Mavs-Spurs First Round Series Preview

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Clash of the Texas titans
(No. 2) Dallas Mavericks (55-27) vs. (No. 7) San Antonio Spurs (50-32)

Throw out the Dallas Mavericks' 3-1 season series edge over the San Antonio Spurs. Disregard Dallas' 4-1 opening round playoff series win in last year's postseason. When the Mavs and Spurs meet in a seven-game series, all bets are off.

It's that notion, and knowledge of playoffs past, that has the Mavericks very focused before matching up with their Southwest Division rival yet again with bragging rights and a second-round berth on the line. The two squads have meet three of the last five postseasons, all of which have had signature moments. Forward Dirk Nowitzki said it's only right that the Mavs go through the Spurs if an NBA title is in Dallas' future.

"We're looking forward to a fun playoff run, so we'll see how it goes," Nowitzki said. "We know (the Spurs) are tough...They're going to be a tough matchup for us, but we're going to be prepared. It seems like we play them every year anyways, so it's kind of fittingly."

Fortunately, the Mavs enter the playoffs riding a five-game winning streak. That includes a 96-89 win over a shorthanded Spurs squad on Wednesday night, playing without Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili in the final game of the season. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich decided to rest the two stars in preparation for what figures to be another epic Texas shootout.

Now, the Mavericks look to ride the momentum of a 55-win regular season, which included the team's third ever division title. Meanwhile, San Antonio will be out for retribution after the Mavs ended the Spurs' season one year ago.

"This is a big battle in Texas," forward Shawn Marion said of the matchup. "Two big Texas teams going head to head...The regular season is over with and the second season is about to start. That's what it's about."

It's also about correcting the mistakes of the regular season, like overlooking Spurs rookie DeJuan Blair. The first-year pro stepped up with a monster effort in the season finale, making up for Duncan's absence inside with a 27-point, 23-rebound performance.

Mavs coach Rick Carlisle says Blair certainly has his team's full attention heading into the first round series.

"Blair made a case that he should be playing a lot in this series," the coach said. "He has had a solid year and he has done a great job for them. He has started some, sometimes he hasn't, but he plays hard and plays with force. I would like to see us do a better job on him, but these are numbers he is capable of."

But make no mistake, the Mavericks know very well that stopping the Spurs means containing the Big Three of Duncan, Ginobili and Tony Parker.

"San Antonio is tough. They've got a Hall of Famer in Tim Duncan and two All-Stars that can take over the game at any time," sixth man Jason Terry said. "We know the threat that they pose. For us, it's all about coming out consistent offensively and defensively and executing our game plan...It's always a hard challenge with the weapons they have over there."

The Mavs will not back down from the challenge, despite the daunting task of knocking off a franchise with four championships for the second consecutive year.

"We're all veteran guys, so I think we know what we have to do," Jason Kidd said.

"For us, it's all about us. San Antonio is a great team. They're big brother, we're little brother. They have the rings, we don't. Our focus is on 16 wins, regardless of who we have to face," Terry concluded.

The journey to 16 wins and the Larry O'Brien trophy starts on Sunday night. In a two-versus-seven matchup, the Mavericks will look to take a quick advantage in the series by winning on their home court in the first two games. Game 1 of the opening round series will air nationally on TNT and locally on KTXA and KTXA HD at 7 p.m. CT. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by calling (214) 747-MAVS.

Note: The Mavs-Spurs First Round series schedule is as follows:
Game 1 – Sun April 18 San Antonio at Dallas 7:00PM TXA21/ TNT
Game 2 – Wed April 21 San Antonio at Dallas 8:30PM TXA21/ TNT
Game 3 – Fri April 23 Dallas at San Antonio 8:30PM TXA21/ ESPN
Game 4 – Sun April 25 Dallas at San Antonio 6:00PM TXA21/ TNT
Game 5 * Tue April 27 San Antonio at Dallas TBD TXA21/ TBD
Game 6 * Thu April 29 Dallas at San Antonio TBD TXA21/ TBD
Game 7 * Sat May 1 San Antonio at Dallas TBD TXA21/ TNT

Mavs.com has introduces a new, interactive broadcast entitled "Technical Foul," hosted by Mavs television broadcasters Mark Followill and Bob Ortegel. The second live-streamed broadcast will be Tuesday, April 20 at 12:30 p.m. CT, recapping Game 1 and previewing Game 2 of the series. Earl K. Sneed will also talk with fans and answer questions via a live chat during the show. Tune in for exclusive Mavs talk with the people that know the team the best.

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

Spurs-Mavericks Recap

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Postseason Texas two-step on deck
San Antonio Spurs 89 at Dallas Mavericks 96

Wednesday night's battle between the Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs was built as a potential playoff preview. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich made a decision to ensure that was the case.

With the Mavericks sitting just one win away from claiming the Western Conference's No. 2 seed heading into the postseason, the Spurs' head playcaller decided to rest two of his top three players. Both Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili were not even in uniform, after their coach made an executive decision to rest the two stars in the season finale. While Tony Parker did suit up, the All-Star guard entered the game in a reserve role.

"I guess (Popovich) wanted to rest them, make sure they didn't get hurt" Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said. "Maybe they wanted to play us. All of those things are possible."

Whatever the thinking was, Popovich set up an opening round, two-versus-seven playoff series between the two Southwest Division rivals after Dallas' 96-89 victory over Parker and the San Antonio role players.

"No matter who puts (a uniform) on, you still have to go out and win the game," point guard Jason Kidd said. "With those guys deciding to sit Duncan and Ginobili, we've been in that situation before. We know they'll be ready to go Saturday or Sunday."

"I guess they wanted us. Now we get to play them," forward Shawn Marion said in anticipation of the playoff matchup.

The Mavs did fall into an early deficit to the shorthanded Spurs in the opening quarter. Thanks to rookie DeJuan Blair's dominance inside, San Antonio raced out to a quick six-point lead.

"When (Blair) gets to a certain area, he's hard to move," Mavs center Brendan Haywood said.

But behind Kidd and sixth man Jason Terry, the Mavs rallied with a 16-2 run to end the first period up 30-22.

Dallas sprinted to a double-digit advantage in the second period, with Dirk Nowitzki and Caron Butler coming alive. But the Spurs continued to remain close behind Blair's scoring and hard-nosed rebounding. Still, the Mavs took a 56-46 advantage into the halftime break.

Behind Kidd's 16-point first half on 5-of-9 shooting, the Mavericks out-shot the Spurs 48 percent to 40 percent at the midway point. Blair's 15 points and 11 rebounds kept San Antonio in contention.

Parker began the third quarter on the court, helping the Spurs hack away at the Dallas lead. Nowitzki calmed his crew down, swishing in shots from the perimeter to keep the Mavs at a save distance. But after a brief run from the Spurs, the Mavericks fought through their own poor offensive execution to take a 75-64 edge into the final 12 minutes of play.

"It had more of a preseason feel out there," Nowitzki said.

With Butler assertively attacking the rim, the Mavs' intensity level picked up in the fourth quarter, and with it returned the offensive success. But the Spurs didn't go away quietly, as an offensive flurry from Garrett Temple cut the Mavs' favorable margin to single digits. However, San Antonio never got any closer than six down the stretch. And in the final two minutes of play, the Mavericks extended the lead with clutch shots at the free throw line to secure the win and the second seed.

"The game itself wasn't much to watch. It is over and that is good. Glad it was a win," Carlisle said.

In a tuneup for the first round series, the two teams struggled shooting the ball. Both squads finished the night connecting on 41 percent from the field. Fortunately, the Mavericks nailed 6-of-14 from behind the 3-point arch, compared to 2-of-22 shooting from deep for the Spurs.

"We have to forget this game tonight," Carlisle said. "Look, the regular season is over...We have to move on to a playoff series."

Butler's 20 points led the way, followed by 19 from Nowitzki and 18 more from Kidd. Terry added 10 points off the bench.


But Blair's 27-point, 23-rebound night caught Carlisle's eye. The first-year standout helped the Spurs win the rebounding battle 52-47.

"Blair made a case that he should be playing a lot in this series," the coach said. "He has had a solid year and he has done a great job for them. He has started some, sometimes he hasn't, but he plays hard and plays with force. I would like to see us do a better job on him, but these are numbers he is capable of."

Now the Mavericks await Sunday night, when the first round series tips off. After his team defeated San Antonio in three of the four regular season matchups and ended the season on a five-game winning streak, Carlisle is sure of one thing.

"It will be a tough series. It will be very competitive. It is great competition and so we look forward to it," Carlisle concluded.

The Mavericks also have a 4-1 series win against the Spurs in last season's opening round under their belt.

"It seems like we play them every year anyways, so it's kind of fitting," Nowitzki said.

Note: The Mavs-Spurs First Round series schedule is as follows:
Game 1 – Sun April 18 San Antonio at Dallas 7:00PM TXA21/ TNT
Game 2 – Wed April 21 San Antonio at Dallas 8:30PM TXA21/ TNT
Game 3 – Fri April 23 Dallas at San Antonio 8:30PM TXA21/ ESPN
Game 4 – Sun April 25 Dallas at San Antonio 6:00PM TXA21/ TNT
Game 5 * Tue April 27 San Antonio at Dallas TBD TXA21/ TBD
Game 6 * Thu April 29 Dallas at San Antonio TBD TXA21/ TBD
Game 7 * Sat May 1 San Antonio at Dallas TBD TXA21/ TNT

Mavs.com introduces a new, interactive broadcast entitled "Technical Foul," hosted by Mavs television broadcasters Mark Followill and Bob Ortegel. The first live broadcast will be Friday, April 16 at 12:30 p.m. CT, highlighting the Mavericks' first-round playoff series, while Earl K. Sneed fields questions from the fans via the official Mavs Twitter account. Tune in for exclusive Mavs talk with the people that know the team the best.

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

Spurs-Mavericks Preview

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Texas-sized playoff preview
San Antonio Spurs (50-31) at Dallas Mavericks (54-27)


If the Dallas Mavericks have their way, then Wednesday night's matchup with the San Antonio Spurs is just a preview of things to come.

That's because with a Mavericks' win, the two Southwest Division rivals will meet again in the first round of the Western Conference postseason bracket beginning this weekend. If the Mavs do come out victorious in the regular season finale on Fan Appreciation Night, the team will secure the No. 2 seed in the playoff picture, also cementing the Spurs in the seventh slot. Otherwise the Mavericks might be looking at a matchup with the Portland Trail Blazers, a team that defeated Dallas three of the four games played between the squads this season.

"(The Spurs) are going to be ready. At the same time, we know what we have to do," forward Shawn Marion said.

It's simple math, according to sixth man Jason Terry. One win, and you meet the team you beat two of the first three meetings this season. One win, and you meet the same franchise that you handed a 4-1 series loss in last season's opening round.

"It's good to know that this is the possible matchup," Terry said. "We know each other very well. We know them and they know us. We're not going to trick each other."

But the stakes are high for the team from Big D. If the Southwest champs lose and Utah defeats Phoenix, then Dallas will fall to the three seed. So, Mavs coach Rick Carlisle says his team is definitely placing extra importance on the matter at hand.

"We want to win the game...We're approaching it as an important regular season game, which it is. We want to win it," the coach said.

For point guard Jason Kidd, the approach is not to be concerned with what may or may not happen on Wednesday night. The future Hall of Famer will not be scoreboard watching, and he isn't worried about whether the team meets San Antonio or Portland in the first round. Kidd's focus is merely on running the team's winning streak to five, entering the postseason on a high note.

"For us, we don't have to worry about who we're playing (in the first round). We've just got to stick to the game plan...We're playing pretty well right now," Kidd said.

After sweeping a three-game West Coast road trip, Kidd and the Mavs return to the American Airlines Center to bring the regular season to a close against the Spurs on Wednesday night. Dallas leads the season series with the Spurs 2-1. The game will air locally on KTXA and KTXA HD at 7 p.m. CT. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by calling (214) 747-MAVS.

Then the attention turns to the postseason, with the team hosting an opening round playoff series on either Saturday or Sunday.

Note: Mavs.com introduces a new, interactive broadcast entitled "Technical Foul," hosted by Mavs television broadcasters Mark Followill and Bob Ortegel. The first live broadcast will be Friday, April 16 at 12:30 p.m. CT, highlighting the Mavericks' first-round playoff series, while Earl K. Sneed fields questions from the fans via the official Mavs Twitter account. Tune in for exclusive Mavs talk with the people that know the team the best.

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-Clippers Recap

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Third seed secure, No. 2 spot in reach
Dallas Mavericks 117 at Los Angeles Clippers 94

The picture was very clear for the Dallas Mavericks as they entered their last road game of the regular season. Making quick work of the Los Angeles Clippers, the Mavs made that picture crystal clear Monday night.

Win out and the Southwest Division champion Mavericks are well aware that they will lock up the second slot in the Western Conference playoff seeding. Taking the court for the second to last regular season test, the Mavs also knew winning out would merely mean duplicating the results of the previous three matchups. The Mavs stepped into the Staples Center on a three-game winning streak, while also concluding a three-stop road trip. They walked out with at least the No. 3 seed, sweeping the season series against the Clippers with a dominant 117-94 win.

"We came here tonight wanting and needing to win. Our team wants that second spot in the playoffs," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said. "I am happy with our results. As a coach, we want to see positive outcomes in a game. I felt like tonight we conquered that."

Fortunately, the team took a step in the right direction on the health front, welcoming back Shawn Marion after the versatile forward missed three games with a strained left oblique muscle. However, the squad was without swingman Caron Butler due to a minor hip injury. Meanwhile, the Clippers had injuries of their own to be concerned about, missing lead guard Baron Davis (wrist) and Eric Gordon (viral infection).

With Butler sidelined, rookie Rodrigue Beaubois slid into the starting lineup next to point guard Jason Kidd, Marion, Dirk Nowitzki and Erick Dampier. Marion showed no ill effects in coming back from the injury, elevating for rejections on defense and transition scores on the offensive end. But Beaubois' above-the-rim finishes and electric play in the opening quarter stole the show, sparking a 12-0 run. As he has throughout the road trip, Nowitzki continued his assault on the opposition, after being named the Western Conference's Player of the Week earlier in the day for the fourth time this season and 14th time in his career. With the squad clicking on all cylinders, the Mavs quickly jumped out to a double-digit advantage, taking a 37-26 lead at the end of one.

The Mavs never looked in their rearview.

"We did not risk anything tonight. It went smoothly, just like we went over in practice," Carlisle said.

The Dallas bench was the story in the second stanza, creating a 16-point space between the two teams. Then Nowitzki re-entered the game and went right back to terrorizing the L.A. defense. The sharpshooter's scoring, combined with Kidd's Hall-of-Fame playmaking and Marion's spectacular finishing ability, lifted the Mavs to a favorable 64-43 margin at the midway point.

Behind Nowitzki's 13 points and Kidd's eight assists, the Mavericks overcame seven first-half turnovers and out-shot the Clippers 56 percent to 41 percent. Marion pitched in 12 points in the first 24 minutes of play.

The combination of Beaubois and Kidd kick-started the Mavs in the third quarter. And neither Nowitzki or Marion skipped a beat, helping to build a lead as large as 33. Outscoring the Clippers 35-26 in the period, the Mavs entered the final quarter with a 99-69 advantage.

"We played well down the stretch tonight. We rebounded well and our offense was good," the coach said.

With the game no longer in doubt, Carlisle emptied his bench in the fourth quarter. Brendan Haywood and DeShawn Stevenson took over the scoring load, putting the seal on a NBA-best 27th road victory of the season.

By the end of the night, the Mavs' 54 percent shooting bettered 46 percent for L.A. The pass-happy Mavericks' season-high tying 37 assists also made it possible to nail 11 of 27 shots from behind the 3-point arch. A 16-4 edge in fast-break points also went the Mavericks' way.

Playing just three quarters, Nowitzki led the way with 25 points after hitting nine of 13 shots. In his return to the lineup, Marion posted 21 points on 9-of-12 from the field in his 26 minutes of action.

"We want to have fun and take this experience and use it for our run in the playoffs," Marion said of the winning streak at the end of the season. "I am excited for what will happen with our team and the guys."

After his 105th career triple-double came in Sacramento, Kidd recorded a double-double with 12 points and 12 assists. Jason Terry (12), Beaubois (11) and Stevenson (11) made it six Mavs that scored in double figures.

All-Star forward Chris Kaman's 17 points led the Clippers, though it came in a losing cause.

Now, the Mavs return to the American Airlines Center for the regular season finale against the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night. With a win, the team claims the No. 2 seed in the playoff picture. The Mavericks lead the season series season series with the Spurs 2-1. The game will air locally on KTXA and KTXA HD at 7 p.m. CT. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by calling (214) 747-MAVS.

Then the attention turns to the postseason, with the team hosting an opening round playoff series on either Saturday or Sunday.

"I am not sure if our team is where it needs to be for the playoffs," Carlisle said, wanting to see more. "We need to work on our rebounding if we want to play great basketball. We need to take positive steps to get good results. We have better players, I know we can get far if we play together."

"We have better players this season, with great experience in the playoffs and Finals. Those are the guys who are going to guide the rest of the players who have not been there yet," Marion concluded.

Note: Mavs.com introduces a new, interactive broadcast entitled "Technical Foul," hosted by Mavs television broadcasters Mark Followill and Bob Ortegel. The first live broadcast will be Friday, April 16 at 12:30 p.m. CT, highlighting the Mavericks' first-round playoff series while Earl K. Sneed fields questions from the fans via the official Mavs Twitter account. Tune in for exclusive Mavs talk with the people that know the team the best.

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

Mavericks-Clippers Preview

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
The drive for No. 2 comes down to two games
Dallas Mavericks (53-27) at Los Angeles Clippers (28-52)

The Dallas Mavericks are right where they want to be: In the driver's seat, leading the race for the Western Conference's No. 2 seed in the playoffs.

With a three-game winning streak and back-to-back victories to begin their three-matchup road trip, the Southwest Division champion Mavs have opened up a one-game advantage over Denver, Utah and Phoenix for the two spot. Now all the Mavericks have to do is finish victorious in the last two games of the season to secure second place behind the Los Angeles Lakers in the playoff tree.

"We'd love to finish second and have home-court (advantage in the playoffs) as long as we can," forward Dirk Nowitzki said.

But if the Mavericks are to continue to hold on to the second seeding, a victory against the L.A. Clippers on Monday night is a necessity. The lowly Clippers will not only be trying to spoil Dallas' hopes of playoff positioning, they'll also be out to avoid a season series sweep at the hands of the Mavs.

"Each game has critical meaning in terms of the seeding. Our guys are focused in on what we need to do," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said.

One player who has certainly been focused on the task at hand has been Nowitzki, following up a 40-point outburst in Portland with 39 points in a 126-108 blowout win in Sacramento. Carlisle says the team will continue to go to their nine-time All-Star, early and often.

"Dirk's our guy. We play through him. He's going to make good things happen for us," the coach said. "If he's open, there is a good chance he is going to make the shot. He is that kind of a scorer and that kind of big shooter."

Nowitzki has found success in a variety of ways, including with the 3-point shot, in the last two games. But the 7-footer has also attacked the rim with aggression of late, leading to 30-for-30 at the foul line on the team's current journey through the West Coast. He has now swished in 68 straight free throws, breaking his own franchise mark of 60.

"I was just being aggressive. If I'm open, shoot the ball or put it on the floor and get to the foul line. That always helps," Nowitzki explained.

The superstar got plenty of help in the form of point guard Jason Kidd's all-around performance against Sacramento. The future Hall of Famer tallied up 11 points, 10 rebounds and 13 assists against the Kings, recording his second triple-double of the season and the 105th of his illustrious career.

"It's beautiful to watch (Kidd) play," Kings coach Paul Westphal said after watching the veteran lead guard. "He fills up the stat sheet but he doesn't play for stats. He just plays for making the right play every time, and he gets them in the right situations."

It was Kidd, the scorer, that showed up the last time the Mavs and Clippers met. With Nowitzki ejected in the third quarter for just the third time in his career, Kidd stepped up with 26 points on his 37th birthday to help down the Clippers 106-96 in the American Airlines Center on March 23. Naturally, the 10-time All-Star added 12 assists and six rebounds to make the birthday complete.

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

"I thought (Kidd) willed the team with his energy and his enthusiasm," Carlisle said after that victory. "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...I can't say enough great things about Jason Kidd. The two years I have been with him, he's been just phenomenal."

Kidd will once again be called upon if forward Shawn Marion misses his fourth straight game due to a left oblique strain. Marion is listed as a game-time decision Monday night, after limited participation in the team's morning shootaround.


Fortunately for the Mavs, the L.A. squad might also be without a key contributor. The playing status of Kidd's counterpart, Baron Davis, is uncertain. Davis left in the third quarter of the Clippers' 107-104 win against Golden State on Saturday night, suffering a sprained right wrist.

Still, the Mavericks are not overlooking the Clippers by any means. That being said, the Mavs know they can't afford to lose to a team eliminated from playoff contention.

"You have to get the win against the Clippers, because they have nothing to play for. It's a necessity," center Brendan Haywood said.

The Mavericks conclude their road trip against the Clippers at the Staples Center on Monday night. Dallas won the first two games in the season series. The matchup will air nationally on NBA TV and locally on Fox Sports Southwest at 9:30 p.m. CT.

The team returns to the American Airlines Center for the final regular season game against the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night. 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 www.twitter.com/EarlKSneed.

Maverick Spotlight - Dirk Nowitzki

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Maverick Spotlight - Dirk Nowitzki (04/11/10)

When Dirk Nowitzki is on a basketball court, we all watch in amazement, wondering what he will do next. His latest two-game explosion is further proof that Nowitzki is one of the greatest to ever touch the hardwood.

Theatrics like Friday night's 40-point, 10-rebound effort against Portland has become somewhat routine for the Dallas fans during their fortunate time watching Nowitzki's assault on the NBA. But an encore performance on the second night of a back-to-back, scoring 39 points in a 126-108 win in Sacramento, has even grabbed the attention of the opposition.

"(The Sacramento crowd) got to watch Dirk Nowitzki show what he can do," Kings coach Paul Westphal said. "He showed why he's one of the greatest players ever to play this game. It looked like the basket was like three times the size of a normal basket whenever he shot the ball (Saturday night). We did hold Dirk to 39 -- he had 40 (Friday night).

Examine No. 41's offensive production the last two outings. Nowitzki's 11-of-24 from the floor and 17-for-17 at the foul line in an 83-77 road win against the Trail Blazers on Friday was needed in every way. The rest of the team scored just 43 points on 13 of 47 shots.

"I wanted to play off the dribble a little more -- a little show and go, quick drive, a little more off the dribble. And I was able to attack in that way," Nowitzki said was his plan of attack.

"Dirk's our guy," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said. "We play through him. He's going to make good things happen for us."

Good things continued to happen just 24 hours later, when Nowitzki torched the Kings' defense. Though the 7-footer received more help from his teammates, in a game that was never in doubt, Nowitzki still put the squad on his broad shoulders and carried it to the victory. Stretches like the German's 13 straight points to end the third quarter helped the league's seventh-leading scorer finish with a 12-of-20 shooting night and 2-for-2 from three-point range, also going perfect at the foul line once again while swishing in 13 of 13 strokes at the charity stripe.

"If he's open, there is a good chance he is going to make the shot. He is that kind of a scorer and that kind of big shooter," Carlisle said.

"I was just being aggressive," Nowitzki added. "If I'm open, shoot the ball or put it on the floor and get to the foul line. That always helps."

With two games remaining on the Mavs' regular season schedule, Nowitzki's aggressiveness has come at just the right time. The team's three-game winning streak has opened up a one-game advantage in the Western Conference's tight battle for the No. 2 seed in the playoff race. It's that postseason positioning and an opportunity to contend for a championship that is motivating Nowitzki these days.

"Now we are going to try and get the second seed if we can," Nowitzki concluded. "We'll see what happens in the playoffs."

Note: The Mavericks conclude their three-game road trip against the Los Angeles Clippers at the Staples Center on Monday night. Dallas can also sweep that season series, after winning the first two games against the Clippers. That game will air locally on KTXA and KTXA HD and nationally on NBA TV at 9:30 p.m. CT.

The team returns to the American Airlines Center for the final regular season game against the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night. 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 www.twitter.com/EarlKSneed.