Mavericks-Warriors Recap

(Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Beaubois' breakthrough performance on the Bay
Dallas Mavericks 111 at Golden State Warriors 90

After coming up on the wrong side of the scoreboard in four of their last six games, Dallas Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle was looking for someone to step up and lead his slumping squad.

(Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)

Who would think that a rookie from Guadeloupe would be the catalyst to winning basketball?

Looking forward to reigniting their competitive juices against an old rival on Saturday night, the Mavs entered Oracle Arena with hopes of winning the four-game season series with the Golden State Warriors in the final matchup between the two teams. Thanks in large part to a career night from rookie guard Rodrigue Beaubois, the Mavericks not only got back in the win column, they did it in blowout fashion.

Beaubois' 40-point night not only shredded his previous career-high of 24 points, it also boosted the Mavericks to a 111-90 win.

"First off, I have to say that Roddy (Beaubois) had a great game," Carlisle said after the win. "Coming into this game, we knew this was the type of team that he would be able to showcase his abilities against...It was a good win in a not-so-easy place to play."

Looking to right the ship, Carlisle re-inserted Brendan Haywood at the starting center spot, after the 7-footer came off the bench behind Erick Dampier in the previous two games. But even with Haywood monitoring the paint, the Mavericks had their hands full in the opening quarter thanks to a quick start from Clippers forward Corey Maggette. Once Haywood exited the game at the 3:18-mark of the first quarter with a left middle finger injury, Carlisle turned to a three-guard lineup of Jason Kidd, Jason Terry and the rookie Beaubois playing next to Shawn Marion and Eduardo Najera. The move was a successful one, as the "small ball" Mavericks escaped with a 31-27 edge at the end of one, despite Maggette's 17 first quarter points.

The Dallas reserves accounted for 15 points off the bench in the period. That would become a trend.

It didn't take long in the second quarter for Beaubois to heat up. Back-to-back-to-back threes from the former French League product gave the Mavericks a 13-point lead just two minutes into the period.

"When he came in, he made a lot of great things happen," the coach added. "He hit a bunch of threes at key points in the game and that took some of the wind out of their sail and gave us a push when we needed it."

The first year-pro then got plenty of help on the offensive end from fellow point guard J.J. Barea and All-Star forward Dirk Nowitzki, but the quarter was all about Beaubois' assassin-like sharpshooting from behind the 3-point arch. The result was an advantage as large as 28 before the half ended with Dallas in front 67-41.

With a 21-point second quarter, Beaubois' 26 points in the first 24 minutes established a new career mark for the budding star. No. 3's 10-for-13 from the field and 5-for-6 from behind the arch helped the Mavericks shot 59 percent in the half. Meanwhile, the Warriors struggled to just 35 percent shooting at the other end.

"We were active at both ends," Carlisle simply said.

"We held them to one shot opportunities and that was helpful for us. We don't look at the record of the teams we play because this is the NBA, so any team can win or lose," Marion explained.

(Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
Carlisle didn't stop utilizing his smaller lineups to begin the second half and the team kept responding. Haywood continued to sit with the mild injury while Najera continued to get the minutes at the five spot. With their rookie on the sidelines to start the third quarter, Najera and Marion took control of the scoring. But after the Warriors cut into a 33-point Dallas lead with a 9-0 run, Beaubois once again defused things with his sixth made three. The Mavs then took a 91-62 lead into the final period.

In the fourth, the young guard began to put in work both as a facilitator and a scorer, eclipsing the 30-point plateau while dishing out play-making assists. By that point, the game was less about the scoreboard and more about where Beaubois' night would rank by the end of the night. His ninth made three came with 1:16 remaining, breaking a Mavericks' rookie record held by his mentor and teammate, Kidd.

"What a performance by Beaubois...Unbelievable," Warriors coach Don Nelson said. "We left him open a couple of times, but it didn't matter. He made shots when we covered him, when he was open. Nine threes, what a performance. I didn't expect that."

With Kidd going scoreless in the game, Beaubois' night became more of a necessity than a luxury. The team then dribbled out the clock with Beaubois just two points shy of tying the franchise mark for points in a single game by a rookie.

Beaubois' scoring output is the second-best by a rookie this season, sitting only behind Milwaukee Bucks guard Brandon Jennings' 55 points on Nov. 14 against the very same Warriors squad.

"Hats off to Roddy for his game tonight," Kidd said. "He picked up a lot of slack for us. I wasn't able to get a shot and I guess he found them. The main thing is that we got the win, so we are all happy about that. We may have to add another player to this rookie class, with Stephen Curry, Tyreke (Evans), Jennings and now Roddy."

In addition to his 15-of-22 shooting and 9-of-11 from long range, Beaubois also snatched a career-high eight rebounds while sending back three blocked shots on the defensive end. The 6-foot guard also dished out three assists and committed just one turnover.

"He has earned the minutes that he has been getting. The type of team we have is beneficial for him. To have the ability to play with a Jason Kidd and the rest of this team is only beneficial for him. It's a smaller team that we played tonight and that suited him. The great thing about Roddy is he has been ready to play every time he has been called upon. I believe in the kid a lot. He will be out there if he will be able to help us win," Carlisle said of Beaubois' maturation.

The Mavericks finished the game out-shooting the Warriors 48 percent to 33 percent. With Beaubois' big explosion, the Dallas reserves outscored their Golden State counterparts 65-27.

"We got a big spark off the bench from Roddy. We have a lot of different sparks off of the bench and tonight was his night," Marion said.

But the rookie wasn't the only one that performed in a big way for the Mavs Saturday night. Marion's 18 points, Caron Butler's 14 and Nowitzki's 13 made it four Mavericks that scored in double figures. All of wish benefited off of Kidd's 11 assists.

"(Kidd) doesn't care about scoring, he only cares about winning. He's a true professional, and he helps this team go. He directs traffic out there for this team to be successful," the coach concluded.

Nowitzki also added 10 rebounds to record the double-double, as Dallas won the battle of the boards 48-43.

After his big first quarter, Maggette finished with 21 points to led the Warriors.

Now the Mavericks shift their focus to perhaps the game of the season.

With the team in a dogfight with the Denver Nuggets for the second seed in the Western Conference playoff picture, the Mavs return to the American Airlines Center on Monday night to play host to the Nuggets. The two squads have split the first two games of the season series, both in Denver. That matchup will air nationally on NBA TV and locally on KTXA 21 at 7:30 p.m. CT. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by calling (214) 747-MAVS.

"We are a veteran team and we are all trying to get ready for the playoffs," Marion said.

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-Trail Blazers Recap

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Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Mavs get ran out of the Rose Garden
Dallas Mavericks 89 at Portland Trail Blazers 101

After losing two home games by a combined six points to the Portland Trail Blazers, the Dallas Mavericks entered the Rose Garden with one goal: Returning the favor.

Not so fast, my friend.

(Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Blazers had something else in mind. Instead of relinquishing a victory to the Mavs, Portland won their third of four matchups in the season series. This time with a wider margin of victory. In a game full of runs, the Blazers saved their best spurt for the final stretch while the Mavericks fizzled in a 101-89 defeat.

"(The Blazers) played well and we need to play better, I think it comes down to that," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said after the loss. "I think tonight they were more aggressive in the second half and they did a great job defensively down the stretch."

"It's the bottom line, they beat us three times. For us, at this point in the season, it's not about 3-0 or 4-0. It's about us getting better for the next step, and I think we can look at this game and understand that next season this is how teams will play us. It's good that it happened now and not next season," point guard Jason Kidd said.

Playing before a nationally televised audience, the Mavericks sought their revenge as they began a two-game road trip. After scoring the first six points of the night, the Mavs appeared to be well on their way to retribution. But the Blazers returned fire with eight unanswered. Portland then would go in front by as much as nine in the opening period behind the inside duo of LaMarcus Aldridge and Marcus Camby. The Mavericks would rally behind Brendan Haywood's inside play at both ends of the court play. Haywood, who came off the bench for the second straight game behind starting center Erick Dampier, handled the interior while fellow newcomer Caron Butler provided Dallas' perimeter scoring. Still, the Blazers' 12 free throw attempts, compared to zero trips to the line for the Mavs, had Portland in front 32-27 after one.

"They did a good job of jamming and stopping us early and keeping the pace of the game, which you've got to give them credit for that," forward Shawn Marion said.

Both teams shot lights-out in the first quarter, as Dallas hit on 13-of-23 from the field, and Portland connected on 12-of-22.

Haywood continued to be the story early in the second period, patrolling the paint for defensive rejections and two-hand dunks on the offensive end. The 7-footer then got help from Kidd, as the 37-year-old swished in shots from behind the 3-point arch. But the Blazers combated the Mavs' inside-outside play with an 8-0 run. That's when Butler took over the scoring load for the Mavericks, scoring eight straight Dallas points. Still, Brandon Roy's driving layup with 1.9 ticks left in the half gave Portland a 60-54 edge heading into the intermission.

The hot-shooting first half continued throughout the first 24 minutes of play, as the Mavs shot 53 percent while the Blazers nailed 56 percent of their shots. Butler led all scorers at the midway mark with 16 points, while Aldridge's 14 paced Portland.

(Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)
Carlisle liked what he saw from Haywood in the first two quarters, so the former North Carolina product got the start in the second half. With the new five-man unit, the Mavericks quickly knotted the game at 60-all with the first six points of the third quarter. Just like the beginning of the game, Portland answered once again, this time with a 12-0 run of its own. Fittingly, the Mavericks immediately tallied up seven straight points in response. The two teams then settled down, with Dallas remaining close behind threes from Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry. By quarter's end, the Mavericks still found themselves down 80-75 heading into the fourth.

"They took us out of a lot of stuff, and we need to be more aggressive offensively, execute better and work to create shots," Carlisle said.

As he had the entire night, Butler tried to create shots while putting the squad on his back early in the final period. But despite No. 4's best efforts, the Blazers sprinted to a double-digit advantage behind Aldridge and Andre Miller. Portland's lead reached as much as 13 down the stretch, before Carlisle pulled his key contributors in the final minute. The Blazers finished the game on a 19-9 run.

"They were extremely aggressive, particularly in the fourth," the coach added. "It's frustrating to our team when we're unable to get clean looks at the basket."

After the hot start, the Mavericks finished the night shooting 44 percent. Meanwhile, the Blazers shot 50 percent. Albeit in a losing effort, the Mavericks did knock down 9-of-22 from behind the arch. Dallas also held a 39-36 rebounding edge. But the Blazers' 44-34 advantage in points in the paint was crucial. Most importantly, Portland grounded Dallas' fast-breaking attack, as the Blazers outscored the Mavericks 16-0 in transition points.

"We had zero fast break points and they had 16. To me, that means two things -- you need to get more stops to get in transition to get quality looks at the basket and we never had them under 50 percent the whole game. That was a problem for our running game. When you get beat 16 to nothing on the break, it's tough to win," Carlisle explained.

"They did a good job of jamming the ball and taking that aspect (fast break offense) of the game away," Kidd added. "Also, when you make shots, that takes away the running game. So, lesson learned, and we have to understand what we have to do next time and that's a big part of our game -- getting out and running."

Butler's game-high 25 points on 11-of-19 from the field kept the Mavericks in contention all night, but in the fourth the two-time All-Star got little help. Marion (15), Nowitzki (15), Kidd (11) and Terry (11) gave the team five double-figure scorers.

Aldridge led the Blazers with 20 points. The combination of Aldridge and Camby tallied 37 points and 21 rebounds, doing damage in the painted area. After his 52-point effort in Portland's 114-112 overtime win in Dallas on Jan. 30, Miller followed it up with a double-double, scoring 19 points and shelling out 10 assists.

The Mavericks get their final regular season chance at handing the Blazers a loss back in the Rose Garden on April 9.

"We just need to learn from it and give them credit, they took this one," Marion said. "We need to come back here (April 9), and that's how you got to look at it.

Now the Mavericks try to get back in the win column when they conclude their mini road trip in Oakland on Saturday night against the Golden State Warriors. The two teams have split the first two games of the season series, with each squad winning on the other team's home floor. The game will air locally on KTXA and KTXA HD at 7:30 p.m. CT.

The squad returns to the American Airlines Center on Monday night when they host the Denver Nuggets. The Mavs and Nuggets have split the first two games of the season series. That matchup will air nationally on NBA TV and locally on KTXA 21 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-Trail Blazers Preview

(Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Possible playoff preview in Rip City
Dallas Mavericks (47-24) at Portland Trail Blazers (42-29)

The Dallas Mavericks don't expect to finish too many games without Dirk Nowitzki on the court. But if the Mavericks have to, as they did in Tuesday's 106-96 home win over the Los Angeles Clippers, then they know they're in good hands with Jason Kidd.

With Nowitzki ejected for just the third time in his career at the 9:16-mark of the third quarter, Kidd celebrated his 37th birthday by festively scoring a season-high 26 points, dishing out 12 assists and grabbing six rebounds to lead the Mavs to the W. The 10-time All-Star also connected on 6-of-11 from 3-point range, the most he's tallied from behind the arch in a game this season.

"With Dirk out, I thought I'd play Dirk," Kidd said. "I didn't want a bad birthday, so I was going to take the blame if we lost with my offensive output."

(Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)

"I thought (Kidd) willed the team with his energy and his enthusiasm," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said of the future Hall of Famer's performance. "He got guys engaged and it wasn't just playmaking -- it was shotmaking, it was assists, it was defensive plays, it was giving guys confidence out there."

Now the Mavericks will once again need Kidd at his best, with Nowitzki back in action, against the Portland Trail Blazers at the Rose Garden to start a two-game road trip.

As the two teams battle for playoff positioning, it is possible that the Mavs and Blazers could meet in an opening postseason series. If that's the case then the Mavericks would really like to make a statement, after dropping the first two games to the Blazers this season at the American Airlines Center by a total of six points.

"We haven't beat them all year, so this is a big game for us," sixth man Jason Terry said of the matchup.

Big game is right.

The Blazers have won eight of their last 10 games and four straight at home. But Portland still only sits in the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

Meanwhile, the Southwest Division-leading Mavericks enter Thursday with the two seed, but they are locked in a dogfight with the Denver Nuggets for the second spot in the standings. With the contest against the Blazers and Saturday's road game against the Golden State Warriors, the squad is doing its best not to look ahead to Monday night's date at home against the Nuggets.

"Looking at Golden State and then Denver - so a big three-game stretch for us and we want to win them all," Terry added.

But winning all three games starts with slowing down a Portland squad that has out-executed the Mavericks down the stretch of the first two meetings. In the Mavs' 85-81 loss on Dec. 22, it was Brandon Roy that torched the Dallas defense for 10 of his team-high 23 points in the fourth to lead the Blazers to the victory. That was nothing compared to Andre Miller's career-high 52 points against the Mavs, with Roy sidelined due to a hamstring injury, to help the Blazers to a 114-112 overtime win on Jan. 30.

(Photo by Danny Bollinger/NBAE via Getty Images)
Miller's performance was the third-best by any scorer against the Mavericks in franchise history, and his 22 made field goals is an American Airlines Center record.

"Guys in this league, when they get in a groove, they can have special nights like that," Carlisle said of Miller's night. "We tried a lot of different guys on him...He played a phenomenal game. 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."

Now the Mavericks try to do a better job defensively on Miller and Roy, coming off of a fourth quarter performance that held the Clippers in check. Dallas outscored L.A. 30-19, holding the Clippers to just 5-of-22 shooting in the final quarter. According to Kidd, the defense will once again be the key come Thursday night.

"We're a pretty good team when we get defensive stops," the veteran point guard said.

Beginning a two-game expedition on the road, the Mavs travel to meet the Blazers in front of a national audience. The game will be televised nationally on TNT, airing at 9:30 p.m. CT.

The Mavericks return to the American Airlines Center on Monday night when they host the Nuggets. The squads have split the first two games of the season series. That matchup will air nationally on NBA TV and locally on KTXA 21 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.

Clippers-Mavericks Recap

(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Birthday Kidd shines with Dirk out
Los Angeles Clippers 96 at Dallas Mavericks 106

Everyone wishes they could celebrate their birthday in style. Jason Kidd made sure that he did.

After dropping three of four games, the Dallas Mavericks needed to shake things up against the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday night. A change in the starting lineup is what Mavs coach Rick Carlisle thought would do the trick, as his team took the court for the second game of a back-to-back. But by night's end, it would be the play of a 37-year-old Kidd that grabbed the headlines on his birthday.

(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)

With the team's leading scorer, Dirk Nowitzki, ejected during the third quarter for just the third time in his career, the pass-first Kidd became the Mavs' No. 1 scoring option when the team needed him most. The birthday "kid" did not disappoint, leading his team to a 106-96 victory while writing another chapter in his Hall of Fame novel.

"I thought (Kidd) willed the team with his energy and his enthusiasm," Carlisle said of the 10-time All-Star. "He got guys engaged and it wasn't just play-making -- it was shot-making, it was assists, it was defensive plays, it was giving guys confidence out there."

"With Dirk out, I thought I'd play Dirk," Kidd said. "I didn't want a bad birthday, so I was going to take the blame if we lost with my offensive output."

Before the game, Carlisle made the executive decision to insert center Erick Dampier at the five spot in place of Brendan Haywood. Dampier joined the first unit for the first time since dislocating his right middle finger in a 99-86 road loss to Oklahoma City on Feb. 16.

"I've talked to both Damp and Haywood about starting," Carlisle said. "Hey, they're a team...We have too much inconsistency right now. I think we'll remedy that, but I'm not ready to pencil guys in."

But while the 7-footer tried to stabilize the interior, Nowitzki and Kidd handled the scoring load in the opening quarter. With the Dallas defense scrambling from end to end and Shawn Marion's back-to-back scores to close the period, the Mavericks opened up a 32-24 advantage after one.

The Mavericks turned four L.A. turnovers into 10 points at the other end in the first quarter.

Haywood got his opportunity in the second period and he made the most of it. The former North Carolina standout put in work at both ends of the court, sending back shots with his emphatic rejections and scoring with ease in the paint. Wisely, the big man also left the scoring to Nowitzki and Kidd, as the duo shot the Mavs to a double-digit lead. Despite Clippers forward Chris Kaman's best efforts, Dallas took a 62-48 margin into the half.

Nowitzki's 18 first half points led all scorers at the midway point, connecting on 8-of-10 shots. Kaman paced L.A. with 12 points. The Mavericks out-shot the Clippers 54 percent to 42 percent after 24 minutes of play.

Carlisle's rotation continued to get a facelift in the second half, as the coach waited just 52 seconds into the third quarter before replacing Caron Butler with DeShawn Stevenson. But that's not the sequence that impacted the game most.

At the 9:16-mark of the third, Nowitzki earned himself an early exit, drawing back-to-back technicals for arguing with the officials.

"That was a bad decision by Dirk. It put the team in a terrible situation and he knows it was wrong," Carlisle explained. "If you get a technical, you get one and make your point and you got to let it go. He is too important to us. But hey, we had other guys that stepped up."

With No. 41 in the locker room, the Clippers hacked into the Mavs' lead with a 9-0 run. Kaman then gave the Clippers a 71-69 edge with a floater in the lane. L.A. then proceeded to take a 77-76 lead into the final period. The Mavs shot just 6-of-23 and were outscored 29-14 in the third quarter.

The Mavericks then found life in the play of rookie Rodrigue Beaubois, including the young guard's electric two-hand finish off Kidd's lob pass to open up the fourth period.

"Beaubois was ready to come in and he played big for us...This is one of those games where you have to find a way. We ran the lob play for Roddy, which worked and that got the crowd into it and it just kind of lifted us," the coach said.

The play ignited a fuse in the Mavs, helping the team to eight unanswered points. Kidd then took control, swishing in perimeter shots and scoring in transition to open up an 18-point lead with a 22-3 run to begin the quarter.

"I thought we played a pretty good first half and then we kind of just let down and gave the lead away. We found ourselves in a dogfight, then we responded and we all pitched in and did something well in the fourth," Kidd said.

The Dallas advantage reached as much as 19 before the Clippers climbed to within eight down the stretch with the game securely tucked in the Mavs' pocket. Kidd checked out with 19.1 ticks left to a standing ovation.

(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)
"I can't say enough great things about Jason Kidd. Tonight, and really the two years I have been with him, he's been just phenomenal," the coach added.

"I don't believe he's 37," Beaubois said. "He's lying. When Dirk went out, he really took over the game."

Behind Kidd's season-high 26 points, 12 assists and six rebounds, the Mavericks more than made up for Nowitzki's ejection. The veteran also connected on a season-best six 3-pointers on 11 attempts. He did it all while battling for over 41 minutes.

"It was a nice birthday gift and a good birthday, and I'm glad we got the win," Kidd said.

Though Nowitzki recorded his first ejection since December 26, 2008 at Utah, the star did score 18 points in 19 minutes. The Mavs' role players more than picked up the slack, as Jason Terry (14), Marion (12), Haywood (12) and Beaubois (10) all scored in double figures. Haywood also snatched down 10 rebounds in 30 minutes off the bench.

"You got to get the win against the Clippers, because they had nothing to play for. It was a necessity," Haywood explained.

The Dallas reserves outscored their L.A. counterparts 43-5.

Former Mav Drew Gooden led the Clippers with a season-best output in his return to the American Airlines Center. The former Kansas product set season-highs with 26 points and 20 rebounds. Kaman finished with 22 points.

Now the Mavericks try to keep the momentum going as they head out west for a two-game road trip. The journey begins with a nationally televised game on TNT against the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday night. The game will air at 9:30 p.m. CT. The Blazers have won the first two matchups between the teams, with four regular season games scheduled.

"We haven't beat them all year, so this is a big game for us," Terry said.

The Mavericks return to the American Airlines Center on Monday night when they host the Denver Nuggets. The Mavs and Nuggets have split the first two games of the season series. That matchup will air nationally on NBA TV and locally on KTXA 21 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.

Clippers-Mavericks Preview

(Photo by Tim Heitman/NBAE via Getty Images)

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Los Angeles Clippers (26-44) at Dallas Mavericks (46-24)

As the playoffs approach, the Dallas Mavericks are trying to keep from making the same mistake that a lot of veteran teams make in the final month of the season. The squad doesn't want to look ahead to mid-April just yet.

But after dropping three of their last four games, the Mavs may need to redirect their focus back to what's happening on the hardwood.

(Photo by Tim Heitman/NBAE via Getty Images)

"It's disappointing," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said. "(The players) clearly have a focus problem that we must look at and fix before the postseason. And we have the ability to do it."

Now the Mavericks are in a unique position. Though they have a stranglehold on the Southwest Division, they certainly aren't happy with their recent play.

Monday night didn't make things any better. The Mavs watched a 16-point first quarter lead end in a 115-99 loss to the New Orleans Hornets. The loss snapped the Mavericks' five-game road winning streak.

"We got up 16 points and then basically called it quits," forward Shawn Marion said after the loss. "I think we just took it on the chin. We stopped everything we were doing. We got relaxed, and they got aggressive and started getting comfortable and making shots. That was basically it."

The loss was just the latest blunder since the team's 13-game win streak ended in a 34-point home defeat to the New York Knicks on March 13.

"I think the big thing is we're being inconsistent. Maybe a little bit too relaxed. We understand how important these games are," point guard Jason Kidd said.

But the Mavericks don't have much time to sit around and mope over the loss to the Hornets. Just 24 hours later the Mavericks have to play host to the Los Angeles Clippers in the second game of a back-to-back. L.A. might be the perfect remedy, entering the game losers of nine out of their last ten contests.

Still, Carlisle knows just how feisty the Clippers are capable of being, after his team escaped the Staples Center with a 93-84 win on Oct. 31. The coach is hopeful that his team won't take L.A. lightly.

"We have a quick turnaround, and everyone has to bounce back. The Clippers are a very talented and healthy team. We are going to have to do a lot better than we did (Monday night)," Carlisle explained.

(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)
But if the Mavericks are also going to take the second of three meetings between the teams then they are going to have to put together a quality 48-minute performance. It's something the team has failed to do in the past four games, according to Kidd.

"For the last four games, we've played one quarter each game -- we've won games because of that and lost games because of that. It's something we have to look at," the future Hall of Famer added.

The Mavs will also try to cut down on turnovers, as miscues have allowed their opposition to capitalize with easy scores at the other end. The Hornets did just that, scoring 35 points off Dallas' 20 total turnovers. It's a formula for failure.

"When you turn it over 20 times for 35 points, it's going to be hard to win a game. The Hornets took advantage of the forced turnovers they created," Carlisle said.

The Mavs will try not to make the same mistake against the Clippers.

L.A. enters the American Airlines Center with the Mavericks looking to avoid their third straight loss. 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-Hornets Recap

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Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Mavs leave New Orleans stung and stunned
Dallas Mavericks 99 at New Orleans Hornets 115

Despite dropping two of their last three games at home, the Dallas Mavericks entered New Orleans Arena with plenty of confidence before their fourth and final matchup with the Hornets. That confidence may be wavering now.

The Mavericks came into Monday night's contest with the Hornets on a five-game road winning streak, while also owning the Western Conference's best road record. Dallas also held a 2-1 lead in the season series against New Orleans. But the Hornets had a surprise up their sleeves, as the team announced just before the tip that All-Star point guard Chris Paul would return to the starting lineup after missing 25 games following arthroscopic knee surgery.

(Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)

Though Paul played just under 21 minutes, No. 3's return definitely inspired his team, to the Mavericks' dismay. In a game that seemed so promising for the squad from Big D early on, turnovers and lackluster defense translated into a 37-point turnaround and eventually a 115-99 Mavs' loss in the first game of a back-to-back.

"It's disappointing," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said. "(The players) clearly have a focus problem that we must look at and fix before the postseason. And we have the ability to do it."

Paul's impact was limited early, as the Mavericks turned defensive stops into transition offense. With Jason Kidd's hot hand and Dirk Nowitzki moving past David Robinson for 29th on the NBA's all-time scoring list, the Mavericks quickly jumped out to a double-digit advantage in the first quarter. Dallas didn't take its foot off the gas in the first 12 minutes of play, raining in an array of shots from behind the arch including Jason Terry's 1,500th career three. Terry, who was playing in his third game since returning from facial surgery on March 5, took the court for the first time without wearing his protective mask. After the Dallas lead reached as much as 16, the period came to an end with the Mavs ahead 32-19.

Dallas connected on 14-of-21 shots, while New Orleans struggled to just 7-of-22 shooting in the quarter.

"In the first quarter, we were extremely aggressive and were guarding them well. Our undoing was clearly the second and third quarter," the coach said.

Hornets rookie Marcus Thornton aggressively took charge early in the second period, helping New Orleans cut its deficit to single digits. But after an 11-2 Hornets' run cut the Dallas lead to six, Terry rained in a timely 3-pointer followed by a transition feed to Nowitzki to keep New Orleans at bay. Still, with Paul on the bench, first-year pro Darren Collison and the Hornets continued to come head on, capitalizing off of Dallas' turnovers and sprinting to a 15-0 run to end the first half up 52-45.

"You have to give the Hornets credit. They went out and took that first blow when we were up 16, and they turned it around and went up 7," Kidd said of the first half.

Despite being outscored 33-13 in the second quarter, the Mavericks still out-shot the Hornets 51 percent to 47 percent in the first half. The Mavs' 11 turnovers were what gave New Orleans life, leading to 14 Hornets' points at the other end. Morris Peterson led all scorers at the midway point with 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting, while Terry kept the Mavs afloat with his 13 points.

(Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)
The Mavericks' miscues continued to come and the Hornets' lead continued to grow early in the third quarter. New Orleans came out of the intermission scoring the first eight points of the period. But after falling behind by as much as 15, the Mavericks began to attack the rim with a fiery anger. With Brendan Haywood becoming a force inside, the Mavericks began their comeback attempt. The 7-footer got plenty of help from Terry, including seven straight Dallas points from No. 31, but the Mavericks still found themselves down 82-70 entering the fourth.

After going scoreless through the first three quarters, Paul looked to both assert himself and put the Mavericks out of their misery in the final period. Behind their lead guard's direction, the Hornets built up a 21-point lead. With his team down 18 and 3:17 remaining, Carlisle emptied his bench in preparation for the second game in as many days.

"We got up 16 points and then basically called it quits," forward Shawn Marion said. "I think we just took it on the chin. We stopped everything we were doing. We got relaxed, and they got aggressive and started getting comfortable and making shots. That was basically it."

The loss gave the Mavericks their sixth straight defeat in New Orleans. Since their 13-game win streak, the Mavs have dropped three of their last four games.

"I think the big thing is we're being inconsistent. Maybe a little bit too relaxed. We understand how important these games are. We only have 13 left. For the last four games, we've played one quarter each game -- we've won games because of that and lost games because of that. It's something we have to look at," Kidd said.

It's not often that the Mavericks lose a game in which they shot 52 percent and connected on 8-of-16 from behind the arch. But Monday night's contest wasn't most games.

In addition to the Hornets' 54 percent shooting, New Orleans hit on 12-of-24 shots from 3-point range. Yet that wasn't the most important stat of the night. The Hornets scored 35 points off of Dallas' 20 total team turnovers.

"When you turn it over 20 times for 35 points, it's going to be hard to win a game," Carlisle said. "The Hornets took advantage of the forced turnovers they created. I just have to give credit to a good team. They dropped five in a row and came here tonight ready to play."

Albeit in a loss, Terry scored 24 points off the bench on 9-of-16 from the floor. Nowitzki (16), Marion (14), Caron Butler (12) and Haywood (10) all scored in double figures.

Thornton finished with a game-high 28 points on 12-of-22 shooting. Meanwhile, David West feasted on the Dallas defense, scoring 25 points, dishing out 10 assists and grabbing six rebounds. In his return, Paul scored 11 points on 4-of-9 from the field.

Now the Mavericks return to the American Airlines Center on Tuesday night to host the Los Angeles Clippers. Back on Oct. 31, the Mavs captured a 93-84 win in L.A. in the first of three meetings between the teams. That game will air locally on Fox Sports Southwest at 7:30 p.m. CT. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by calling (214) 747-MAVS.

"We have a quick turnaround, and everyone has to bounce back. The Clippers are a very talented and healthy team. We are going to have to do a lot better than we did tonight," the coach concluded.

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-Hornets Preview

(Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Dallas Mavericks (46-23) at New Orleans Hornets (33-38)

The Dallas Mavericks can't sit around and think about what they didn't do right in Saturday's 102-93 home loss to the Boston Celtics. There's no time to waste.

After winning their fair share of close ball games, the Mavericks admit that the Celtics were the ones making the crucial plays down the stretch.

"You tip your hat to (the Celtics). They were the better team with two minutes left," Mavs point guard Jason Kidd said after the loss.

"It was a tough loss, because we've been winning close games," sixth man Jason Terry added.

But it is a loss the Mavericks will have to learn from quickly. Now the team has to shift its focus to the New Orleans Hornets for the first game of a back-to-back.

(Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Southwest Division-leading Mavericks enter New Orleans Arena in front 2-1 in the season series with the Hornets. Most recently the Mavs claimed a 108-100 home win against the Hornets on Feb. 28. But in that game the Mavericks' owned a 25-point lead, before watching New Orleans fight to cut its deficit to single digits. Though the Mavericks went on to escape the American Airlines Center floor with the victory, it may have started a trend.

In the Mavericks' last two games, late-game execution has been a problem. From watching a 25-point lead end in a 113-106 win over a shorthanded Chicago squad last Wednesday to Saturday night's fourth quarter miscues, execution down the stretch has grown into a concern for Mavs coach Rick Carlisle.

"No excuses. We've got to make plays. It's tough when you are taking it out of the opponent's basket to score...We've got to be better. I'm not going to make any excuses about that," the coach said of his team's play down the stretch of games.

While the Mavericks try to close games better they will also have to contend with the rookie duo of Darren Collison and Marcus Thornton.

(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)
With Chris Paul still recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery, Collison exploded for a career-high tying 35 points on 15-of-21 shooting in the Hornets' February loss to the Mavs.

"(Collison) is a talented, young guy," forward Shawn Marion said of the first-year pro. "(Feb. 28) was the first time we actually got a chance to really see him, without CP3 (Paul) on the floor with him. He's tough. He's something to look forward to."

Thornton added 21 points off the bench, albeit in a loss.

"The two young kids (Collison and Thornton) are energetic," Carlisle said. "They've got a lot of fight in them."

Still, the Hornets are fading out of the playoff picture after losing 10 of their last 12 games before beginning a five-game homestand.

Now the Mavericks try to stop the budding stars while also trying to put together a winning equation. Since owning a 13-game winning streak, the Mavs have dropped two of their last three games. Carlisle says if the Mavericks are to correct their recent play then it will start at the defensive end.

"You've got to be able to get some stops. We didn't get stops (against Boston). That was our undoing," the coach concluded.

In the fourth and final regular season game between the two teams, the Mavs-Hornets matchup will appear nationally on NBA TV and locally on KTXA, airing at 7 p.m. CT.

The Mavericks then return to the American Airlines Center on Tuesday night to host the Los Angeles Clippers. Back on Oct. 31, the Mavs captured a 93-84 win in L.A. in the first of three meetings between the teams. That game will air locally on Fox Sports Southwest at 7:30 p.m. CT. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by calling (214) 747-MAVS.

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