Thunder-Mavericks Recap

(Photo by Danny Bollinger/NBAE via Getty Images)

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Advantage Thunder in I-35 shootout
Oklahoma City Thunder 121 at Dallas Mavericks 116

With playoff positioning at stake for the Dallas Mavericks and a postseason berth on the line for the Oklahoma City Thunder, Saturday night's contest between the offensively potent squads figured to be a 48-minute war.

It did not disappoint, but the Mavericks certainly were disappointed by game's end.

(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)

For the Mavericks, an opportunity to grab the season series also presented itself, as Dallas entered the fourth and final regular season meeting between the two squads with a 2-1 edge. Instead, the Thunder got even, ending a nine-game winning streak that the Mavs held over the Thunder in Dallas. In a game with all the ingredients of a playoff series, the young Thunder squad looked more like the veteran ball club, leaving the Mavericks with a sour taste and a hurt ego. Despite a valiant effort in the fourth quarter, the Mavericks couldn't overcome a double-digit deficit, eventually falling 121-116 on the American Airlines Center floor.

"I love the way the group at the end of the game finished...Absolutely full capacity, making things happen," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said after the loss. "That's what it's going to take for us to get where we want to go. We didn't have that for long enough stretches during the 48 minutes."

"I thought we showed a lot of character, fought and clawed back. But we fell a little short," swingman Caron Butler said.

And at the end of the day, it is a loss, dropping the Mavericks into a four-way tie for the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference playoff picture.

From the opening tip, the two teams each tried to land haymakers on their opponent. But the Mavericks got the upper hand early. Thanks to quick starts from Dirk Nowitzki and Shawn Marion, offsetting Kevin Durant and Jeff Green's production, the Mavs grabbed a 37-35 edge at the end of the first quarter. In a high-scoring affair, the Mavs connected on 15-of-20 from the field, compared to 14-of-24 for Oklahoma City. The 37-point output was a season-high for opening quarters by Dallas.

"When you get in a groove offensively, you can't allow it to erode what you are trying to do defensively. We had an eight-point lead at one point in the first quarter and then we gave it up as the quarter came to a close," Carlisle said.

"We scored 37 in the first quarter. The problem is we gave up 35," Brendan Haywood added.

With a nagging injury for Marion (strained left oblique muscle) and early foul trouble for point guard Jason Kidd and center Erick Dampier, who got the start at the five spot, the Mavericks had plenty of obstacles to climb. And the Thunder feasted off the Mavs' misfortunes, with Nick Collison doing much of Oklahoma City's damage inside in the second quarter. That translated into a 67-59 Thunder advantage heading into the break.

"Good teams have got to be able to close out quarters and hold leads in those situations," Carlisle said. "We struggled to do it in the first quarter. And in the second, we got behind and were behind the rest of the night."

Durant posted 15 points at the midway point, while Nowitzki paced the Mavs with 14. The hot shooting continued throughout the first 24 minutes of play, with the Thunder out-shooting the Mavericks 55 percent to 52 percent. Oklahoma City also scored 16 points off of Dallas' seven first half turnovers.

"The turnovers were a huge part of our poor defense. The first half, seven turnovers for 16 points. Sixteen points that are undefendable because you give them the score," the coach explained.

(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)
During the intermission, Marion was officially ruled out for the second half due to the injury. No. 0 is listed as day-to-day going forward. With the highflyer grounded, it didn't take long for the Mavericks to go down double figures. But with Kidd back out on the floor, the home squad attempted to rally. The veteran point guard and rookie Rodrigue Beaubois picked up the slack for Marion's absence, lending support to Nowitzki. But the Mavs continued to find themselves on the low side of the scoreboard, trailing by as much as 16 in the third before entering the final quarter down 94-85.

"We've been getting behind -- sometimes we come back, sometimes we don't. We can't expect to do that if we want to be a good team in the playoffs," Haywood said.

Things got worse before they got better for the Mavericks at the start of the fourth. But things definitely did get better. After falling behind by 19, eight unanswered points after back to back steals on the defensive end kept the Mavericks' heart ticking. The run turned into a 17-2 spurt, cutting the disadvantage to just four, 110-106, with 2:40 left. Thanks to hustle plays from J.J. Barea and Eduardo Najera, the Mavs continued to hang tough.

"Eddie (Najera) started it all. J.J. (Barea) and Eddie came in and really pressured full court. We should have done that a lot earlier," Nowitzki said.

"I think we became more aggressive. The sense of urgency was there...We were playing basketball," Najera added.

Timely turnovers by the Thunder certainly contributed to things. But the upstart Thunder recollected themselves, as Eric Maynor swished home a 3-pointer with 28.9 ticks remaining to give Oklahoma City a 116-109 lead. The Thunder were unable to close the door on the game after missing a few clutch free throws in the final seconds, leading to long range jumpers from Kidd and Najera to extend the game. Still, Kidd's missed three attempt with 3.9 seconds left put the cap on the Oklahoma City win.

After the lose, the Mavericks immediately looked ahead to a possible date with the Thunder in the postseason to settle things once and for all.

"It's disappointing, but maybe we'll see them again in the playoffs. You never know," sixth man Jason Terry predicted.

The Mavericks went down in defeat despite out-shooting the Thunder 53 percent to 52 percent, while winning the rebounding battle 39-34. Dallas also outscored its neighbor to the north 56-46 in the paint.

"We just couldn't get enough stops," Nowitzki said. "You figure if you shoot 53 percent and out-rebound the opponent at home, then you'll win."

But that was not the case.

Thirty-one points surrendered off Dallas' 18 turnovers was a big reason the Mavericks' offensive output was not enough.

"Our defense wasn't good but our offense was. The way we turned the ball over was a major problem," Carlisle concluded.

Nowitzki's 30-point, 13-rebound night came in a losing effort. As did Kidd's 24 points on 10-of-15 from the field. Najera (11) and Barea (10) were the only other Mavs to score in double figures.

Meanwhile, Durant led the Thunder with 23 points and Green finished with 22.

Now the Mavericks try to right the ship after back to back losses to begin a three-game home stand.

"You can't lose back to back games at home, especially a week or two before the playoffs," Nowitzki said.

The team will take the Easter holiday off before returning to the practice court in preparation for Wednesday night's home contest against the Southwest Division rival Memphis Grizzlies. Dallas leads the season series with Memphis 2-1. The Grizzlies-Mavericks matchup will air locally on KTXA and KTXA HD 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.

Thunder-Mavericks Preview

(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Mavs try to steal OKC's thunder
Oklahoma City Thunder (46-28) at Dallas Mavericks (50-26)

It seems that every game grows with intensity as the playoffs approach.

Saturday's matchup between the Dallas Mavericks and Oklahoma City Thunder is no different, as both teams enter the game with a lot on the line. While the Southwest Division-leading Mavericks are out to continue holding the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference standings, the Thunder have an opportunity to grab a postseason berth. It all only adds fuel to the heated fire that figures to burn at the American Airlines Center, in a potential opening round playoff series preview.

(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)

"They're all potential playoff matchups at this point," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said about all six games left on the schedule. "Look, (the Thunder) are going to be a playoff team. So, this game is important on many levels, and there's no need to overstate that."

"You can't worry about the playoffs right now. You have to play the games in front of you...Easily things could be reversed, because (seeds two through eight) are separated by a couple of games," sixth man Jason Terry explained.

But the Mavericks are well aware of the Thunder's sixth-seed spot in playoff positioning. It comes as no surprise to Carlisle, after watching the Thunder battle back from an abysmal start to the 2008-09 season before finishing with a 23-59 record.

"I think their struggles last season have only fueled them. They did a great job of battling back last year, and they've continued to battle this year," the coach said.

According to Terry, the Thunder came into this season with a purpose. That purpose was clear from the initial game: Make the playoffs.

"They've looked like they've been playing for something all season. You can't tell they are a young team," Terry said.

(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)
Now the Mavericks come into the fourth and final regular season meeting against Oklahoma City with a purpose as well. Dallas wants to stop the upstart Thunder from making a statement on the Mavs' home floor. That starts with stopping superstar Kevin Durant.

The 21-year-old Durant is second in the NBA in scoring (29.7 ppg), sitting only behind reigning MVP LeBron James in a virtual dead heat for the scoring title. But Durant has averaged just 16.0 points per game in his five career visits to the AAC. The Mavs will once again make stopping the budding star top billing.

The Mavericks will also try to contain the Thunder's fast-break opportunities. That means limiting point guard Russell Westbrook's impact on the game. Westbrook, a second-year pro out of UCLA, may be the league's most improved player. Teamed with Durant, the duo will look to run. As will the Mavs.

"We definitely want to limit their transition baskets," Terry said. "Winning the battle of fast-break points is definitely a key to the game."

Dallas will be looking to rebound from a disappointing 97-82 home loss to the Orlando Magic on Thursday night, in the first contest of a spaced out three-game home stand. The Mavs will also be out to take the season series with the Thunder, leading 2-1 in this season's meetings. The Thunder-Mavericks matchup 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-Thunder Recap

(Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Dallas Mavericks 86 at Oklahoma City Thunder 99

While the new-look Dallas Mavericks figure to have a lustrous future, Tuesday night the team from the Lone Star State was not shining so brightly.

(Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)

Coming out of the All-Star break, the Mavericks returned to the hardwood in Oklahoma City for the start of four games in five nights. It was also the first game for the newly acquired Caron Butler, Brendan Haywood and DeShawn Stevenson, as the trio got a crash course in Maverick basketball. The Mavericks led the season series 2-0 coming into Tuesday night, but the Thunder came into the game riding a six-game winning streak and at the Mavericks' expense that number moved to seven. The week-long layoff between games and lack of practice time with the new players was apparent, as the Mavericks shot just 32 percent on the night to begin the new era with a 99-86 loss.

"The fact that myself and Caron didn't get a chance to practice with the team probably impacted us tonight in a negative way," Haywood said. "But at the end of the day, we're professionals. We have to go out there and do our jobs, and tonight we didn't get it done."

"You can easily use (the trade) as an excuse," point guard Jason Kidd added. "We have a lot of veteran players that have come over in the trade. We let this one get away from us."

Adding insult to injury, the Mavericks may have lost their starting center for an extended period of time, after Erick Dampier exited the game due to an injury late in the fourth quarter.

"Right now, I'm just concerned about Damp's situation," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said. "I'm not sure what's happening with him."

But the game began on a good note for the Mavs. Immediately Butler looked to make an impact on his new squad, joining the starting lineup at the shooting guard slot in his Maverick debut. The two-time All-Star took the court next to Kidd, Shawn Marion, Dirk Nowitzki and Dampier. But the first-stringers weren't together long before Nowitzki picked up two quick fouls after four minutes of play, forcing sixth man Jason Terry into the game sooner than Carlisle would have wanted. Still, with Butler and Haywood fitting right in early, the Mavericks sprinted to a 14-2 run before eventually holding a 26-16 advantage after one.

The Dallas defense was the story after the opening quarter, holding the Thunder to just 6-for-25 shooting in the period.

"I think we can see the potential, especially there in the first quarter. Everybody was touching it and getting open shots. I can definitely see the potential," Nowitzki said.

(Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)
After sitting the majority of the first quarter, Nowitzki came out aggressively in the second stanza. But the Thunder got right back into the game with their young core of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and Jeff Green. Finishing the half on a 10-2 run, the Thunder surged ahead with a last-second three from James Harden to grab a 56-54 lead heading into the intermission. Oklahoma City outscored Dallas 40-28 in the second quarter.

"Look, we had 54 points at halftime, so we had enough points," Carlisle said. "The bottom line is they shot over 70 percent in the second quarter and had a 40-point quarter. That got them going."

The shooting touch wasn't there for the Mavericks in the first half, connecting on just under 42 percent of their shots. Meanwhile, after the slow start, the Thunder finished the half shooting 48 percent. The two teams went to their respective All-Star forwards early on, as Durant's 16 first half points just bettered Nowitzki's 15.

Both teams picked up the defense in the third quarter and the scoreboard reflected it. But with both teams struggling to score, Dallas' turnovers in the period became costly, assisting the Thunder on its 14-0 run. After a seven-minute scoreless stretch, the Mavericks mustered up merely a season-low 11 points in the period. Meanwhile, the Thunder capitalized at the other end, leading by as much as 14 before taking a 78-65 advantage into the fourth.

"In the third quarter, we couldn't hit shots. It was defense in the second quarter and in the third quarter our offense struggled. We had looks and they were a lot of shots that we normally make, but we just couldn't...It was frustrating," Carlisle said.

"After halftime, we only scored 11," Kidd said. "You have to give those guys credit...We didn't make shots, we had some good looks. I think we started pressing and we tried to do it individually to try and stop the bleeding. It just didn't work out."


The margin widened to 17 early in the final period, before Carlisle shifted to a lineup of Kidd, Terry, Marion, Nowitzki and Dampier in hopes of sparking an offensive explosion. The unit responded with a 13-4 run, cutting the deficit to single digits. But the team's comeback attempt hit a wall with the Thunder defense keying in on Nowitzki.

The Mavs then lost Dampier with an open dislocation to his right middle finger at the 2:54-mark, attempting to block a shot. Unable to get any closer than eight, Carlisle pulled his key contributors inside of the final two minutes.

While the Mavericks struggled with their shooting all night long, the defense was not the problem, as the Thunder connected on just 43 percent of their shots en route to the win. With both teams having trouble finding the bottom of the net, the rebounding numbers were unusually high, as the Mavericks captured a 53-51 edge on the boards.

"In the second half, I think our defense was actually alright," Nowitzki said. "We held them to around 40 points, that's not bad. Offensively, we couldn't get anything going."

(Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Thunder's 18-7 advantage in fast-break points and 15 points off of Dallas turnovers were deciding factors in the game.

Coming off of his career-best 22-point performance in Sunday's All-Star Game, Nowitzki finished with a team-high 24 points on 9-of-22 shooting. But the Mavericks likely No. 2 and No. 3 scoring options, Terry and Butler, were a combined 8-for-31 as the two collectively scored 27 points. The cold-shooting night was a total team effort, Carlisle said.

"Tonight, a couple of the guys that would be main scorers for us were struggling shooting the ball, so a lot of it was falling on (Nowitzki's) shoulders," the coach added. "We don't want that to happen."

"We knew it was going to take some time," Nowitzki said. "We have four games in five nights coming out of the break and that is never easy. First game after the break is usually never easy."

Durant finished with a game-high 25 points, hitting that number for an NBA-best 26th straight game, though he did so on 9-of-28 from the field.

But after the game, the concern in the locker room was with Dampier. The 7-footer remained in Oklahoma City on Tuesday night, heading to the hospital to have the finger surgically closed. He is expected to join the team back in Dallas on Wednesday, however a timetable for his return to the court has not been set.

"Damp's going to be out for awhile, but we've got big Haywood stepping in," Nowitzki said. "Injuries are an unfortunate part of the game. Other teams have them too. Hopefully big Brendan can step in there and really get used to us playing with each other, and protect the paint like Damp does. We'll be okay.

"Big Damp is usually very tough, and I'm sure he'll be on the court sooner than later."

Now, on the second night of a back-to-back, the Mavs will host the Phoenix Suns at the American Airlines Center on Wednesday. That game will air nationally on ESPN and locally on KTXA and KTXA HD at 8 p.m. CT. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by calling (214) 747-MAVS. The two teams have split the first two games of the season series.

"It's a tough loss and it's a quick turnaround, so we've got to get ready for Phoenix tomorrow," Carlisle 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-Thunder Preview

(Photo by Larry W. Smith/NBAE via Getty Images)

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Dallas Mavericks (32-20) at Oklahoma City Thunder (30-21)

Break time is over and it's time for the Dallas Mavericks to get back to work.

It has been a week since the Mavericks last hit the hardwood. My, how things have changed. In addition to playing host to the largest attended basketball game (108, 713) over the All-Star Weekend, the Mavs front office pulled off a seven-player trade with the Washington Wizards.

Exiting Dallas is swingman Josh Howard, big man Drew Gooden, forward James Singleton and guard Quinton Ross. Joining the Mavericks are two-time All-Star forward Caron Butler, center Brendan Haywood and guard DeShawn Stevenson. The trio will make their Maverick debuts Tuesday night as the team travels to Oklahoma City and tangles with the Thunder.

(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)

"These guys are proven veteran players," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said when the newcomers were introduced to the media on Monday. "Caron's a two-time All-Star. DeShawn's a guy that's developed into a very good 3-point shooter, and is known as a good defender in this league and has been a key guy for Washington's team the last few years. And Brendan is a guy that's been with (Washington) a long time and is having his best season this year. So, we feel like these guys are really going to help us. I was thrilled that this transaction could happen and we're looking forward to working with them."

The newest Mavericks are expected to make an immediate impact. Butler, and his 16.9 points and 6.7 rebounds a game, is likely to assume the starting shooting guard role, sending Jason Terry back to the bench as a sixth man.

"Over the course of the last couple of months, I've been playing three positions," Butler said, though his natural position is small forward. "I'm looking forward to that challenge, and I'm looking forward to this new system and this situation to do some good things...I'm not focusing in on just being a catch-and-shoot guy.

"I'm going to sit down with (Carlisle) and see some of the things that he would like me to do and what I can improve on. But whatever intangibles I can bring to this squad, that's what I'm going to bring. I'll do whatever I can to help this team win a championship."

Terry, who has started 12 consecutive games, has no problems moving back to a reserve role because he believes it benefits the team.

"I'm the guy that will take the sacrifice. We want (Butler) out there starting, to where he's comfortable," Terry said.

(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)
As for Haywood and Stevenson, Carlisle has already envisioned their roles as well. Haywood, a 7-footer, will be interchangeable with starting center Erick Dampier. Dampier has battled through a left knee injury throughout the season, making the addition of Haywood even more of a necessity. And Haywood isn't just any big man, ranking 10th in the league with his 10.3 rebounds per contest this season.

"(Haywood) will be playing," the coach said. "Whether or not he's starting isn't that significant at this point. I think what is significant is that we have another big body who's a proven player. It affords us, I think, the opportunity to not have to put Damp out there for extended minutes, when he is healthy."

Stevenson is expected to add depth and scoring to the bench, averaging 8.2 points for his career. But the talented guard, who came straight out of high school to be drafted in 2000 by the Utah Jazz, is concentrating on helping the team on the defensive end.

"I'm just going to go out and work hard. Go out there and play defense, and knock down open shots...My thing is to go out there and lock down the tough offensive players and play my role," Stevenson said.

All of the new additions will be counted on to adjust to their roles rather quickly, as the Mavericks embark on a stretch of four games in five days beginning in Oklahoma City.

"It's going to be tough to get everybody involved that quick," leading scorer Dirk Nowitzki said. "We've got a tough stretch here with four games in five nights, but nothing is easy in this league."

The new-look Dallas squad heads to Oklahoma City to face the Thunder on Tuesday night, with the game airing locally on Fox Sports Southwest at 7 p.m. CT. The Mavericks lead the season series 2-0, including a 100-86 road win on Dec. 16.

"We know (the Thunder) are a strong-willed team and very, very much that way for a younger team," Carlisle said of the team's upstart opponent. "They're mature beyond their years competitively.

"You have to play them the right way and you have to play well. You have to hit some tough shots, because they're long and they get into you defensively."

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

Thunder-Mavericks Recap

(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Oklahoma City Thunder 98 at Dallas Mavericks 99

The Dallas Mavericks haven't lost three consecutive games all season long, and though it took every second of a 48-minute affair, that wasn't going to change on Friday night.

After dropping back-to-back games at home to the Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Lakers, the Mavericks welcomed the Oklahoma City Thunder to the American Airlines Center. The Thunder traveled south on I-35 out for revenge after a 100-86 Maverick win in Oklahoma City on Dec. 16. But the Mavericks had other things in mind, milking the combination of the newest member of the 20,000-point fraternity and the reigning Sixth Man of the Year to squeak out a crucial 99-98 home win before taking off for a five-game Eastern Conference road trip.

(Photo by Danny Bollinger/NBAE via Getty Images)

"It wasn't pretty, but definitely before you go on a big road trip you never want to leave with a loss," forward Dirk Nowitzki said. "We found a way as a veteran team to grind it out and get a win."

"Our effort the whole game was great," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said. of the win. "It's a great win. There were stretches I wish we would have played better in terms of our efficiency with the ball, stuff like that, but the effort and conviction was first-rate...We made an all-out effort tonight. (The Thunder) is a good team. They pose multiple problems because of their quickness and athleticism."

Friday night the Mavericks were certainly threatened by the Thunder's athleticism head-on.

The Mavericks were without forward Tim Thomas (personal reasons) and guard Matt Carroll (stomach virus), so the team activated forwards James Singleton and the newly acquired Eduardo Najera. Carlisle was hoping that the two could provide energy and hustle if called upon.

But the upstart Thunder sent a message to the Mavericks from the opening tip, putting Dallas in an early deficit with a 7-0 run to begin the game. The Mavericks stuck around with an assertive, attacking Josh Howard playing above the rim at both ends. Howard and the Thunder's Kevin Durant went back and forth in the opening 12 minutes of play, but Oklahoma City got the upper hand with a 28-19 lead after one. Dallas shot just 4-for-15 in the period, trailing after the first quarter for the eighth straight game.

"We had to find a way to grind this one out, even though offensively it wasn't great," Nowitzki said.

In the second quarter, Dallas found a spark plug off the bench in sixth man Jason Terry, as the guard joined with Nowitzki to power the Mavericks' offensive attack.

"We need JET (Terry)," Nowitzki said. "If we're going to take this to the next level, we need JET to be aggressive and make shots, because that's what he's been doing his whole career."

But the Mavs' miscues and turnovers played right into the athletic Thunder's hands. With Russell Westbrook catching fire in the second stanza, the Thunder lead grew to as much as 11 before the half closed with Oklahoma City up 55-48. Durant led all scorers at the half with 15 points, while Nowitzki kept the Mavs afloat with his 12 first half points.

(Photo by Danny Bollinger/NBAE via Getty Images)

"Durant is a great, young player," the coach said. "He is savvy beyond his years...Talented guy that can do phenomenal things."

The Thunder's 48 percent shooting, compared to the Mavericks' 43 percent, and a 21-16 advantage in the rebounding battle paced Oklahoma City to the early advantage. Dallas stayed in the game at the charity stripe, attempting 10 more foul shots and connecting on 20-of-24 at the line.

"We hurt ourselves in the first half with turnovers. Sixteen points off 10 turnovers was really a major difference. We kept it to four turnovers in the second half and that was a big key," Carlisle said.

Nowitzki continued his assault on the Thunder defense in the third quarter. With an array of shots from the outside and in the interior, the first European and only Mav to join the 20,000-point club posted 11 points in the third to help his team surge in front 74-71 headed into the fourth quarter.

The Thunder didn't fade away in the final period, as reserve guard Eric Maynor's ability to knock down circus shots and play-make for others put the young Oklahoma City squad back ahead with a 9-0 run in the early minutes of the fourth. At the other end the Mavericks turned to their own play-making point guard, as Jason Kidd began to find success posting up the Thunder's smaller defenders. With every change of possession, the two teams exchanged the lead and the momentum in the final minutes. But with Shawn Marion's defense keeping Durant from taking over the game, Nowitzki and Terry supplied the offense late.

(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)

Still Durant and the Thunder kept charging, as the former Texas standout tied the game at 93-all with 2-of-3 at the foul line after a Marion foul on a 3-point attempt with 1:05 remaining. But Nowitzki came right back, raining in a jumper to put the Mavs back ahead two on the next possession with 48.9 ticks on the clock. After a loose ball foul on Westbrook, Nowitzki doubled that advantage with 2-for-2 at the foul line with just 30.6 seconds left. But Durant came right back to cut the Dallas lead to 97-96, fouling Marion out with a three-point play on an inbound pass with 28.1 seconds still separating the Mavs from the victory.

"A couple of those (fouls) were kind of iffy, but it is what it is," Marion said. "He gets up a lot of shots, so I guess sooner or later they have to call something because he shoots so much."

"Durant turns the corner and gets a three-point play on the one play...That's a tough play. He has some unusual ability to get there and hit them," Carlisle said.

That just meant more theatrics from Nowitzki, as the superstar answered Durant once again with a jumper with just 6.9 left on the game clock.

After Kidd's deliberate foul on Durant, the subsequent free throws cut Dallas' lead to 99-98 with 4.7 seconds left. Then it was Terry's turn to cash it in at the foul line, but the guard missed a pair at the line, ending a stretch of 16 straight made free throws.

"I was trying to make the first one, no question," Terry said of the trip to the foul line. "The second one rimmed out...For my free throw coach we'll say I did try to miss that one. But it worked out for us. We got our hands on the ball and they didn't have any timeouts, so you probably do want to miss it in that situation."

After Kristic grabbed the rebound, the ball found its way into Westbrook's hands, but the guard's desperation 3/4-court heave clanked of the backboard as time expired.

"The key was we were able to execute," Carlisle said. "We took the foul on the three, which we thought was the right thing to do. That worked out. It's another one-possession game, where we come out with a W. It's a big plus.”

The combination of Nowitzki and Terry scored 16 of the final 18 Maverick points to claim the win.

"That's Maverick basketball," Terry said. "Myself and Dirk, we take a huge responsibility at the end of the game. But it's all about effort, desire and the will to win."

But it was the Dallas defense that Nowitzki commended after the game.

"Defensively, I thought we did a great job the whole second half," Nowitzki said. "Forcing them into some tough shots and rebounding the ball...Defensively, I think that's what won us the game. We got some key stops down the stretch."

Nowitzki finished with a game-high 32 points while Terry added 21 off the bench. Running the show was Kidd, finishing with 11 points while dishing out 11 assists for his 11th double-double of the season. Howard's 11 points made it four Mavs in double figures, as Dallas out-shot Oklahoma City 44 percent to 42 percent.

Durant's 30 points on 6-of-18 shooting (14-for-16 at the the foul line), led five Thunder players in double figures.

The Mavericks captured the win despite being out-rebounded 45-34, utilizing 18 forced turnovers to the tune of 22 points at the other end.

Now Dallas begins an epic five-game road trip, first making a trip north of the border to face off with the Toronto Raptors on Sunday.

"We've got some tough games on this trip. We've got to be ready...It's going to be cold, too. It's been cold here but it's going to be really cold on that East Coast. Get your coat and button up," Marion said.

Sunday, the Raptors-Mavericks game will air locally on Fox Sports Southwest at 11:30 a.m. CT.

Dallas returns home to host the Milwaukee Bucks on Jan. 26. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by calling (214) 747-MAVS.

The Mavericks and the NBA have introduced the official NBA All-Star game ballot, featuring Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Kidd, Josh Howard, Shawn Marion and Jason Terry. For more on how to vote for your favorite Mavs for the All-Star game, to be held at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, visit Mavs.com.

Follow Mavs.com’s Earl K. Sneed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/EarlKSneed.

Thunder-Mavericks Game Preview

(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Oklahoma City Thunder (21-17) at Dallas Mavericks (25-13)

You could probably watch your favorite DVD in the amount of time it takes to drive from Dallas up I-35 to Oklahoma City.

The close proximity between Texas and Oklahoma has formed a friendly rivalry between the Dallas Mavericks and Oklahoma Thunder. With just the Red River standing in their way, the two teams have turned in a few epic battles in the Thunder's brief existence. The Mavericks expect nothing less than a battle on Friday night, when the Thunder enter the American Airlines Center.

(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)

"They've got a very nice team," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said of the Thunder. "They play hard, we're going to have to play harder. This is a tough game tonight. These guys played us well in here both times last year -- both very close games and both very closely contested. So, we're going to have to be ready."

"This team has given us problems the last couple of seasons. They're young, they're energized and they're playing well," sixth man Jason Terry said. "We have to be ready tonight."

The Mavericks have a leg up on their Oklahoma City rival this season, capturing a 100-86 road win on Dec. 16 in the first meeting between the two squads. Now the Mavs expect to see a much different Thunder squad, as Oklahoma City has won seven of their last 10 games.

For Dallas, capturing a win on the home floor is nearly a necessity after back-to-back home losses. The Mavericks are looking for momentum before embarking on a five-game Eastern Conference road trip.

"We're not happy with the last two games...We need to get a win and get off of the two-game losing streak. That's what you have to do to put a stop to that. And then after that you look ahead," Carlisle said.

"I think the key for us tonight is we have to come out here and have some fun tonight. Have fun and realize this is another opportunity for us to get a win," Terry said. "You don't want to go on this road trip thinking, 'We've just lost three in a row.'"

(Photo by Larry W. Smith/NBAE via Getty Images)

If the Mavericks are to end their recent home woes then stopping the Thunder's Kevin Durant will go a long ways towards the cause. Durant, the NBA's third leading-scorer, is averaging 28.9 points per game, but swingmen Josh Howard and Shawn Marion held the budding star to just 4-of-18 shooting and 12 points in Dallas' December win. Carlisle will be looking for the same perimeter defensive execution on Friday night.

"We did a pretty good job on (Durant) in the first game...We're going to have to throw multiple people at him, because he's a guy that is capable of going for 30 a night," the coach said.

Still the Mavericks understand with emerging stars like Russell Westbrook and Jeff Green, the Thunder are more than just a one-man team.

"They're a team that you can't take lightly because they're going to play hard," point guard Jason Kidd said. "They're athletic, they're young, they can get up and down, they can put a lot of pressure on you defensively...The biggest thing is for our team defense not to single one guy out, because they have other guys that can beat you."

The Mavericks will try to finish off a three-game home stand with a win against the Thunder on Friday night, before hitting the road for a tough Eastern stretch. The team is also hoping to improve on a 12-7 record in front of the Dallas faithful.

"The getaway game is always important, especially with the long road trip that's coming up for us out East...This is a big game no matter what for us, because we haven't played well at home," Kidd said.

The Mavericks-Thunder matchup 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. Every fan that comes to the game will received a free "Dirk Nowitzki 20,000" poster, to recognize No. 41 becoming the first Mav, the first European and just the 34th player to reach the 20,000-point plateau.

Dallas and the NBA have introduced the official NBA All-Star game ballot, featuring Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Kidd, Josh Howard, Shawn Marion and Jason Terry. For more on how to vote for your favorite Mavs for the All-Star game, to be held at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, visit Mavs.com.

Follow Mavs.com’s Earl K. Sneed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/EarlKSneed.

Mavericks Practice Report (01/14/10)

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Mavericks Practice Report (01/14/10)

You could say the Dallas Mavericks are in the midst of a transition period.

Because of Dallas' transitional state, Dirk Nowitzki's eclipsing of the 20,000-point plateau was overshadowed by the Mavericks' late-game miscues in a 100-95 home loss to the defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night. Dallas dropped the game, their second straight at home, despite Nowitzki's 30-point, 16-rebound night.

"(Nowitzki) hits the 20,000-plateau, that is an amazing accomplishment for him. But you know it's kind of (frustrating) when you can't get the win, when he gets the mark," forward Shawn Marion said after the loss.

(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)

Sure the Mavericks own the second-best record in the Western Conference, at 25-13, but they certainly haven't scratched the surface of how good they can ultimately become. After suffering back-to-back home loss to the Utah Jazz and the Lakers, the Dallas squad is ready to reach its potential. One reason for the Mavericks' deficiency has been the lack of game experience with the core Dallas players on the court at the same time, as swingman Josh Howard battled nagging setbacks due to his surgically-repaired left ankle. With Howard's return to the starting lineup in the loss to the Lakers, the Mavs' nucleus should be intact and it should translate to improved play on the court.

"When Josh was making his second comeback attempt, he was mainly playing with the second unit," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said after the team's practice on Thursday. "He really hasn't played with Shawn (Marion), Jason (Kidd), Dirk and (Erick) Dampier...That group hasn't played together that much."

For Howard, the focus is less on being back on the court with the starters, but on helping his teammates perform well regardless of who is in the lineup.

"We just have to concentrate more, regardless of whether you have a new player (on the court) or if you've been with the same guys, like me and Dirk," Howard said.

Both Carlisle and Howard agree that the concentration level will have to pick up on the defensive end.

"We're going to have to work our way out of (a defensive funk)," the coach said. "We're going to have to get gritty and dirty....We have to recommit defensively. It's as simple as that. If your defense is better, it's going to make your offense better."

While most around the league look at opponent's points per game average, the coach measures Dallas' defensive success rate by points per possession. And it's that formula that Carlisle is using to prepare his troops for better execution.

"If you hold a team to one point per possession it translates to 90 points per game. That means you're doing pretty good."

(Photo by Larry W. Smith/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Dallas defense will certainly have to be at its' best when Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder (21-17) enter the American Airlines Center. Durant ranks third in the league in scoring (28.9 ppg) and the upstart Thunder are battling for a potential playoff position.

Dallas claimed a 100-86 road win in Oklahoma City on Dec. 16 in the first meeting between the two squads. In that game the duo of Howard and Marion held Durant to 4-of-18 shooting for just 12 points. The two superb perimeter defenders will be asked to do the same on Friday night.

"We did a pretty good job on (Durant) in the first game...We're going to have to throw multiple people at him, because he's a guy that is capable of going for 30 a night," Carlisle said.

The Mavericks will try to finish off a three-game home stand with a win against the Thunder on Friday night. The Mavericks-Thunder matchup 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. Every fan that comes to the game will received a free "Dirk Nowitzki 20,000" poster.

Dallas and the NBA have introduced the official NBA All-Star game ballot, featuring Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Kidd, Josh Howard, Shawn Marion and Jason Terry. For more on how to vote for your favorite Mavs for the All-Star game, to be held at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, visit Mavs.com.

Follow Mavs.com’s Earl K. Sneed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/EarlKSneed.

Mavericks-Thunder Recap

(Photo by Larry W. Smith/NBAE via Getty Images)

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Dallas Mavericks 100 at Oklahoma City Thunder 86

Winners of four straight games, the Dallas Mavericks headed north up I-35 to battle the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night with a 9-4 road record.

In the first of four meetings, the Mavs hoped to earn their fifth straight win and tenth road win at the young Thunder's expense in a hostile environment. After taking the Thunder's best combination of blows and punches for three quarters, the Mavericks landed a 12th-round haymaker to score a knockout in the fourth quarter on their way to a 100-86 win.

"We knew what we were getting into," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said after the win. "We knew this was a very big game for (the Thunder), and it's a big game for us too, because they all count. We know they’re a strong-willed team and very, very much that way for a younger team. They're mature beyond their years competitively."

"You have to play them the right way and you have to play well. You have to hit some tough shots, because they're long and they get into you defensively."

(Photo by Larry W. Smith/NBAE via Getty Images)

Starting a lineup that had led Dallas to four consecutive victories (Jason Kidd, J.J. Barea, Shawn Marion, Dirk Nowitzki and Erick Dampier), Carlisle saw his team fall behind by nine within the first five minutes of the opening quarter. After a Carlisle timeout calmed the team down after early jitters, the Mavericks switched to a zone on the defensive end to negate the Thunder's athletic ability. The strategy worked, as Dallas slowed the Oklahoma City attack and capitalized on offense with Marion getting to the rim for easy buckets to help the Mavs knot the game at 24-all after one.

With Dallas missing on shots that are normally sure things, the Mavs had to battle through a so-so second quarter. Meanwhile, the Thunder weren't giving the Mavericks the night off, as Oklahoma City utilized its quickness with dribble-penetration to outscore Dallas 24-19 in the period, eventually taking a 48-43 edge into the halftime break.

Nowitzki and Marion kept the Mavs alive through the first 24 minutes of play, combining to score 21 of Dallas' 43 first half points. Nowitzki was particularly aggressive after a sub-par shooting performance, by his standards, in the Mavs' last game.

"I thought I never really found my rhythm two days ago," Nowitzki said. "Today I just wanted to start off good."

The job that Marion and Josh Howard did defensively may have been the most impressive aspect of the half, taking the league's third leading-scorer, Kevin Durant, out of the equation early.

"Shawn Marion and Josh Howard really took the challenge with (Durant) tonight, and we brought some help at times but played him straight up most of the time. Those guys just really worked hard to make it tough for him, not only to score but to catch the ball," Carlisle said.

But Oklahoma City out-shot Dallas 49 to 43 percent in the half, and the Thunder out-rebounded the Mavericks 24-19. Both teams had a case of the turnover bug, as Dallas committed seven giveaways in the half while forcing Oklahoma City into eight errors.

(Photo by Larry W. Smith/NBAE via Getty Images)

The third quarter was much more kind to the Mavericks, as Kidd caught fire from the outside while Nowitzki and Dampier took charge of the paint at both ends. A much needed boost off the Dallas bench came from Josh Howard, as the swingman helped Dallas build a 69-62 advantage before the Thunder closed to within 71-68 headed into the fourth.

"We have always been a defensive-minded team," Dampier said after the defense was on display in the third. "I think our defense leads to offense. We block shots and we are getting rebounds. We have weapons on both ends of the floor and we have guys that can get baskets."

But the Mavericks struggled to get baskets early in the fourth, going scoreless for the first four minutes of the quarter as the Thunder went on an 8-0 run to regain the lead. Dallas responded with six unanswered to go back ahead 77-75 after a Barea jumper at the 7:04-mark. With Kidd shutting down the Thunder's Russell Westbrook, Nowitzki and Howard both began to assert themselves at the offensive end while Dampier continued to dominate the painted area. Howard's 3-pointer, followed by a Nowitzki feed to Dampier for a layup gave the Mavs an 87-80 lead with 2:18 on the game clock. After a three from Nowitzki, Howard's layup on Kidd's ninth assist gave Dallas a 92-80 advantage with just 1:20 remaining. Dallas never looked back, clutching the game at the foul line to claim the 14-point win.

"I thought the difference in the game was in the fourth quarter -- the ball moved and multiple guys got involved," Carlisle said. "Dampier was making things happen at the rim. Josh Howard was able to drive it and get loose for open shots and make some plays. And he made some excellent passes."

"The things that sets it up is being able to guard them, and we were able to do that well enough in the second half."

The Mavericks outscored the Thunder 57-38 in the second half.

(Photo by Larry W. Smith/NBAE via Getty Images)

Coming off of a season-low 10 points against New Orleans, Nowitzki bounced back with a 35-point, 11-rebound night. No. 41 was 13-of-18 from the field, including 2-for-2 from 3-point range.

"I'm his teammate but also, while I'm playing with him, I'm a fan," Barea said of Nowitzki. "He comes out every night and performs. He struggled like the last two games, but he's so consistent. I think he's like the only consistent player like that in the NBA."

"Sometimes you can't always have it in 82 games," Nowitzki said of his struggles before Wednesday night. "Sometimes you feel like every shot goes in -- a leaner, a runner. Some nights you have a wide-open layup, you can't even make a layup or a free throw. It just happens in 82 games. But the challenge is in that game, if you don't feel well, you still have to perform and help your team."

Off the bench, Howard added 15 points (13 in the second half) while Marion's 12 and Dampier's 10 gave Dallas four scorers in double figures, helping the Mavs shoot 49 percent.

Despite losing the rebounding edge 45-40, the Dallas defense suffocated the Thunder in the second half, holding Oklahoma City to just 42 percent shooting on the night. Marion and Howard never let Durant get going, forcing the young star into 4-of-18 shooting for just 12 points. The former Texas standout committed four turnovers on the night as well. Westbrook led the Thunder with 16 points, though he did so while shooting 6-of-19.

Looking for their sixth straight win, the Mavs return home to the American Airlines Center for the start of a four-game home stand on Friday night, as the Southwest Division rival Houston Rockets enter Dallas for a second time this season. Dallas claimed a 121-103 win in the first meeting between the two squads on Nov. 10. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by calling (214) 747-MAVS. That game will air locally on TXA 21 and TXA HD at 7:30 p.m. CT.

The Mavericks and the NBA have introduced the official NBA All-Star game ballot, featuring Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Kidd, Josh Howard, Shawn Marion and Jason Terry. For more on how to vote for your favorite Mavs for the All-Star game, to be held at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, visit Mavs.com.

Follow Mavs.com’s Earl K. Sneed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/EarlKSneed.

Mavericks-Thunder Preview

(Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Dallas Mavericks (18-7) at Oklahoma City Thunder (12-11)

What a difference a year can make in the NBA.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are a shining example of how a team can immediately go from the cellars of the standings to playoff contention within a year's span. Last season, the franchise's inaugural season in a new city, the Thunder got off to a putrid 2-21 start through 23 games. A season later Oklahoma City is sniffing the playoffs with a 12-11 record within the same span.

(Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)
A young Thunder core gave Dallas problems in the past

Perhaps the Dallas Mavericks saw this coming last season, as the Thunder gave the Mavs all that they could handle in their three meetings a season ago. Dallas went 2-1 against Oklahoma City in the 2008-09 campaign, with their two wins coming by a total of six points. The last game, a 96-87 road loss on March 2, was seemingly a wake-up call to the Mavs that catapulted a run to the Western Conference semifinals. But Dallas would like to leave that in the past, as center Erick Dampier says the Thunder is not the only squad of the two teams that has improved from a season ago.

"Last year and this year are two total different years," Dampier said. "We got new players on this team, guys that know what happened down there last year. We're just going to go out there and leave it out on the floor and try to come home with the win."

If the Mavs are to return to Dallas with a win it will be because they found an answer for Kevin Durant and the young Thunder nucleus. Durant is the league's third leading-scorer, putting up 28.5 points each time he touches the hardwood. While the former Texas standout is one dilemma, not allowing his compatriots to get going is also a tough task.

"They're a good team," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said, not singling out Durant. "They're right there looking at the playoffs. They're very good at home. They're much deeper this year than they were last year. They're healthy right now, so they're a very good basketball team from top to bottom."

"Look, when you have teams that are athletic and aggressive, you have to contain them, be able to contest shots and be able to rebound. That's really the key. When we do that, we can get out into transition and make some of our good stuff happen."

And transition offense will play a big role in the Mavs' game plan as they head into Oklahoma City. While the upstart Thunder will be looking to run, the Mavericks will try to limit Oklahoma City's fast-breaking by countering back with running and gunning at the other end.

It is all a part of Carlisle's trust in point guard Jason Kidd's command of the team. The coach has deferred more and more to Kidd as an extension of the coaching staff on the court, going whole quarters without calling a play from the sidelines.

(Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)


"(Kidd) does a great job and he has a very good pulse on our team. When I feel like we need some help, I'll make some calls, but when he's on the floor he's doing the vast majority of the play-calling," Carlisle said.

"We didn't even call that many plays in the first quarter (in a 94-90 win over New Orleans). We'd rather play that way if we can -- with the ball moving and a lot of screening, a lot of passing, a lot guys touching it. That kind of basketball energizes your team and it gives you energy at both ends of the floor."

Dallas now heads north up I-35 to battle the Thunder on Wednesday night, as the Mavs go in search of their fifth straight win. The game will air locally on Fox Sports Southwest, and nationally on ESPN at 7 p.m. CT.

The Mavs return home to the American Airlines Center for the start of a four-game home stand on Friday night, when they host the Southwest Division rival Houston Rockets. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by calling (214) 747-MAVS. That game will air locally on TXA 21 and TXA HD at 7:30 p.m. CT.

The Mavericks and the NBA have introduced the official NBA All-Star game ballot, featuring Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Kidd, Josh Howard, Shawn Marion and Jason Terry. For more on how to vote for your favorite Mavs for the All-Star game, to be held at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, visit Mavs.com.

Follow Mavs.com’s Earl K. Sneed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/EarlKSneed.

Mavericks Practice Report (12/15/09)

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Mavericks Practice Report

The Dallas Mavericks aren't after perfection, but they do know that they haven't played a full 48 minutes this season.

Despite a four-game winning streak that has Dallas leading the Southwest Division by a full four games, the number circling the Mavs right now is 48. The Mavericks have shown glimpses of greatness this season, while also going through droughts when they didn't look like themselves. Playing a complete game at a high level is now what Mavs coach Rick Carlisle is looking for from his team.

(Photo by Danny Bollinger/NBAE via Getty Images)
Mavs say turnover woes are just an aberration

Monday night the Mavs jumped out to a 21-point advantage in the first half against the New Orleans Hornets before struggling to score and committing unforced arrors, watching the lead evaporate completely in the fourth quarter. Though the Mavericks responded to capture a 94-90 win in the final minutes, Dallas has had a tendency to lose its sense of aggression once they've jumped out to big leads this season, Carlisle said to explain the reoccurring dry spells in games.

"I think the key is the right level of aggression and discretion, so that we're aggressive enough but we're playing smart and within ourselves" Carlisle said.

Carlisle has 23 reasons to focus in on more discretionary play, after the Mavs uncharacteristically committed 23 turnovers against the Hornets. Though protecting the ball has been a staple of the Mavericks this season, the coach doesn't want to experience many more nights like Monday.

"It was a combination of uncharacteristic mistakes along with playing a team with Chris Paul, who has led the league in steals multiple times. (The Hornets) had something to do with it, but also our execution needed to be better in a lot of cases," Carlisle said.

"We were third best in the league headed into that game in not turning the ball over. So, the question you ask yourself is was it a complete aberration or are we getting into some habits that we've got to avoid? We looked at it today, and we've got to be better because Oklahoma City is another active defensive team like New Orleans."

And so the Mavs head into Oklahoma City on Wednesday night hopping to play a full four quarters with aggressive play while protecting the ball.



One player that has never needed to be told to be more aggressive is J.J. Barea, who has been on a tare since being inserted into the starting lineup the last three games. Barea, who scored a season-high 23 points against the Hornets, was especially counted upon with superstar Dirk Nowitzki having a surprising off night against New Orleans, posting just 10 points.

"(Barea)has played aggressively and he's played well," Carlisle said of the emerging guard. "We need him to continue a high level of play. We want to be aggressive no matter who's starting."

"I think Dirk's earned the right to maybe have an off night shooting the ball. The rest of us just have to be better on those nights."

The small in stature guard has been big with his play of late, and he doesn't mind stepping up in the big moments. With defenses configuring around swarming Nowitzki, Barea knows he has to make teams respect what he can do on the court as a scorer and play-maker.

(Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)

While the Puerto Rico native was the star on Monday night, he also knows they will need a total team effort if they are going to take down Kevin Durant and the Thunder on the road in a hostile environment.

"We're going to need (Nowitzki). Tomorrow night, we're going to need everybody," Barea said. "We're going to need everybody to step up because they're a tough team. They play good defense. They have scorers, they're athletic, so we need everybody to come out and having a good game."

Dallas now heads north up I-35 to battle the Thunder on Wednesday night, as the Mavs go in search of their fifth straight win. The game will air locally on Fox Sports Southwest, and nationally on ESPN at 7 p.m. CT.

The Mavs return home to the American Airlines Center for the start of a four-game home stand on Friday night, when they host the Southwest Division rival Houston Rockets. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by calling (214) 747-MAVS. That game will air locally on TXA 21 and TXA HD at 7:30 p.m. CT.

The Mavericks and the NBA have introduced the official NBA All-Star game ballot, featuring Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Kidd, Josh Howard, Shawn Marion and Jason Terry. For more on how to vote for your favorite Mavs for the All-Star game, to be held at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, visit Mavs.com.

Follow Mavs.com’s Earl K. Sneed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/EarlKSneed.