Shawn Marion (0) dunks over Gerald Wallace (3) in the second half of the Mavs game against the Bobcats. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)The Dallas Mavericks (40-21) have now won eight straight games, their longest such streak since 2007.
It didn't come easy, though, as the Mavericks (who arrived at the hotel in Charlotte around 3:30 a.m. Eastern time) started off the game sluggishly. The Charlotte Bobcats (28-30) got out to a 20-9 lead in the first quarter as the Mavericks couldn't seem to hold on to the ball or stop the Bobcats.
"We were a step slow in the first quarter," said Dirk Nowitzki. "We weren't really quite up yet."
After tying the game early in the second after a 13-4 run. Dallas took their first lead of the game at 32-30 with 8:30 left in the second quarter. Unfortunately for the Mavs, Charlotte went on a 15-4 run going into halftime, including 13 straight as Dallas faced a double-digit deficit at the break (43-53).
It was a back-and-forth game throughout the third quarter as Nowitzki and Caron Butler scored 18 of Dallas' 23 points. During this time the Mavericks' defense also clamped down, allowing only 15 third quarter points to the Bobcats.
The fourth quarter hero had to be Jason Terry as the reigning Sixth Man of the Year scored 13 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter as Dallas pulled away. Nowitzki, Butler and Terry each scored at least 20 points, led by Nowitzki's 27, and combined to score 69 of Dallas' 89 total points.
The Bobcats, on the other hand, were 2-9 on threes in the fourth and had many turnovers - sealing their defeat. Charlotte got as close as 85-81 with 1:31 left, before Terry sunk a runner in the paint and Nowitzki hit two free throws with :08 left in the game.
"We played scared," said Bobcats guard Steven Jackson, who led the team with 20 points.
The Mavericks held Charlotte to only 31 second-half points (after allowing 53 in the first), and the Bobcats shot only 39.7 percent for the game. The Mavs showed much more energy in the second half than you would expect after getting in early in the morning on the second night of a back-to-back and in the midst of a five game in seven night stretch.
"Guys were tired, but it was mental," said Terry, who had 20+ points for the 20th time this season. "We had this situation come up when we played Denver right before the [All-Star] break. We got in at 4 in the morning and we didn't handle it well. But this shows signs of maturity."
Butler The Beast
Caron Butler, in his second game back from Dallas, had another great game.
Butler scored 22 points, a new high in Dallas, on 10-16 shooting and also recorded three steals. He's had at least one steal in every game since he arrived with Dallas.
Not only is the new Dallas starting shooting-guard playing great defense, but now he is providing the scoring punch that the Mavericks have desperately needed all season long.
Whats Next
Dallas takes on the Minnesota Timberwolves Wednesday night at home. The schedule is looking favorable as the Mavs may be able to extend this winning streak for a while (more on that later).
The Timberwolves have the worst record in the Western Conference at 14-47 and have won only five of 26 road games this season. Add to this that they have suspended their best player (Al Jefferson) for a DWI that occurred late last week, and this looks likes an easy one for Dallas.
Although, one of those five Minnesota road wins this season was in Dallas, but the Mavs are 1-1 overall against the T'Wolves this season.
Tip-off is at 7:30 and can be seen locally on Fox Sports Southwest
News and Notes:
- The Dallas Mavericks have never lost to the Charlotte Bobcats. (12-0)
- This was the eleventh time this season that Dallas has held an opponent under 90 points, three of which during Dallas' eight-game winning streak. The Mavs are 9-2 in those contests.
- With a game-highs in both points (27) and rebounds (13), Dirk Nowitzki had his first double-double in 22 games.
- Nowitzki was also named Western Conference Player of the Week for the week of Feb. 22 - Feb.28. He averaged 31.8 points (league best), 8.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists, while averaging 14 points per fourth quarter. It was the second time this season and the 12th time for his career that Nowitzki has been honored with this award.
- With the Mavs win and the Denver Nuggets loss on Monday, Dallas is now second in the Western Conference. One half-game ahead of Denver.
- The Mavericks have the easiest remaining schedule of any team in the Western Conference. Dallas next 21 opponents have a combined winning percentage of 45.6 percent.
(Portions of this article were taken from The Associated Press)
No comments:
Post a Comment