Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd look on as the Mavericks got their collective asses whooped by the Nuggets in Denver. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)Is it possible for a 36-point loss to not feel that close?
Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups returned to the line-up as the Denver Nuggets (35-17) put a hurtin' on the Dallas Mavericks (32-20).
Dallas was without both Shawn Marion (lower back tightness) and Erick Dampier (left knee issues) and did check into their hotel room in Denver at 4 a.m. Tuesday; but enough with the excuses: the Mavericks sucked tonight.
Dallas allowed Denver to make 60.8 percent of their baskets (61 percent on threes), were out-rebounded by the Nuggets 47-38 and scored only 16 points in the paint compared to Denver's 44.
Mavericks' players avoided the painted area like the plague as they were out-hustled by the Nuggets all game long. One possession in particular, late in the first half, the Nuggets got four straight rebounds on one trip down the floor - concluding with a foul on Rodrigue Beaubois and two made Aaron Afflalo free-throws. Dallas not only got beat-up physically, but played timid all-game long as well.
Nowitzki, Howard Lead Awful Shooting Night
The Mavericks shot a lowly 32 percent in the first half and finished the game at 38.2 percent. Josh Howard and Dirk Nowitzki combined to shoot 10-29 from the field (34 percent) and 1-5 from deep.
Mavs Bench Dominated By Nuggets
Bench play wasn't even close. Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups, back from missing their last game against Utah, barely broke a sweat in this game as the Denver bench thoroughly outplayed the Mavs.
The Nuggets outscored the Mavericks bench 50-32, led by Chris Anderson's 14 points and 10 rebounds.
"The good thing is my first game back, I didn't have to do much," said Anthony, who still scored 19 points and dropped six dimes in 30 minutes of action. "I wanted to play [more], but I'll take a 36-point win any day."
Whats Next
Not a good way to go into an All-Star break that is being played on your own home turf. Disgusting performance.
No games for Dallas until next Tuesday, look for Dirk Nowitzki in the All-Star game Sunday evening.
News and Notes
- Dallas has lost six of the last seven games against Denver (including the playoffs).
- The Mavs never led in this game and 36 points is the worst defeat-margin for Dallas this season.
- In the Mavericks first 32 games (2009), they lost by double-digits only three times. So far in 2010 (20 games) they have lost six games by 10 or more points.
- Dallas is now 6-7 this season on the second night of a back-to-back. The Mavs have four more back-to-backs this season including two in a row their first week back after the All-Star break.
(Portions of this article were taken from The Associated Press)
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