Monday, April 25, 2011

First Round- Mavs vs Portland: Game 5

After leaving Portland with a devastating outcome to game 4, the Mavs entered the AAC with the hopes of making up for their last loss with a game 5 victory. Unlike game 4, the Mavericks ripped the Blazers to shreds, getting the 93-82 win and taking a 3-2 series lead.

Early in the first quarter the Mavericks got off to a fast start with the help of Tyson Chandler whose inside scoring and rebounding was key. Despite Chandler's 7 points and 7 rebounds in the quarter, the Blazers took a 20-15 lead to end the first.

Into the second quarter, Portland had 11 unanswered points and looked to take a double digit lead early in the quarter. Soon enough, Terry swished in a 3-pointer to lead the Mavs on a 10-2 run and give them a 30-27 lead. But the Blazers continued to battle while Andre Miller and Terry were continuously exchanging baskets on each side of the court. The Mavs then went on another run, 7-0, led by Marion to end the second quarter with a 44-43 lead.

Despite being outshot by Portland, 47.6% to 45.7%, Dirk had 12 first-half points to go along with Terry's 9 points and Chandlers 9 rebounds. Unusual for the Mavs, they led in the paint 28-18.

In the third quarter, Dirk helped to continue the Mavs' run from the previous quarter to 13-2. This led to a technical foul on Blazers coach Nate McMillan after expressing his frustration. Dallas held onto their lead to end the quarter up 75-63.

Unlike the fourth quarter of game 4, Dallas didn't let their lead disintegrate this time. They made great stops on Portland and were able to score continuously. The Mavs locked in with great defense and forced 10 straight misses from the Blazers. Chandler, Dirk, and Terry all took turns swishing in baskets while Peja hit a 3-pointer with less than five minutes to go to give Mavs the 89-69 lead. Portland managed to cut the deficit to 11 in the last two minutes but were unsuccessful this time with a major comeback. The Mavericks held onto their strong lead until the final buzzer, winning it 93-82.

Dirk scored a game-high 25 points and 8 rebounds while Terry added 20 points. Chandler had a playoff career-high with a double double of 14 points and 20 rebounds (13 offensive). He also set a franchise record of the most offensive rebounds. It was also the most offensive rebounds a player has had in a playoff game since Shaq's 14 in 1995. Marion was the fourth Mav to score in double figures with 14 points while Kidd added a game-high 14 assists.

Miller led the Blazers with 18 points while Wallace had 16, and Aldridge and Batum both added 12 a piece.

The Mavs now lead the series 3-2 and will head back to Portland for game 6, hoping to get a win at the Rose Garden for the first time all year.

**Game 6 will air on TNT Thursday night (the 28th) at 10:30pm ET.

Tyson goes up for a basket

Terry goes up for a layup while Aldridge attempts a block
Glenn James/NBAE/Getty Images

Roy goes up for a jumper
Ronald Martinez/NBAE/Getty Images


For More Articles on NBA Playoff Coverage Visit: The Bowse: "All Ball, Nothing But Net"

Saturday, April 23, 2011

First Round- Mavs vs Portland: Game 4

The Mavericks stepped foot onto the court of the Rose Garden hoping to get their first win there this year. With an 18+ point lead going into the fourth quarter, the Mavs were unable to accomplish this goal after Roy blew up in the fourth with 18 points to lead the Blazers to a 84-82 come-back victory.

Both teams started the first quarter off slow but the Mavs eventually fastened up the pace to have a 5-0 edge. DeShawn Stevenson hit 2 consecutive 3-pointers to keep the Mavs up, but the Blazers weren't too far behind with the help of Andre Miller and Wesley Matthews. Jason Kidd soon left for the bench after receiving two early fouls. The Mavs 16-11 at the end of the first, outshooting the Blazers, 31.6% to 25%. Dallas was 4 for 7 from 3-point range just in the first quarter.

JJ Barea took over as Kidd was on the bench and teamed up with Jason Terry to increase the Mavs' lead. Each team began fouling each other hard after Dallas took a nine point lead. Kidd then returned to help Dirk and Chandler do what they do best. Chandler and Aldridge soon got caught up in each other's arms which led to a push by Aldridge and a double-technical foul call on both players. After this, the pushing between the teams continued and the Blazers went on a 12-4 run to come two short of the Mavs' 37-35 lead at the half.

The Mavericks didn't take a trip to the free throw line the entire first half; this was the first time they haven't attempted a free throw during a playoff half since the 02-03 postseason.

Both teams ran into some more early foul trouble as Kidd received his fourth foul while Marcus Camby began to experience the same problem. Despite Kidd's fouls, The Mavericks held onto the lead with Shawn Marion's key offense and Kidd's 3-pointer to push Dallas' lead to double digits. It was then Chandler who received another personal foul, pushing his total to three. But despite all the foul trouble, Dallas once again continued to control the game and gain a lead as large as 23. Dallas' pumped up their defense, forcing 15 straight misses from Portland to give the Mavs a 67-49 lead at the end of the third.

But little did the Mavs know, the whole game would turnaround from here.

In the fourth quarter, the Mavs' offense began to slide downhill as Roy and Aldridge did what they could to get their team within single digits. Roy went on fire in the fourth, determined to make a come-back. With less than 3 minutes to go, a series of shots from Roy cut Portland's deficit to just 80-74. A shot by Nowitzki was called off due to an offensive foul, followed by a shot by Aldridge, a Dallas turnover and a score by Roy to put Portland within two. But Roy wasn't finished; he sunk in a 3-pointer and was fouled by Marion for the four-point play, tying the game at 82 with a minute left. An out of bounds call was originally awarded to the Mavs but after the review, the call was changed to Blazers ball with 49 seconds to go. And again, Roy drained in another shot, giving Portland a 2 point lead. Kidd missed a 3-pointer, and Roy missed on the other end as Kidd got the rebound and threw a long pass to Terry down the court who missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer. 

The Blazers won is 84-82 and tied the series at 2-2.

Dirk led the Mavs with 20 points while Terry had 13 points and Marion added 12.

Roy led the Blazers with 24 points. Aldridge had 18, Miller had 14, Matthews had 11, and Wallace added 10.

After this devastating loss, the Mavs will travel back to Dallas for game 5 Monday night in the AAC.

Brandon Roy getting to the basket around Dallas' defense

Wesley Matthews driving to the basket

Dirk looking to pass the ball around Aldridge
Jonathan Ferrey/NBAE/Getty Images

Rudy Fernandez putting up a jumper over Barea

Wallace going up for the dunk
Sam Forencich/NBAE/Getty Images

For More Articles on NBA Playoff Coverage Visit: The Bowse: "All Ball, Nothing But Net"

Thursday, April 21, 2011

First Round- Mavs vs Portland: Game 3

The Mavs came into the Thursday night's game at the Rose Garden with one thing on their mind: winning at the Rose Garden for the first time all year and taking control of the series, 3-0. But after what was a 48 minute battle, the Mavs fell short 97-92 and couldn't get the win they wanted.

Early on in the first quarter, the Mavs struggled immensely, missing 5 of their 6 first shots while trailing 10-2. Jason Terry led the team to bring them back into the game, but it still wasn't enough to stop Wesley Matthews and his great perimeter shooting as he led Portland to a 28-23 lead at the end of the first.

Matthews hit four 3-pointers in the first and outscored Terry 16-10.

Things would change for the Mavs early in the second after struggling in the first quarter. Terry and Peja hit some great perimeter shots while Dirk focused on mid-range jumpers and together they sparked the Mavs to a 14-4 run to take the lead. Tyson Chandler left for the bench after getting his third foul. With Chandler playing limited minutes, the Mavs' defense was hurt. It was at this time that Brandon Roy would start to get hot as he carried his team and Portland ended the second quarter with a 54-52 lead.

Although the Mavs outshot the Blazers 60% to 57.5% in the first half, they committed 8 turnovers which led to 11 Portland points. Matthews led in scoring with 22 first-half points while Terry wasn't too far behind him with 17.

Carlisle changed things up in the second half has he put Terry on the court replacing DeShawn Stevenson at shooting guard. Terry proved this to be a smart change as he drained in shots from 3-point range. But again, Brandon Roy along with LaMarcus Aldridge wouldn't let Dallas pull away as they continued to spark the Blazers' offense and ended the third quarter with a 75-72 lead.

In the fourth quarter, the Mavs' were in dire need of an offensive spark. This is when Carlisle switched the lineup up once again, adding in Barea. This didn't help much as Portland went on a 12-2 run and took a 13 point lead early on in the fourth. Mid-way through the quarter, Chandler left the game with his sixth personal foul; this really shifted the momentum in the game away from Dallas. The Mavs continued to struggle at the foul line as they never got any closer than within 6 points until Dirk banked in a shot with less than 45 seconds to go to cut their deficit to trail just 95-90. Kidd ran down the court and hit a quick 3, which was then reviewed and ruled a 2, with 12.9 seconds left. (Personally I think they should have reviewed the shot from a different angle than they did, because, all bias aside, it clearly looked like a 3 to me.) But Andre Miller's free throws with less than 10 seconds left would lock in the Blazers' lead and win it 97-92.

Terry had a game-high 29 points off the bench while Dirk added 25 points and 9 rebounds to make the only two Mavericks in double figures.

Matthews had 25 points to lead four Blazers in double figures. Aldridge racked up 20 points while Miller and Roy added 16 points each.

Despite the loss, the Mavs outshot the Blazers, 51.5% to 48%, but had 16 turnovers compared to Portland's 10.

It was a series of things that didn't go well for the Mavs in game 3:

Free throws. Dallas made 13 of 23 free throw attempts compared to Portland's 17 of 21. Dirk was 28 for 30 at the foul line in the first two games but was just 4 for 7 in game 3.

Turnovers. In the last game, Dallas had 6 total turnovers with 0 in the second half. In this game, they totaled 16 turnovers.

Kidd. In the first two games, he averaged 21 points on 16 for 25 shooting, including nine 3-pointers. In this game, he made just 3 of 9 shots, 2 of 8 3-point tries, and had 5 personal turnovers.

Chandler. He fouled out of the game after just 15 minutes of play. Since Chandler is the heart of Dallas' defense, this really put a strain on them.

Blazers' offense. Roy, who had scored a combined two points in the first two games on 1 for 8 shooting, scored 16 points, shooting 6 for 10, and had no turnovers in 24 minutes of game 3.

The Mavs need to work on these things and have a chance to regroup for Saturday night's game at the Rose Garden. The series could split 2-2 if the Mavs give up another game or they could take control of the series with a 3-1 advantage.

**Game 4 will air on TNT Saturday evening at 5pm ET.

Aldridge celebrates his shot in front of Dirk

Roy driving around Terry

Kidd posting up Miller

Matthews defending Dirk

Terry going up for the basket


For More Articles on NBA Playoff Coverage Visit: The Bowse: "All Ball, Nothing But Net"

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

First Round- Mavs vs Portland: Game 2

The Mavs stepped onto the court Tuesday night to face the Portland Trailblazers a second time in the AAC, hoping to move 2-0 in the series before heading to the Rose Garden. After bringing the same energy they showed in the first game, Dallas was successful and got the win 101-89.

Roddy sat out again this game with his sprained foot; however, Dallas' starting lineup remained unchanged from last game.

The Mavericks struggled early on in the first quarter as the Blazers already doubled the Mavs' points. Wesley Matthews and Jason Terry hit heads while going for a loose ball, sending Matthews to the lock room with a forehead contusion. Although Stojakovic attacked from beyond the arc and led Dallas on a 10-2 run to get them back into the game, Aldridge and Wallace continued to put up a fight as they helped give Portland the 24-22 lead at the end of the first.

In the start of the second quarter, Stojakovic and Batum kept trading baskets on each end until Kidd and Nowitzki took control as they did in game 1, temporarily putting the Mavs in front. Matthews came back into the game for Portland and teamed up with Aldridge to give their team the edge soon after Mavs' Tyson Chandler got a technical foul call for arguing with officials. Despite the hectic quarter, the quarter ended with Dallas down just 52-50.

The leading scorers at the half were Aldridge with 16 points and Nowitzki with 14 (despite shooting just 3-10). The Blazers outshot the Mavs at the half, 51.3%-45.0%.

In the start of the third quarter, Kidd hit several consecutive baskets as his shot from 3-point range became hot just like in game 1. Kidd continued to sink shots while Dirk was having trouble finding the bottom of the net. The Mavericks' defense stepped up putting stops on the Blazers while Peja came in to help with his great perimeter shooting to hold off Portland. But despite Dallas' efforts, the Blazers came back to trail by just one, 73-72, at the end of the third quarter.

In the fourth quarter, Dallas continued their efforts to pull away with the lead as Dirk and Peja continued to fire shots while Barea used his quickness to the basket and took advantage with his ability to draw quick fouls. You then got the sense of deja vu as Dirk carried the offense just like he did in game 1's fourth quarter. He scored 11 straight points to put the Mavs up by as much as 13, and locked on to the lead to eventually win it 101-89.

Nowitzki finished with 33 points, scoring 14 of them in the fourth quarter. With that, he moved past Bill Russell for 25th on the NBA's all-time playoffs scoring list. Peja tied his postseason career-high with 21 points, including five 3-pointers. Kidd racked up 18 points and 8 assists while Terry added 10 points to make it 4 Mavs in double-figures.

For the Blazers, Aldridge led 5 Blazers in double-figures with 24 points and 10 rebounds. Wallace and Andre Miller both racked up 18 points a piece while Matthews had 13 and Batum added 10.

Dallas has the advantage of being equipped with an outstanding bench. Since their team is filled with quite a lot of older players, they can still get the opportunity to rest while their bench does a quality job of keeping their team in the game. With this being said, Dallas' bench outscored Portland's, 39-11.

The Mavericks were able to commit just six turnovers (zero in the second half), tying their franchise record and the fewest ever in a playoff game.

The Mavericks are relieved to travel to the Rose Garden with the 2-0 series lead, but it only gets tougher from here. Dallas will look for the win in Portland on Thursday night, something they've failed to do twice in the regular season.

**Game 3 will air on TNT Thursday night at 10:30pm ET.

Blazers in a huddle

Jason Terry pumping up the crowd in the AAC

Dirk going up for a jumper

Aldridge facing Haywood in the post


For More Articles on NBA Playoff Coverage Visit: The Bowse: "All Ball, Nothing But Net"

Saturday, April 16, 2011

First Round- Mavs vs Portland: Game 1

It is said that the Mavericks have the most pressure on them in the playoffs, but the pressure didn't get to them in game one as they fought their way to a hard-earned 89-81 win behind their two veterans Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd.

Roddy Beaubois sat out this game after he sprained his left foot in Wednesday nights game against the Hornets. When he will return is not yet known. DeShawn Stevenson took Roddy's place in the starting line-up.

Tyson Chandler's defense and DeShawn Stevenson's timely scoring is what pushed the Mavs to an early lead. Marcus Camby and LaMarcus Aldridge teamed up to help Portland attain the lead. Jason Terry acquired two quick fouls and Aldridge was unstoppable, scoring 11 first-quarter points. This is when Jason Kidd's shot became hot and the Mavs were trailing just 22-21 at the end of the first.

The second quarter started much differently as Peja's great shooting led the Mavs to a 12-3 run. The Dallas defense started to pick up and guard Aldridge which in turn forced Portland to rely on Andre Miller. Despite Miller's buckets, the Mavs went on a 12-4 run to end the half with the 47-37 lead.

Kidd scored 3 of 5 from beyond the arc to total 11 points in the first half while Aldridge had 13 in which just 2 were scored in the second. The Mavs outshot the Blazers in the first half, 47.4% to 46.9%.

The Mavs had a slow start to the third quarter after the Blazers went on a 6-0 run to keep them in the game. Kidd continued to make shots from 3-point range but Aldridge didn't give up, trying to keep his team in the game. Mavs took a 61-57 lead going into the fourth quarter.

Early in the fourth quarter, the Blazers tied the game at 61. Later on, Fernandez scored an and-1, giving the Blazers the lead. Dallas then missed 10 straight shots as they trailed by 6. Kidd finally ended the Blazers run as he led the Mavs to a 6-0 run. Down the line, Dirk hit a couple of free throws, a 3-pointer, and an and-1 to put Dallas up by 4 with just 3 minutes to go. Dirk scored 12 straight points to go along with Terry's free throws as the Mavs took an 82-78 lead with less than 2 minutes to go. Kidd hit another 3-pointer to give him his playoff career high of five 3-pointers, to put them up 85-78 with less than 30 seconds left in the game. But it was Batum's clutch 3-pointer that made it a 4-point game with 22 seconds to go. Terry headed back to the line before Batum missed a 3-pointer leading to 2 more free throws from Dirk to finish the game 89-81.

Dirk made an appearance at the free throw line plenty of times in the fourth where he went 13 for 13. Despite shooting just 7-20 from the field, he scored 18 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter and also had 10 rebounds. Kidd had 24 points as he went 6 for 10 from beyond the arc. Terry was the only other Mavericks in double-figures with 10 points off the bench.

Aldridge led the Blazers with 27 points, Miller had 18 and Batum added 14.

Despite the loss, Portland outshot the Mavs 46.1% to 40.9%, out-rebounded them 40-39, and outscored Dallas in the pain, 46-18.

Dallas has a great bench as they normally get 40+ points out of them, but tonight this win was all thanks to their veterans-Nowitzki and Kidd. In every game there is an X-factor, and tonight, Kidd was it. He was unstoppable from 3-point range which is really what the Mavericks needed.

Next, the Mavs will get ready for game 2 Tuesday night at the AAC and hopefully bring the same performance they showed in game 1. They look to move to 2-0 in the series before they travel to Portland to face the Blazers at the Rose Garden.

Just like Dirk said, "this is a big win, but this game means nothing if you lose game 2."

**Game 2 will air Tuesday at 9:30pm ET on TNT.

Kidd goes up for a jumper

Fernandez looks to pass the ball

Aldridge posting up Chandler
Glenn James/NBAE/Getty Images

Dirk driving to the basket
Danny Bollinger/NBAE/Getty Images

For More Articles on NBA Playoff Coverage Visit: The Bowse: "All Ball, Nothing But Net"

Thursday, April 14, 2011

First Round Series Preview: Mavs vs Portland

After a long season of 82 games filled with highs and lows, the Dallas Mavericks have locked in on 3rd seed, facing the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round.

Advancing to the second round is something the Mavs nor the Blazers are too familiar with. Dallas has lost in the first round in 3 of the past 4 seasons while the Blazers haven't moved on to the second round since 2000. The last time these two teams met in the postseason was in 02-03, when Dallas led the series 3-0 before Portland tied it at 3-3, eventually losing to the Mavs in game 7.

Many teams in the west hoped to play -or at least wouldn't mind playing- the Mavs in the first round, primarily due to their lack of success in the past. Carlisle mentioned how the fact that everyone keeps referring to Dallas as "the same old Mavs" is a good thing because they have the advantage of coming out and surprising each team they face.

Chandler and the rest of the Dallas defense will have to be focused and centered around stopping LaMarcus Aldridge, who has averaged 27.8 points and 9 rebounds against the Mavs this season. Dallas also has to keep their eyes out for former All-Stars, Brandon Roy and Gerald Wallace.

Dallas and Portland split the season series 2-2, (both wins from each team coming from their own home-court) with all four games between the two teams decided by single digits.

Lets look back at these match-ups in the regular season:

Game 1: 12/15- Mavs win 103-98
Dirk was the reason for this Mavs win as he had 12 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter. Caron led the Mavs with 23 points, making it six Mavericks to score in double figures. LaMarcus Aldridge had a double-double with 25 points and 10 rebounds. Portland scored just 14 points in the first quarter, missing their last 10 shots in the first which led to a Dallas 9-2 run. The Mavs also finished the second quarter on a 17-6 run. They outscored Portland 12-7 in the last 3 minutes of the game to get the win. Turnovers seemed to be an issue for the Mavs in this game.

Game 2: 1/4- Mavs win 84-81
This was the fifth game Dirk missed due to his knee injury. Despite Dirk's absense, Dallas was still able to record the win as Chandler had his sixth double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds while Stevenson and Terry added 18 points each. LaMarcus Aldridge had 28 points and 10 rebounds while Marcus Camby had 10 points and 20 rebounds. The Mavericks were down in the first but went on an 18-8 run to take the lead at the end of the quarter. The game was found to be tied like the last at one point before the Mavs took the lead going into the half. This time, the Blazers went on a 14-4 run to come back. Despite their spurt, the Mavs answered with a run of their own, 12-4, to get the win. This wasn't an easy win for Dallas as the lead changed 11 times.

Game 3: 3/15- Blazers win 104-101
Peja and Haywood both sat out this game. Dirk had a double-double in this game with 28 points and 11 rebounds. Marion had 18 points while Roddy added 16. Aldridge had 30 points and 8 rebounds while Roy scored 21 points. Despite making their first 11 shots, they led by only 3 points after the first. Portland was down until the third quarter when they went on a 8-0 run to take the lead. They managed to keep their lead the rest of the game and outscored Dallas in second chance points, 18-4, and 48-36 in the paint.

Game 4: 4/3- Blazers win 104-96
Tyson Chandler sat out this game with a sore lower back. It was the final game of the Mavs' longest road trip of the season. Marion scored 19 points while Dirk and Roddy had 18 and 16 points. Six Blazers scored in double figures. Portland led 61-46 at the half and led by as much as 20 points in the midst of the third. Trailing 95-74 four minutes into the fourth, the Mavs went on a 8-0 run at the end to cut their deficit to 95-82. The Blazers answered with a 7-0 run of their own and held onto the lead. Portland stole the ball 10 times and also outscored Dallas 50-38 in the paint.

Looking at the big picture, Dallas has won 21 of the last 28 games against the Blazers, but five of those Dallas losses have been in the last eight games. All time, the Mavs are just 18-46 in Portland, as they constantly struggle on the road against them. At home, the Mavs have won 19 of the last 22 games vs Portland. Their season series split of 2-2 proves this, as each of the teams wins were on their own court.

Portland big man, LaMarcus Aldridge, is definitely someone the Mavs need to look out for. As you can see in their previous match-ups, Aldridge scored the game-high almost every time. With fast aging on Dallas' roster and Portland being a relatively young team, there are not many Mavs who can quickly drive to the basket; they are known for their perimeter shooting. This will be an issue in this series as in previous games, Portland took advantage of this and outscored Dallas in the paint almost every time.

Also, each game was close, being decided by 8 points or less. Throughout each game, both teams were at a constant battle for the lead, as each team went on runs each quarter to change it up. Because of this, I don't think this match-up will be relatively easy for either team nor do I think any of the games will have a final score with a big difference.

The schedule for the first-round series between the Blazers and Mavericks is as follows:
Game 1- Sat April 16 Portland at Dallas 9:30pm ET on ESPN
Game 2- Tue April 19 Portland at Dallas 9:30pm ET on TNT
Game 3- Thu April 21 Dallas at Portland 10:30pm ET on TNT
Game 4- Sat April 23 Dallas at Portland 5:00pm ET on TNT
Game 5 * Mon April 25 Portland at Dallas TBD
Game 6 * Thu April 28 Dallas at Portland TBD
Game 7 * Sat April 30 Portland at Dallas TBD

Shooting forwards, Dirk Nowitzki and LaMarcus Aldridge
Jonathan Ferrey/NBAE/Getty Images

For More Articles on NBA Playoff Coverage Visit: The Bowse: "All Ball, Nothing But Net"

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Mavs Crush Hornets in Last Game of the Regular Season

The Mavs stepped onto their home court for the last game of the regular season Wednesday night to play the New Orleans Hornets. Dallas was looking to secure 2nd seed with a Lakers loss or secure 3rd with a Lakers win. They were also looking to end the season on a four-game winning streak.

Early in the night, this was a potential first-round playoff series, but at the end of the night, Mavs' fans were wishing it was true. Although the Mavs won, 121-89, the Lakers won as well, securing the Mavs into 3rd seed playing Portland in the first-round.

Stojakovic missed this game due to personal reasons. Carlisle decided to start Stevenson in place of Roddy as shooting guard.

For the Hornets, David West is also out for the rest of the season with a torn ACL.

In the first quarter, the Mavs fell behind early as Belinelli's great shooting put the Hornets up. Marion reached a career milestone, after getting a steal to become the 5th person to get 1,500 steals and 1,000 blocks in a career, along with Julius Erving, Hakeem Olajuwon, Karl Malone, and Kevin Garnett. The first quarter was a constant battle but Barea hit a 3-pointer to give the Mavs a 28-27 lead to end the first quarter.

In the second quarter, the Hornets were sinking baskets left and right while Dirk tried to keep the Mavs in the game. Roddy left the game for the locker room after he came down awkwardly on his ankle. The Hornets were able to take a 61-58 lead going into the half, despite Dirks 19 first-half points.

Without David West, the Mavs were able to take control inside, outscoring the Hornets 24-18 in the paint. With Jack's 16 first-half points, New Orleans outshot Dallas 57.5%-48.7%.

In the second half, Roddy didn't return after spraining his left food; X-ray's were negative but his return is unknown.

The Mavs started the third quarter on a 7-0 run to gain the lead. Dirk led the Mavs while Stevenson and Chandler played great defense, leading to stops and opportunities on offense. Kidd started to get hot from beyond the arc and Dallas cruised to an 86-74 lead to end the third.

Nowitzki almost outscored the Hornets by himself in the third quarter; he scored 12 points as Dallas outscored the Hornets that quarter, 28-13. The Mavs went 5-12 from 3-point range while the Hornets shot 4-16 from the floor in general.

Jason Terry, the only Mav to play in all 82 regular-season games, took control in the fourth quarter as he did in many previous games. Terry joined Kidd in great shooting from 3-point range, and led the Mavs to a lead as large as 32. Dirk sat out the rest of the quarter, while the Dallas bench continued to hold their lead. Dallas held onto the lead till the end, winning it 121-89.

Dirk finished with a game-high 32 points. Kidd had 12 points, shooting 4-6 from 3-point range, and 8 assists. Marion and Haywood both finished with 10 points each. Barea had 14 points and 8 assists, while Terry racked up 13. Corey Brewer also added 11 points off the bench to be the Mavs' 7th player in double figures.

Jack led the Hornets with 22 points while Belinelli finished with 14. Pondexter and Landry both finished with 10 a piece while CP3 only finished with 7 points (2-9 shooting), 8 assists, and 3 turnovers. In the last four games, he's averaged only 7.3 points while shooting just 30.6%.

The Mavs outshot the Hornets 54.8% to 43%. They also out-rebounded them 42-35 and had a 24-10 edge in fast-break points.

The season series is now tied 2-2 and the Mavs lock in on 3rd seed. They will face the Portland Trailblazers in the first round. This will be a tough match-up and they will need to play like they played against the Hornets if they want to have a chance.

Their first playoff game will be Saturday night at 9:30pm ET at the AAC.

Landry looks to make a move against Chandler

Monday, April 11, 2011

Mavs Sweep the Rockets in their First Overtime of the Season

The Mavericks entered the Toyota Center Monday night to face the Houston Rockets in which was their second game of their last back-to-back of the season. They looked to win these last two games of the regular season while hoping the Lakers would lose just once, handing Dallas the number two seed. They also hoped they'd get their four-game season series sweep over the Rockets and win their third straight.

Houston was missing two of their starters: Luis Scola with a sore left knee and Kyle Lowry with a sore left foot.

Dallas had a sluggish start to the first quarter, trailing early 7-2 and shooting just 17%. But the Mavs battled back to lead 8-7 with less than 6 minutes left in the quarter. The Rockets finished the quarter on a 10-4 run and  The Mavs trailed 23-20 at the end of the first.

It was a battle all throughout the second quarter as each team fought for the lead. The Mavs led 38-35 with less than 3 minutes left in the quarter as Chandler received his third foul. The Rockets tried to pull away but it was a failed attempt as Terry and Dirk sank baskets to keep them in the game. Gortat and Dragic scored a combined 26 points to give them the 47-42 lead over the Mavs, despite Dirks 13 first-half points.

In the first half, Dallas outshot Houston 45% to 37.8% while they both committed 11 turnovers.

The third quarter didn't start any better than the first quarter did for the Mavs as Roddy received his third foul early on in the quarter, adding him to the list with Chandler. The Rockets held control of the game, as Marion and Dirk's great gameplay kept Dallas in the game. With Martin's scoring and Miller's 3-pointer, the Rockets held on to a 71-67 lead to end the third quarter.

The fourth quarter was an intense battle for the lead as the lead changed every couple of possessions. The game was all tied up at 78 with 5:56 left to go in the game. For over two minutes, both teams went scoreless until Kidd fouled Martin, hitting both his free throws and putting the Rockets up 80-78 with under four minutes to go. Marion had a nice and-1 finish to put the Mavs up 85-81 with 1:34 left. But the Mavs didn't wrap it up from there as Courtney Lee hit an and-1 to put the Rockets up 86-85 with 10.8 seconds left. The Mavs held on to the ball with a chance to win it but Terry got fouled with 1.5 seconds left. He hit the first one but missed the second, tying it at 86, sending the game into Dallas' first overtime of the season.

Terry made up for his missed free throw by hitting key shots in OT and a couple free throws. The Mavs held on to the lead throughout OT and won it 98-91.

Despite Dirk's 8-22 shooting, he finished with a double-double with 23 points and 12 rebounds. Marion and Terry were right behind him with 21 points a piece. Chandler also added 8 points and 12 rebounds.

Martin led the Rockets with 28 points while Dragic had 15 points and 10 rebounds, Lee and Miller both had 12 points, and Hayes added 10 points and 12 rebounds.

The Mavs got the 4-0 season series sweep over the Rockets and are now 28-13 on the road, maintaining their league-best road record. They also now hold a 1/2 game lead over the Lakers for 2nd seed.

Next, the Mavs will face the New Orleans Hornets Wednesday night in their last game of the series, which could well be a preview for a potential playoff series.

Dirk shoots a jumper to go along with his 23 points

Lee goes up for a basket

Mavs Blowout the Suns and Tie the Lakers for Second Seed

The Mavericks entered the first game of what was their final back-to-back of the season vs the Phoenix Suns. Dallas continued to battle for 2nd seed with the Lakers, and were looking to win this game and get  a season series sweep of the Suns. Not only did the Mavs beat the suns, but they led from the first minute of the game and held onto that lead the entire game, blowing them out 115-90.

Jason Kidd returned to this game after resting for two days for the playoffs and Steve Nash played despite his minor hamstring injury.

The Mavs' offense took off from the opening tip-off, as Kidd ran the floor while Dirk and Marion helped lead them to a 17-4 start. Chandler also did what he does best inside defensively, while Terry scored off the bench, all contributing to the Mavs' highest-scoring first quarter of the season as they took a 36-17 lead to end the first.

Early on in the second quarter, Peja and Terry hit back-to-back 3-pointers to hold onto the large Mavs' lead. With great team effort, easy baskets, and great passes, the Mavs' were up by as much as 28. The momentum was completely shifted the Mavs way as they took their largest halftime lead of the season, 65-39 to end the second quarter.

With Dirk's 15 first-half points and Marion's 12, the Mavs outshot the Suns 52% to 39%. They also out-rebounded Phoenix 26-17, thanks to Chandler's 10 rebounds.

The Mavs' momentum died down in the third quarter as the Suns opened it up on a 9-2 run. At this point, Chandler and Roddy were both in deep foul trouble with four each, as Carlisle sat them and put in his bench. Despite the Suns' run, the Mavs still held on to the lead and continued to hold on to it throughout the quarter, ending it with an 80-60 lead.

However, the Suns would continue to fight back in the fourth quarter but a comeback was not in their future as Terry and JJ sunk in baskets to keep Phoenix down. During this quarter, Terry sunk his 1,000th 3-pointer as a Maverick. That wasn't the last 3-pointer of the game, as Terry, Peja, and Cardinal continued to swish in a few more towards the end of the game to win it, 115-90.

The Mavs outshot the Suns 51% to 43% and out-rebounded them 51-37. The Mavs' bench scored 62 points and they are now 5-1 this season when their bench scores at least 60 points.

Dirk led the team with 19 points and 7 rebounds while Marion had a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Terry and Peja both pitched in 17 while Barea added 15 of his own. Kidd ended with 7 points and 7 assists while although Haywood racked up just 5 points, he managed to get 11 rebounds.

Gortat led the Suns with 15 points and 9 rebounds. Dudley and Warrick both added 11 points.

With this win, the Mavs claimed their first four-game season series sweep of the Suns since the 87'-88' season. They are also now tied with the Lakers for second seed.

"There are two more games left, and we want to keep some momentum going in a positive way," Carlisle said.

The Mavs set off to Houston to play the second game of their last back-to-back against the Rockets on Monday night. The Mavs lead that season series 3-0.

Dirk shoots a jumper over Hill

Peja looks to pass the ball around Gortat

Sunday, April 10, 2011

The Playoffs Are Well On Their Way...

And I have alot of Mavs' talk that I need to get out!

Most of my posts are just recaps on games, not including my opinion, so I figured I'd write a post with some personal input.

There are a couple of things I'd like to talk about:

The first thing being George Karl's comment. On Thursday, Karl told a radio station that he would rather face the Mavericks in the first round than the Thunder. He figures since they are 3-1 over the Mavs this season that they'd make a good matchup. Recently, Denver acquired former Knicks players Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler, and Raymond Felton in the trade that gave up Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups. The Nuggets also got the Knicks' first round pick in 2014 and second round picks in 2012 and 2013, so they definitely have room to build for the future. Obviously Denver was giving up two great players, which is why a lot of fans were baffled by this trade. But to much of everyone's surprise, the trade was actually nothing short of a genius trade for Denver, as they are not only playing great ball without Melo but rather playing even better. Denver is 15-6 since the trade and have managed to lock in on the 5th seed. As of right now, Denver would be playing the Thunder in the first round; but Thunder is just 1 game behind Dallas, so anything can happen. Honestly, a 7-game series vs the Nuggets wouldn't typically be an "easy" run, so maybe Karl is right.

Secondly, JJ Barea and Jason Terry's tirade. In the second quarter of Friday night's game vs the Clippers, Terry made a remark filled with anger towards Barea which led to Carlisle kicking Terry out of  the timeout huddle and Cuban having to calm Terry down. At this point, the Mavs trailed 39-25 in the game and were losing hope. Turnover after turnover the Mavs' continued to be embarrased; but the incident with Terry miraculously sparked the Mavs. After it occured, the Mavs went on a run and led by as many as 12 in the third and wound up winning 107-96. On a four game losing streak towards the end of the regular season, the Mavs were getting frustrated. This incident actually boosted the Mavericks and probably woke them up from their nightmare. Barea confirmed that him and Terry are all good now and that the team is back to working hard to get ready for the playoffs.

Third, Caron Butler's return for the playoffs. Caron has been telling the fans over and over that he's going to make a comeback for the playoffs. He's been rehabbing his knee and working hard as ever to get it back into shape to be playoff ready; but is the Mavs' forward's words reliable? Carlisle deemed him "extremely unlikely" to play in the first round of the playoffs.
"I can't give you a medical opinion," Carlisle said. "My coaching opinion is, his jump shot looks great. He's doing great and he's way ahead of schedule. But timetable-wise, I don't have one. He's been able to step up his activity moderately, but he's not running yet or anything like that."
Caron will continue his aggressive rehabilitation but only time will tell. Personally, I think putting him in the lineup in the first round is a bit risky. I mean, he did rupture his patellar tendon and even if he feels well enough to play, one awkward jerk to his knee could end his career. So I think waiting until the second round is a better idea. And it'd give the Mavs all the more reason to make it there.


And lastly, what all Mavs' fans hate talking about: the Mavs' history in the playoffs. For Dallas, 50+ wins a season remains a given; but then comes the playoffs, and we all know that story. Not many teams have been as successful as the Mavericks have been in the regular season in the past decade, yet they have just as much to showcase as the Clippers, Bucks, Wolves, Wizards and other teams that remain on the bottom of the standings each year. In the last 10 post-seasons, the Mavs have lost in the first round 4 times and in the conference semifinals four times. Their most successful run was in 02-03 when they lost to the Spurs in the Western Conference Finals and in 05-06 when they lost in their first NBA Finals trip to the Miami Heat. And even that wasn't much to be proud of. Dallas led the series over Miami, 2-0, and managed to lose a 13-point lead with 6 minutes to go in game 3 and lost the following 3 games as well. But the Mavs' post-season failures didn't end there. The following season, the Mavs won the leagues-most 67 games and Dirk was named MVP, Dallas fans finally took a breather-they thought their post-season hardships have finally come to an end. But little did they know the Mavs would end up losing to the 8th-seeded Golden State Warriors.

As for this season, the Mavs were off to a great start but unfortunately lost several players to injuries. Dirk missed 9 games with a knee injury, his most games missed in his career. During that period, the Mavs were hopeless. Dallas also lost Caron, who had a season ending knee injury, but has been able to just get by without him. Marion also missed a few games as did Chandler. With all of these injuries, the Mavs still managed to stay 3rd seed, and even 2nd for some time. So, what does this mean? Will the Mavs make it far into the playoffs since they've managed to make it this far through all of the rough patches? Or will they lose in the first round again and prove everyone right? Well, I believe the Mavs DO have what it takes to make it passed the first round and even further. It's going to take much team effort and a great mindset, but it's possible.

Being a Mavs' fan means you've been through hell and back- but us Mavs' fans got to stick together. There's nothing left to do but pray and support our Mavs throughout the first round. If we make it through that, then that's great--but if not, then we'll just have to start focusing on next season. We can never give up and never stop supporting our team.. thats what a MFFL is for, right?

Saturday, April 9, 2011

Mavs Get the Season Series Sweep Over the Clippers

Despite coming into this game vs the Clippers on a four-game losing streak, the Mavs held on to an optimistic attitude. Dallas was looking for a four-game season series sweep against the Clippers and their 16th win of the last 17 games vs them. After having much success in beating the Clippers in previous match-ups, this time was not that easy but they did manage to finally add another game to the win column.

Carlisle rested Jason Kidd for a second straight game and Chandler returned to the court after sitting out two games with a lower back contusion, but Haywood started in his place. Carlisle also decided to start Corey Brewer at the 2 spot, after his 13-point game off the bench on Wednesday.

Brewer scored the team's first six points but the Clippers took an early lead which eventually lead to a technical on Carlisle, after he was getting frustrated. After the Mavs missed countless baskets, LA took advantage and pushed their lead to 35-19 to end the first quarter. The Clippers outshot the Mavs in the first quarter 65% to 27%.

In the second quarter, Brewer tried once again to carry the Mavs on his shoulders as Marion then joined him to try and help the Mavs make a comeback. The Mavs looked much better this quarter offensively, cutting the deficit to just 6 to be down 54-47 at halftime.

At the half, the Clippers outshot the Mavs 53% to 42%. Corey Brewer had 14 points in the first half, keeping the Mavs in the game despite Griffin and Williams' 15 points each.

The second half started with conflicts arising on the Mavs' bench involving Terry, which led to him sitting out the rest of the game. From this point on, the Mavs worked together to gain a lead as large as 12. Dallas' energy was much better in the third quarter and they started playing in a team effort. But despite their efforts, LA came back shortly after to tie the game, before Chandler tipped in a basket at the buzzer to end the third up 77-75.

The Fourth quarter went well for the Mavs, as Peja hit two 3-pointers to extend the Mavs' consecutive games streak with a 3-pointer to 1,017. Although the Mavs took the lead, the Clippers didn't let the Mavs pull away. Dallas eventually extended their lead to 13 with a 14-2 run led by Dirk and Barea in the final 2 minutes of game play. They held onto the lead till the end to win it 107-96.

This game was a tough one, but I think I speak for everyone when I say it feels good to finally have another one in the win column. About tonight's win, Carlisle responded:
“We struggled early, and we really didn’t get going until things got heated, and that’s not good. Our response from there forward was terrific,” Carlisle said. “Everyone who played off the bench made significant contributions. Dirk was great. I thought Stojakovic, who didn’t get in the first half because of how well Brewer was playing, when his number was called he went in and hit two or three 3-pointers and a few other timely shots. He was terrific. [DeShawn] Stevenson came in there when Brewer needed a rest, played great defense and hit a big 3. A lot of the guys stepped up. [Brandon] Haywood was terrific, Tyson Chandler I thought gave us what he could, [Ian] Mahinmi was active and made some good things happen when he was in. It was a good win.”
The Mavericks outshot the Clippers 50.6% to 50% and outscored them in the second half, 60-42. Although the Mavs went just 4 for 15 from beyond the 3-point line, they out-rebounded LA 42-36 and forced 22 Clipper turnovers to gain 28 points. The Mavs also outscored the Clippers in the paint, 58-42 as well as in fast-break points, 25-16.

This game was one of Brewers best in his career, totaling 20 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 steals. Dirk also added 20 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists. Chandler racked up 15 points and 7 rebounds while Marion had a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Barea finished with 15 points and Peja added 10 of his own.

Williams led the Clippers with 29 points while Griffin finished with 23 points and 9 rebounds. Gordon racked up 11 points while Smith and Jordan added 9 a piece.

Next, the Mavs will have their final back-to-back of the season starting Sunday night against the Phoenix Suns. Dallas leads that seasons series 3-0.

Marion throws up an awkward shot over Griffin

Jordan blocks Roddys shot

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Mavs Fall to Denver and Lose Fourth Straight

After a long and tiring 6-game road trip in 10 days, the Mavs flew back home to Dallas to face the Denver Nuggets at the AAC. Losing three straight games, the Mavs hoped to end this rough streak but failed after falling 104-96.

Chandler sat out his second straight game due to his lower back contusion. Carlisle also decided to sit Kidd out to get some much needed rest. This being said, Roddy and Stevenson started in the backcourt next to Marion and Dirk, as Haywood replaced Chandler.

Dallas knew this game wouldn't be easy without two of their important starters, and it wasn't.

Marion scored the Mavs' first 6 points but with Chandler out, it was hard for Dallas to cover Nene inside. The Mavs were off to a bad start offensively and committed five turnovers in the first quarter. The Mavs hit just 8 of 25 in the first and were down 23-17 going into the second quarter.

Brewer stepped up in the second quarter with his great perimeter shooting and finishes to temporarily keep the Mavs in the game. But despite Brewers' efforts, the Nuggets took a double-digit lead. Nene continued to fight and pushed Denver to a lead as large as 13 before heading into halftime with the lead over the Mavs, 53-43.

The Mavs were outshot in the first half 50% to 43.2%. Marion and W. Chandler both had 11 points at the half while Brewer added 9 off the bench.

To start the second half, Carlisle put in Brewer over Stevenson to give the Mavs a lift, but Denver still lead by as much as 15. However, the Mavericks never gave up, and with the help of Marion and Terry, they managed to cut the deficit to 3 points, heading into the fourth quarter down just 72-69.

In the fourth, Dirk gave the Mavs a 77-76 lead-their first since a 6-5 score in the first quarter-although it didn't last for long. The Nuggets regained the lead after their shots kept falling in, and after numerous 3-pointers, Denver had a 94-85 lead with just under 6 minutes to go. However, the Mavs would fight back yet again, responding with a 10-0 run to tie the game at 94. It was a constant battle as the Nuggets also answered with a 10-0 run to keep the Mavs down. The Nuggets once again took advantage of the Mavs' turnovers late in the game and held them off to win it, 104-96.

Despite the loss, the Mavs outshot the Nuggets 48.8% to 47.7%. They also out-rebounded the Nuggets 45-40 and had a 21-17 edge in second-chance points. On the downside, the Mavs gave up 17 turnovers which led to 25 Denver points.

Marion led the team with 21 points and 10 rebounds, while Dirk was right behind him with 20 points and 7 rebounds. Off the bench, Terry scored 15 points, Barea had 12 points and 10 assists, while Brewer added 13.

Off the Denver bench, JR Smith led his team with 23 points. Martin had 18 points, Chandler had 16, and Gallo and Harrington each added 10 of their own.

The Mavs' how now lost four straight games and will try to end their slump in the second game of their homestand, as they play the Los Angeles Clippers Friday night. The Mavs lead the Clippers in the season series 3-0 and are hoping for the season series sweep.

Whether Chandler will play Friday night is still unknown, and Carlisle might rest Kidd yet again for the playoffs.

Dirk goes up for the basket through Denvers' defense
Ty Lawson tries to go up for the basket over Haywood

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Mavs Fall to Portland, 104-96

After losing two straight games to the Lakers and Golden State, the Mavs entered the Rose Garden with the hopes to ending their struggles and beat Portland. Dallas knew this wouldn't be easy as they struggled in two hard-fought wins vs the Blazers earlier at the AAC; and it wasn't, as the Mavs fell to the Blazers 104-96, concluding their longest road-trip of the season, 3-3.

With starting center Tyson Chandler out with a back injury the Mavs struggled defensively and were pounded inside, outscored by Portland in the paint, 50-38.

Haywood started in place of Chandler, and Marion was placed in the starting lineup in place of Stevenson.

The Mavericks struggled early as Roddy picked up two quick fouls in the first minute of the game. Roddy remained in the game, but Aldridge, with 10 first-quarter points, lifted the Blazers to a 23-17 lead to end the first quarter.

In the second quarter, Portland tried to pull away but it was Barea who would be the one leading the charge as the Mavs kept up with the Blazers. Barea was soon forced to sit with three fouls, joining Roddy and Terry with three personals as well. The Blazers took a double-digit lead heading into halftime up, 61-46.

Portland outshot Dallas in the first half 61% to 50%. Aldridge led all scorers at the half with 14 points and Wallace racked up 10. Marion had 12 first-half points while Barea added 10.

In the third quarter, the Mavs continued to struggle defensively, but Marion took the offensive end in his own hands, trying to keep Dallas in the game. After Roddy left for the locker room with a left ankle injury, the Mavs fell behind by as much as 20. Dirk hit a buzzer-beater to end the third down, 85-67.

Throughout the last quarter, Dirk continued to battle hard along with Stevenson; but despite their efforts and an 8-0 run, they still fell behind by 21. Barea soon fouled out of the game as Matthews and the Blazers continued to hold down the Mavs. Roddy hit some late shots but all hope was lost as Dallas failed to come back, losing it 104-96.

Despite his ankle and fouls, Roddy finished with 20 points, hitting two 3-pointers. Marion racked up 19 points and Dirk had 16, while Barea added 12. Haywood only had 5 points but managed to get 11 rebounds.
 
Wallace led the Blazers with 19 points while Aldridge was right behind him with 18. Matthews finished with 16, Batum had 15, Fernandez had 11, and Miller added 10.

With this loss, it was the Mavs' third straight and it concluded their 6-game road-trip at 3-3. The teams split their season series 2-2, with each team winning twice on its home-court.

Next, the Mavs will return home to Dallas as they face the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday.

Roddy goes up for the basket around Camby
Wallace goes up for the slam

Saturday, April 2, 2011

Mavs Fall Short to the Warriors, 99-92 and Lose 2nd Straight

The Mavericks entered ORACLE Arena on Saturday night hoping to bounce back from their worst loss of the season vs the Lakers, and get a four-game season series sweep against the Golden State Warriors. But this was easier said than done as the Mavs fell short to the Warriors 99-92, losing their second straight game.

Carlisle made a switch up in the lineup, starting Stevenson-who hasn't started since their last time facing the Warriors, and benching Marion-after starting the last five games straight.

The Mavericks began with a good start to the first quarter as Dirk led them to an 8-0 run. However, Ellis put the Warriors back in the game, but the Mavs still held onto the 29-28 lead to end the first quarter. Dirk and Terry combined to score 14 points in the first quarter, but Ellis alone scored 11.

The Mavericks began the second quarter with four straight scores, leading to an 11-0 run as they went up by as much as 10 points. But once again, the Warriors came back and Ellis hit a 3-pointer to put them ahead 45-44. However, the Mavericks didn't let the Warriors pull away and held on to 50-48 lead going into halftime.

Although the Mavs' hit one of nine 3-pointers, they still outshot the Warriors 48.8% to 45.5% in the first half.

Ellis had 14 points in the first half and David Lee added 10, while Dirk had 11 and the trio of Terry, Marion and Barea added 24.

Carlisle made another switch in the lineup before the third quarter, sitting Roddy in favor of Barea. The Mavs continued to have an off-shooting night from beyond the arch as the Warriors took a lead as large as 11 points. Dallas went 3 for 19 to this point and were not able to attack from inside. But the Mavs didn't let the Warriors pull away as they cut the deficit to 72-67 to end the third quarter. Ellis alone outscored Dallas as a whole 18-17 in the third quarter.

The fourth quarter didn't start well for Dallas as Al Thornton became hot and the Warriors started to get every loose ball, disallowing the Mavs from coming back after Golden State pushed their lead to 12. Off the bench, Terry, Marion and Barea cut the deficit to three, 91-88 with just under 3 minutes remaining, leading to a 13-4 run. Curry then ended the Mavs' momentum with a 3-pointers with 2 minutes to go, extending Golden State's lead to 6. The Warriors stepped up their defense as Marion missed two shots in the last minute of the game, and Thornton put the Warriors up by 7 with 21 seconds to go. The Warriors held onto the lead and won it 99-92.

Marion led the team with 21 points and had a season-high 3 blocks. Terry added 17 points while Dirk had 16, Barea had 13, and Chandler had 12 to make it five Mavs' in double-figures. Barea had a game-high 11 assists.


Ellis led the Warriors with 32 points, hitting one less three than the Mavs' did as a team. David Lee added 16 points, Wright had 13, and Curry and Thornton both had 12.

Despite the loss, Dallas' bench outscored Golden State's 56-26. The Mavs' went 5 of 25 from beyond the arch, and the Warriors outshot the Mavs 44.9% to 41.1% while both teams had 43 rebounds.

Next, the Mavs move on to play their last game of their 6-game road trip as they face the Portland Trailblazers.

Monta Ellis goes up for the jam
Chandler goes up for the easy dunk

MyDallasMavs: April 2011

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