Big D wants more.

While the Mavericks did end a three-game losing streak with the win, they know ultimately that they need to put together a string of victories heading into the All-Star break. Sweeping the remaining three games before the midseason festivities could build vital momentum for the second part of the season. Dallas finishes with contests against the two worst teams in the Western Conference, with Friday's home game against the Minnesota Timberwolves and Monday night's away matchup against the same Warriors squad, before matching up on the road with the Denver Nuggets just before heading into the All-Star weekend. The Nuggets sit in the No. 2 spot in the West right in front of the Mavericks.

But before venturing out on the road, the team is focusing on taking things one game at a time, beginning with the matchup against the Timberwolves. Though Minnesota owns the worst record in the West, leading scorer Dirk Nowitzki says his team must display a high level of intensity come Friday night.

"We're closing out before the break on the road, so you never want to go on the road having just lost one at home," Nowitzki said. "Hopefully we can bring the same kind of intensity we had in the first half (against Golden State) and kind of carry it through."

The intensity Nowitzki alluded to pushed the Mavericks to an 18-point advantage, before watching the Warriors slice away at the Dallas lead with a 27-19 third quarter in Golden State's favor.

"There in the third quarter, we had a bad defensive effort and let them right back in the game. The next thing you know, the fourth quarter was a battle back and forth. We've got to, once we're up, keep the lead, keep the pedal to the medal and stay solid defensively. Hopefully we'll have a good outing tomorrow," Nowitzki said.

The Mavericks are also hopeful that starting center Erick Dampier returns to the court, after the 7-footer missed Wednesday's win due to more complications with a left knee effusion. In Dampier's stead, Eduardo Najera got the start. Now in his second stint with the Mavericks after a Jan. 11 trade, Najera was in the Dallas starting lineup for the first time since March 22, 2004.

"Starting, playing, it doesn't really matter to me," Najera said. "I'm like a kid...If I get any kind of time on the basketball court, I love it. Especially here in this building, you feel the energy of the people. I'm just very excited for the next game."

(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)

But while the fan favorite wouldn't normally be ahead of big man Drew Gooden on the depth chart, Mavs coach Rick Carlisle used Dampier's absence to grade Najera's conditioning while also keeping Gooden's energy in the second unit.

The move worked, as Gooden turned in a 16-point night in 27 minutes off the bench.

"I talked to Drew about it ahead of time," Carlisle said of the decision. "It had more to do with the positive things that he brings off the bench. And it was a chance for us to get Eddie out there with the first group -- play five or six minutes, be physical, go rebound the ball, do what he does. And it gave us a chance to kind of get a feel for where he's at, too. I thought his minutes were effective and Drew played very well too, so it worked out."

Now with Gooden and Najera both gaining valuable playing time, the team is prepared to play on if Dampier needs more time away from the court.

Meanwhile, Carlisle has gradually been impressed by the development and maturity of rookie Rodrigue Beaubois. Though the young pro has spent time at both positions in the backcourt, his agility, ball-handling and shooting ability has the coach seeing Beaubois as a future starting point guard.

"(Beaubois) has played a fair amount of point. He's studying the position very diligently," Carlisle said of the Guadeloupe native. "And we feel like it's another situation where he can help give us an advantage, with his quickness, his length and speed. And he brings an element to the game, with his body type, that we really don't have anywhere else on our roster.

"His natural NBA position will be point guard, but he'll play off the ball at times. And he'll be very effective at both, I believe...He's made great progress and we're going to keep pushing him to make more."

Looking for back-to-back wins, Beaubois and the Mavericks return to the hardwood to host the Timberwolves on Friday night. The game will air locally on Fox Sports Southwest at 7:30 p.m. CT. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by calling (214) 747-MAVS.

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

Warriors-Mavericks Recap

(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Golden State Warriors 101 at Dallas Mavericks 110

A dose of winning basketball was just what the doctor ordered for the Dallas Mavericks.

For the first time all season, the Mavericks entered a game losers of three straight. Hoping to put an end to their recent skid, the Mavericks welcomed the Golden State Warriors to the American Airlines Center for a second time. The Warriors came into the game with the second-worst record in the Western Conference, but they did own a 111-103 road win over the Mavericks on Nov. 24. It was a loss the Mavericks hadn't forgotten, after just six players saw action that November night for the short-handed Warriors squad.

Shooting 54 percent while five players scored in double figures, the Mavericks got their revenge. Despite a career-high 46 points coming from Monta Ellis, the Mavericks got even with a 110-101 win. Though the Mavs watched an 18-point advantage evaporate over the course of the night, at the end of the day a win is a win, leading scorer Dirk Nowitzki said.

"It's a win. Especially after you lose three in a row, it doesn't matter how you stop the bleeding," Nowitzki said. "You've got to stop it somehow, so at least we got the win. And early in the season, we lost to them with six players. So, you can never take this team lightly.

"Monta Ellis seems to always get hot here. He loves this building and loves to see us. And he had another night going. So, at least we found a way to grind it out and get a win, so that was good."

(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)

Dallas was playing without starting center Erick Dampier, as the 7-footer continued to battle a left knee effusion. In Dampier's place, Eduardo Najera got his first start for the Mavericks since returning for a second stint with the franchise after a Jan. 11 trade. The veteran big man's last start for the Mavericks was March 22, 2004 at Philadelphia. But after Najera found himself in foul trouble early in the first quarter, the Mavs were forced to bring Drew Gooden into the game sooner than expected. Gooden provided an offensive boost inside immediately, as he, Josh Howard and forward Shawn Marion lifted the Mavs to a 32-21 advantage after one.

"This was an opportunity, with a different opponent, to get him (Najera) some early minutes," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle explained the lineup decision. "It allowed us to match Drew up with their bench people, who are high-energy people. I thought Drew did a terrific job off the bench. He played extremely well in the first half and he was solid in the second. It worked out, particularly with Damp being unavailable. I felt that getting Eddie out there in the first group was a good opportunity to see what he could get us, so it was a short-minute situation."

The Mavs connected on 12-of-23 shots from the field in the opening period, stifling the Warriors to 7-of-20 shooting. The trio of Gooden, Marion and Howard combined to score 23 of Dallas' 32 in the quarter.

"We started off really well, I thought, in the first quarter," Nowitzki said. "But sometimes, I don't know if we relax, but we seem to not just get a blowout out of it. We seem to gradually get worse, and let the team get some confidence. Next thing you know, you have a ball game on your hands."

Methodically, the Dallas reserves increased the Mavericks' advantage to as much as 18 early in the second quarter. With Howard and Marion continuing to attack the basket, off the play-making of point guard Jason Kidd, the Mavericks took a 62-48 lead into the halftime break.

"Jason Kidd does such a great job of just getting everybody involved that you can just put the ball in his hands...Tonight, Jason was key because he got Josh into the game, when Josh came in, and he was serving up assists to Shawn and putting him in a good position to score, too."

Thanks to Kidd's 11 first half assists, the Mavericks shot a staggering 60 percent after 24 minutes of play. Meanwhile, the Dallas defense held the upstart Warriors to just 42 percent shooting at the other end. The Mavs held the double digit edge despite Ellis' 20 points, on 7-of-10 shooting, in the half.

The third quarter began with an aggressive Jason Terry looking to put his stamp on the game. While Terry took charge offensively for the Mavs, Ellis continued to terrorize the Dallas defense and keep his team hanging around. But the Mavericks' defense stepped up to the challenge early in the quarter, led by Najera, who took two offensive fouls square in his chest. The play picked up and so too did the physicality, as forward Dirk Nowitzki exited the game at the 2:53-mark with an apparent thumb injury. Meanwhile, Ellis and the Warriors sliced into the Mavericks' lead, cutting their deficit to just 81-75 heading into the fourth. Golden State outscored the Dallas squad 27-19 in the third period.

"If you let a team get hot, and let them get their confidence up, then you're in trouble for the rest of the night. It started there with a lack of defense in the third quarter. It got them back in the ball game," Nowitzki said.

After the Warriors cut the Dallas edge to as little as four early in the final period, the Mavericks' defense stepped up its intensity. Offensively, the Mavs got a spark from their lightening-quick rookie, Rodrigue Beaubois. Once Nowitzki returned, with his right thumb bandaged, the superstar put some distance between his team and the Warriors by getting to the free throw line.

"(The thumb) was a little sore, but it's going to stay sore for awhile. But I was able to tape it and play through it," Nowitzki said of the injury.

Defensively, the Mavericks began to throw multiple defenders Ellis' way, forcing the ball out of the sharpshooter's hands down the stretch.

"With a player like that, you try to get the ball out of his hands and make everybody else beat you," Terry said of the defensive strategy late.

While the defense attempted to quiet Ellis, Nowitzki came to life in the fourth. No. 41's back-to-back jumpers put the Mavericks ahead 101-92 with 3:18 remaining. But Ellis refused to go quietly, responding with a personal 5-0 run. As the Warriors clung to life, Kidd delivered a knock out punch with a 3-pointer to put his team up 106-97 with 1:25 remaining on the game clock. With clamping defense and clutch free throws, the Mavericks protected the lead the remainder of the way en route to claiming their 31st win of the season.

"We had some tough stretches, but down the stretch we were able to get a couple of big stops from rebounds and finish the game off. We needed to get a win so it was good," Carlisle said.

(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)

While two other Warriors (Corey Maggette and C.J. Watson) scored in double figures, the focual point of Golden State's offense was clearly Ellis. In scoring his career-best output, Ellis finished the night hitting on 17-of-23 shots from the field. The scoring assassin also connected on 4-of-6 from behind the 3-point arch.

"He does it to everybody. That's why I'm not that discouraged. He lines you up one-on-one, jumps over you and shoots bombs. That happens, we adjusted, we went and trapped him. We switched defenders on him and trapped pick-and-rolls. He's just turned into a great offensive player. That's what you have to say and fortunately we survived it," the coach added.

The Mavericks' defensive traps did force Ellis into seven turnovers.

Meanwhile, the Mavericks had a much more balanced scoring attack, led by Terry's team-high 21 points and Nowitzki's 20-point night. Howard (19), Marion (18) and Gooden (16) made it five Mavericks in double figures. Everyone seemingly benefited from Kidd's 16 assists.

"With 16 assists, you can't argue the importance of him and what he brings to the team," Carlisle said of his floor general.

The future Hall-of-Famer, Kidd, also did the job defensively, collecting a season-high tying six steals.

Despite out-shooting Golden State, 54 percent to 49 percent, the Mavericks had to overcome much more than Ellis' big night. The Warriors out-rebounded the Mavericks, 40-31, and Golden State won the battle of second chance points (17-10).

The Dallas defense did force 21 turnovers, but uncharacteristically, the Mavericks committed 17 turnovers of their own. The Warriors capitalized at the other end.

"We ended up with a lot of turnovers," Carlisle said. "We gave up 20 points off 17 turnovers, which is very high for us. I thought that was an issue...You've got to take care of the ball against these guys. They are No. 1 in steals and forced turnovers. They are probably as fast as anybody in converting them into points."

Now the Mavericks look to prepare for the Western Conference's worst team, the Minnesota Timberwolves, before their Friday night matchup in Dallas. The Mavericks then head to Oakland on Monday night to once again contend with Ellis and this very same Warriors squad.

"The funny thing about it is we have to play them again on Monday," Terry added. "We'll try to come up with some kind of game plan. Hopefully (Ellis) will miss a couple of those that he made tonight.

"We got this game. We just needed a win and we got one, so on to the next one. Minnesota on Friday -- a tough, young team that plays hard. I don't expect anything different. We're just going to have to come out again and try to put together a good performance."

The Mavericks return to the court to host the Timberwolves on Friday, with the game airing locally on Fox Sports Southwest at 7:30 p.m. CT. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by calling (214) 747-MAVS.

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

Warriors-Mavericks Preview

(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Golden State Warriors (13-34) at Dallas Mavericks (30-18)

The Dallas Mavericks aren't panicking, but they are in desperate need of a win.

In the midst of their first three-game losing streak of the season, the Mavericks are rallying around their veteran leadership to pull themselves out of despair.

"We're a veteran ball club, so we're not panicking," point guard Jason Kidd said.

Perhaps the Mavericks aren't alarmed because they match up with the two worst records in the Western Conference in their next three games, with two meetings versus the Golden State Warriors sandwiching a contest against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Wednesday night, the Mavs welcome the Warriors to the American Airlines Center for the second time this season. The first game between the two squads did not go Dallas' way, so maybe the Mavericks have more reason for concern than they let on.

Playing with just six players, the short-handed Warriors left the Mavs with a 111-103 home loss on Nov. 24. The Mavs remember that game very well, and it only intensified the hatred Dallas already has for the Golden State squad.

"We hate them," guard Jason Terry said. "They've been a thorn in our sides for the last three or four years."

(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)

In that November meeting, the Mavericks found out first-hand how explosive the Warriors' lineup is capable of being. Led by Monta Ellis' game-high 37 points, the injury-riddled Warriors outscored Dallas 24-7 over the course of the final 7:18 of game time.

"Monta Ellis is probably one of the best slasher-drivers we have in this league right now," forward Dirk Nowitzki said after the loss. "He got to the basket whenever he wanted, it seemed like."

If the Mavericks are going to tie the season series, then Mavs coach Rick Carlisle says it will start with a better effort defensively. That mission begins with slowing down the versatile Ellis.

Ellis averages better than 26 points, five assists and four rebounds a game.

"If you look at (Ellis') credentials, he is certainly worthy of being an All-Star," Carlisle said. "He is having an amazing year, statistically."

The Mavs found themselves in an up-and-down affair in the first meeting, attempting to outscore the likes of Ellis, Anthony Morrow and rookie Stephen Curry. Dallas' strategy is much different the second time around, as the Mavs will try to make the uptempo Warriors play more in the halfcourt.

"The key to beating them is points in the paint," Terry said. "We have to dominate them in the paint."

"Points in the paint is always welcomed for us. Unfortunately, we haven't been a very high-scoring team in the paint...But whether it be drives or post-ups, scoring in the paint is a good thing."

Dallas will make a conscious effort to score in the interior and try to ground the Warriors, in an attempt to put an end to their current three-game slide. But the the Mavericks will likely be without their anchor in the middle, after Carlisle said the team's starting center Erick Dampier will likely miss the game due to his continous battle with a nagging left knee effusion.

The Mavericks host the Warriors on Wednesday night, with the game airing locally on Fox Sports Southwest at 7:30 p.m. CT. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by calling (214) 747-MAVS.

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-Jazz Recap

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Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Dallas Mavericks 92 at Utah Jazz 104

The Dallas Mavericks did something on Monday night that they have not done all season long. Unfortunately for the Mavericks, a three-game losing streak is not a proud accomplishment.

In a matchup between the third and fourth place teams in the Western Conference, the Mavericks and the Utah Jazz figured to stack up pretty evenly coming into Monday night. The two teams went shot for shot for the better part of three quarters. The fourth quarter was a different story.

Outscoring the Mavericks 27-16 in the fourth, the Jazz won the season series and sent the Dallas squad back to Big D with a 104-92 road loss.

"We've struggled," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said of his team's recently play. "We've been in some close games. This was a close game up until the fourth.

"We've been here before. We had to fight through a few of these (losing streaks) last year. So, we'll battle back."

(Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)

Having played the Jazz twice already this season, with each team winning once in Dallas, the Mavericks traveled to Salt Lake City for their lone regular season trip to Energy Solutions Arena. The Mavericks were looking to snap a two-game slide, facing off with a hot Jazz squad playing without starting power forward Carlos Boozer (strained right calf). Instead, the Mavs dropped their fifth straight game in Utah and their third straight game overall.

"Hey, it happens," point guard Jason Kidd said. "There's 82 games, and you're going to win five or six in a row and you might lose three. But, our goal is to try to minimize those three-game losing streaks to two-game losing streaks. So, this is our first one...We've got to find a way to get out of this whole. But we're a veteran ball club, so we're not panicking."

The Jazz entered Monday's contest winners of nine of their last 10 games. With big man Paul Millsap providing the low post presence while standing in for Boozer, the Jazz didn't appear to miss their top scorer early on. Meanwhile, the Mavericks turned defensive intensity into transition offense in the opening quarter. Dallas received a scare when rookie guard Rodrigue Beaubois hit the court hard attempting to block a shot, as the first-year pro was helped off of the court with his team ahead 20-16 at the 3:12-mark of the first period. But even without Beaubois, Dallas emerged with a 26-24 edge after one, thanks to a combined 16 points from the Mavericks' starting backcourt of Kidd and Jason Terry.

With no Beaubois, the Mavericks' second unit offense fell on the shoulders of J.J. Barea and Josh Howard in the second quarter. But after Dallas' advantage grew to six, the Jazz reserves answered with a 7-0 run to jump ahead, sparked by the play of C.J. Miles. Already shorthanded due to the Beaubois injury, the Mavericks' lineup took another blow when Howard picked up his third foul early in the second stanza. At the same time, first time All-Star Deron Williams looked to assert himself after going scoreless in the first. The Mavericks turned to their own All-Star, as Dirk Nowitzki came to life by taking it right at Millsap, eventually drawing the big man's third foul with 3:17 remaining in the half. Despite Nowitzki's attacking play, the Jazz closed the half on a 9-2 run to take a 53-46 lead into the intermission.

(Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)

Even with the early foul trouble, Millsap led all scorers with 16 first half points.

"(Millsap) was real active on the boards. He ran. He hit shots. He really did just about everything out there. He played a terrific game for them," Carlisle said.

Nowitzki kept his squad close with 12 points, but the Jazz out-shot the Mavericks 51 percent to 42 percent in the first 24 minutes of play.

"I take it all on me, always. I got to be aggressive," Nowitzki said.

The two teams continued to go Millsap's and Nowitzki's way to start the third quarter. But the Mavericks needed Terry to step up, and the sharpshooter did just that. Terry ignited a 12-2 Dallas run with a quick trigger from behind the 3-point line, putting his team in front 62-61 midway through the period.

"(Nowitzki) carried a huge load for us in the third. JET (Terry) had it going too, early," Carlisle described the action.

But Williams' play-making and Mehmet Okur's offense paced the Jazz to a 77-76 edge heading into the final period.

"We were playing great defense until that fourth quarter," forward Shawn Marion said. "I guess we ran out of juice. And they just kicked it into a second gear, and they took off with it."

In front of its home crowd, the Jazz squad put some distance between the two teams on the scoreboard at the start of the fourth, seemingly capitalizing off of every Dallas mistake.

"We had our chances, but here at home they're tough to beat," Kidd added. "They got a couple of turnovers and from that point we were just playing catch up."

Wesley Matthews' three-point play off of Williams' 13th assist of the night put the Jazz up 94-82 with 6:49 remaining. Dallas' turnovers and miscues helped the Jazz build a lead as large as 16, before Carlisle pulled his starters down the stretch.

The Mavericks committed seven of their 15 turnovers in the fourth quarter. Meanwhile, Nowitzki scored just two points in the decisive period.

"I think we threw the ball all over the gym," Nowitzki said of the play in the fourth. "They just stepped up their pressure in the fourth. I couldn't get any looks...When they stepped up their pressure, we had no answer."

The Jazz finished the night bettering the Mavericks in shooting percentage (49 percent to 46 percent), rebounding (43-34) and points in the paint (54-32).

Nowitzki's game-high 28 points came in a losing effort, while Terry (19), Barea (12), Kidd (11) and Marion (10) all scored in double digits.

In Boozer's stead, Millsap posted a team-best 25 points, leading six Utah scorers in double figures. Meanwhile, Williams impacted the game with his scoring and his court vision, recording an 18-point, 15-assist night.

"I think (Williams) controls the game," Kidd said of his point guard counterpart. "He understands how to execute (Jazz coach Jerry Sloan's) offense. He knows how to get different guys the ball. He knows when he needs to step up and take a shot. So, I think he's grown this year and you can see that by him becoming an All-Star."

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.

"We've just got to go home and play better, and win at home," Carlisle said. "It's as simple as that."

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-Jazz Preview

(Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Dallas Mavericks (30-17) at Utah Jazz (28-18)

The Dallas Mavericks did nearly everything right on Saturday night. Still, the team fell 114-112 on its home floor, thanks to a 52-point effort from Portland guard Andre Miller.

Though the team has had its share of close-game victories, being on the other side of a narrow margin was just the nature of the league, according to Mavs coach Rick Carlisle.

"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 said when summing up the loss.

Now the coach and his squad travel to Salt Lake City to tangle with the Utah Jazz, hoping to solve the other things.

(Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)

Dallas has dropped back-to-back games and five of its last 10. The main issue that concerns the head play-caller is the team's drop-off in defensive execution. The Southwest Division leading-Mavericks have dropped from one of the top-tier defenses in the league to one ranking in the middle of the pack. Of the NBA's 30 teams, the Mavericks rank 18th in forced steals and dead last in team fouls committed. That has offset Dallas' 5.8 blocks per game, which is good for fourth in the league.

"We got very soft defensively as a team," Carlisle said. "We were a tough-minded team the first quarter of the year and it's gone by the wayside. It's an attitude adjustment we're going to have to make to get it back and right now we aren't there.

"If our team is able to get it for a 25 to 30 game period to start the season, there's no reason it can't become a priority again. They have to make it a priority. I can talk about it being a priority all I want, but it's a two-way street. We've got to have the effort and the commitment."

Offensively, the Mavs' 12.9 turnovers a contest (ranking 27th) have stopped an otherwise productive offense. It all boils down to the team losing its edge, Carlisle said.

"We should be a better basketball team than that...The tough-mindedness we exhibited the first portion of the season, I happen to believe is still there. I don't believe it was Fool's Gold," Carlisle added.

Heading into a hostile environment like Energy Solutions Arena, the Mavericks will need that toughness to return.

The Mavericks and the Jazz have each snatched a win this season against each other, with both of the first two games being played in Dallas. After the Mavericks received a 111-93 home thumping at the hands of Utah on Jan. 9, the Dallas squad heads into the Jazz's backyard, where teams have not been very successful. Utah is 19-6 at home, but the Mavericks are hoping to hang a seventh loss on that record as Dallas enters the matchup with the Western Conference's best road mark of 16-9.

(Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)

"Utah's a tough place to play," Dallas' leading scorer Dirk 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."

Fortunately for the Mavs, Utah could be without their top two scorers. Both Deron Williams (relative's funeral) and Carlos Boozer (strained right calf) missed the Jazz's last game, a 101-94 home win over Sacramento.

Even if Williams and Boozer are able to go, the Mavericks will need a win to avoid their first three-game skid of the season. The Mavericks-Jazz matchup will air locally on Fox Sports Southwest at 8 p.m. CT.

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.