Jason Kidd played his best game of the season and the Mavericks overcame a 15-point deficit with a little under eight minutes remaining in the fourth quarter to force overtime. The Mavs won in overtime for their Western Conference best 19th road victory. (AP Photo/Gregory Smith)I guess 36 must be the new 22...at least for Jason Kidd.
For the first time since he was 22 (and the last time this feat was accomplished), Kidd scored more than 15 points, grabbed over 15 rebounds, and dished out more than 15 assists. This time, Kidd is 36 but it looks as though the hunger remains.
The veteran point guard scored nine of the Mavericks final 10 fourth quarter points (all on threes) and the other point, a technical free-throw made by Dirk Nowitzki, happened because of a heads-up play by Kidd.
The Play:
With 1:37 to go in the fourth quarter and the Mavs desperately needing a basket, down 97-95, Kidd made a play for the ages.
As he jogged the ball down the court, Kidd noticed that Atlanta coach Mike Woodson was directing the Hawks defense and stepping out onto the court. Kidd then immediately raced down the floor and before Woodson could get out of the way, they had collided. Words were exchanged afterwords but the technical foul, rightfully called on the coach who is not allowed to stop onto the court, went on Woodson and the next thing you know Dallas had an extra point thanks to the unusual play.
"I said, 'You can't be on the floor. You don't have a uniform on," said Kidd, likely editing his actual, quite heated, words towards the Atlanta coach for content. "Rules are rules. The coach isn't supposed to be on the floor."
Little things like that is what many Mavericks' fans overlook about Kidd. Yes he hit a three immediately after this, putting Dallas up two with 56 seconds left and making it more likely that the game would at worst go to overtime. But even when he isn't having one of the best games of all-time, statistics-wise (only three other players have ever had 15, 15 ,15), he makes things happen that mere-mortal NBA players would never think of.
"I thought from there, mentally, we took control of the game," said Kidd. "That play just presented itself. It's just a reaction and just understanding what the team needs."
Even Hawks coach Mike Woodson couldn't deny the fact that it was the right call.
"He made a heck of a play," said Woodson. "Jason Kidd is an All-Star. He's a [potential] Hall of Fame guard. He's had a hell of a career. He did what he had to do. Unfortunately, it didn't turn out to favor the team. I've got to take the hit for that."
Kidd finished the game with 19 points, 17 assists and 16 rebounds.
After 'The Play'
Josh Smith's layup with 32 seconds left and a miss by both Dirk Nowitzki (one-foot fade-away) and Kidd (falling away from the basket) paved the way for a 99-99 tie at the end of regulation. The Hawks began the overtime period by missing their first eight shots and by the time they made their first basket it was too late as there was under a minute left and the Mavericks were up 106-99.
Overall, after Atlanta went up 86-71, Dallas outscored the Hawks 40-17 in the final 13:22 of the game (fourth quarter and OT). The Mavericks defense forced Atlanta into difficult situations and the Hawks simply folded under the pressure of the big comeback.
Defense Still Humming
Mid-way through the fourth quarter, the Dallas defense needed a change as they had allowed the Hawks to score at will up to the 8:00 mark of the fourth. Rick Carlise decided to go zone and it worked to perfection.
Atlanta made only 7 of 24 baskets (29 percent) after the 8:00 mark, including 2-9 in the overtime period. The three-point guard attack led the charge as J.J. Barea, Jason Terry, and Kidd (along with Nowitzki and Brendan Haywood) gave the Hawks fits on both ends of the court.
"They were smart enough to stay in the zone [defense] until late in the game," said Hawks sixth man Jamal Crawford. "When they [switched] we were up 13 in the fourth quarter. We got some great shots. Shots that, if we came in here tomorrow, we'd knock down most of them."
Isn't that a recurring team now with opponents facing the Mavericks defense? It seems like after every game a team would have made baskets if they had another chance. I guess it's not good defense, Dallas just keeps catching teams (six straight) on off nights. Yeah, that's what it must be.
Brendan Haywood, the anchor of the Mavericks' new defense, finished with his third double-double in the last six games with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Haywood added three blocks, a steal and even four assists for good measure.
Even though the Hawks got to 103 points, they shot only 40 percent for the game. Dallas' streak of consecutive games without allowing an opponent to score over 100 points (in regulation) is still in tact (seven games) as Atlanta had 99 at the end of the fourth quarter.
Mavs Forwards Get It Done
Dirk Nowitzki led all-scorers (what's new) with 36 points, while also chipping in nine rebounds, four assists, a steal and a block. This is nothing new for the All-NBA player, but Shawn Marion also put in some work along with Nowitzki, getting the Mavs out to a good start.
Marion made his first five shots of the first quarter, which were all finishes at the basket (four dunks and a lay-up). His 10 points was tied for a game high after the first quarter and Dallas was up 29-19 after the first quarter.
Not surprisingly, the other game-high scorer at that point was Nowitzki with 10, and the two forwards combined to score 20 of Dallas 29 first quarter points.
The pair combined to finish 22-37 from the field (59 percent) and 51 points. Not.Too.Shabby.
What's Next
To come back from 15 points down, on the road, with under eight minutes to go is outstanding no matter how you slice it. Take into account the opposition - 22-6 at home, fourth in the Eastern Conference with a record similar to Dallas - and this is one of the best games the Mavericks have played all season.
The Mavericks take on the Chris Paul-less New Orleans Hornets Sunday night in Dallas on the first night of a back-to-back and the start of a stretch of five games in seven days.
New Orleans is 31-28 this season (10-11 without Paul), 9th best in the West, but only 11-19 on the road. The Hornets have lost two of three overall and three straight on the road, but won their last contest (Friday against the Orlando Magic at home) 100-93.
Dallas is 1-1 against New Orleans this season, with each team having won at home. However, Paul played in both games.
Tip-off is at 8:30 p.m. and this is the third straight nationally televised game for the Mavs on ESPN.
News and Notes:
- Dirk Nowitzki has scored 30 or more points in back-to-back games for the third time this season.
- With six straight victories, the Mavericks have the longest current winning-streak in the NBA this season. Six wins in the longest streak for Dallas this season.
- Both Kidd's assist (17) and rebound (16) totals were season-highs.
(Portions of this article were taken from The Associated Press)
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