Pathetic Performance - 117-108

Dirk Nowitzki and the Mavericks stumbled in the 4th quarter against the second-worst road team in the NBA. Minnesota has now beaten Denver, New Jersey, Utah and Dallas for their four road wins this season (4-24). (AP Photo/Mike Fuentes)

Is this rock-bottom for this year's iteration of the Dallas Mavericks? This team is supposed to be comprised of veterans that know how to finish games late, especially against the worst team in the Western Conference.

That didn't happen tonight.

After two Jason Kidd free-throws gave the Dallas Mavericks (31-19) a 106-104 lead with 2:34 remaining in the fourth quarter, the Mavs allowed the the Minnesota Timberwolves (12-38) to go on a 13-2 run.

Dallas was 0-5 from the field during the run and their two points was on 2-4 shooting from the free-throw line. This while allowing Minnesota to make 3-4 shots (2-2 from deep) and go to the line five times, three of those after a bone-head play from Nowitzki on a Corey Brewer attempt from deep.

"We need to dig down and find some pride," said Mavericks coach Rick Carlise. "It's as simple as that."

Minnesota had a balanced effort on offense, with six players scoring in double-figures. Rookie point-guard Jonny Flynn led the Timberwolves with 19 points and also chipped in seven assists. Kevin Love had 17 points and 11 rebound off the bench on 8-12 shooting and Minnesota shot 53 percent for the game.

"I think we've matured as a team," said Flynn, who has led the T-Wolves in scoring 13 times this season. "We are just starting to find ourselves."

Maybe Dallas is starting to find itself also, and it's not liking the team it is. But I think this is the same thing many other teams, that have added a key player in the off season, are either going through or have already gone through this season.

I said this before the season and I'll say it again here: the regular season is going to be an adjustment period for many of these teams that are really just trying to figure out who they are with their off season acquisitions. The real season doesn't start until April, when teams have had a chance to get a full season together, and know who they are what they're capable of. For these teams, (Dallas, San Antonio, Portland, Cleveland, Orlando, among others) you just have to hope your in the playoffs by the time you figure it out.

Nowitzki Benches Himself

After showing up to shoot-around 30 minutes late, Dirk Nowitzki decided he needed to learn his lesson. So, he put himself in time-out for the first 5:12 of the first quarter. Josh Howard started in Nowitzki's place, but it really didn't matter much. Dirk still played 37 minutes scoring 21 points, grabbing eight rebounds and dishing out four assists.

J-Ho went 4-11 for 11 points as he, again, fell in love with his mediocre-to-below-average jump-shot.

Beaubois Plays Entire Fourth Quarter.

Rookie Rodrigue Beaubois, fresh off Rick Carlisle's statement that he is now the Mavs' backup point guard, had a big fourth quarter.

Roddy B scored 10 points, made 3-4 from behind the arc, and dished out an assist in his first crunch time minutes of the season. The kid is going to continue to grow and the more time he gets the better.

Beaubois finished with 17 points, two assists and two steals in 24 minutes.

Shoddy Defense Leads to Mediocre Play

In the year 2010, the Dallas Mavericks are 9-9. In 11 of those 19 games, Dallas has allowed 100 or more points and their record in these contests is 3-8.

In the last six games, the Mavs defense has allowed at least 101 point and the lowest field goal percentage they have held an opponent to is 49.4 percent (Utah-Loss, Golden State-Win). Dallas has allowed an average of 109 points over the last six and their record is 2-4 in those games.

The Mavericks have got to figure out something as they appear compeltely uninterested on the defensive end of the floor. Carlisle keeps calling this team out for lack of heart and that may very well be the case as it isn't like this team is not capable of being a top-10 defense (see the first two months of the season).

Whats Next

Dallas travels to Oakland, Monday night, to take on the Golden State Warriors for the second time in six days. Dallas is 1-1 against the Warriors this season.

Golden State is not a very good team but, with this Dallas team, no win is ever assured.

Tip-off is at 9:30 p.m. and can be seen locally on Fox Sports Southwest

News and Notes:

• Dallas had won 13 straight overall and seven straight at home against Minnesota before this loss.
• Dirk Nowitzki's self-imposed benching meant he came off the bench for the first time since Dec. 14, 1999 against the San Antonio Spurs. That was Nowitzki's second season.
• Ryan Hollins had 15 points and five rebounds, but fouled out late in the fourth quarter.
  
• Minnesota has now won three straight games for the first time this season.
• Mavericks' fans at the AAC got fed up with the team numerous times during Friday's game. A well-deserved chorus of boos was dropped on the Mavs several times during the game.
  

(Portions of this article were taken from The Associated Press)