Caron Butler and Rodrigue Beaubois contributed 24 points a piece and the Mavs dropped 122 on the Bulls - the most points they have allowed a team to score all season. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)Even without their starting center, back-up center, and the reigning Sixth Man of the Year; the Dallas Mavericks (43-21) refuse to stop winning.
Only nine players were in uniform for the Mavs in Saturday night's game and with only eight seeing game action (sorry Matt Carrol) on the second night of a back-to-back, Dallas still found the energy to battle with a lively Chicago Bulls (31-31) team. Chicago continuously refused to go quietly even though Dallas led by 14 going into the fourth quarter and 113-103 with less than four minutes to play. Derrick Rose scored a game-high 34 points, including 13 in the fourth quarter, and dished out eight assists as six Bulls scored in double-figures.
Unfortunately for the Bulls, Dirk Nowitzki scored 15 of his game-high 27 points in the fourth quarter and the Mavericks were able to secure their 11th straight win. A key for Dallas was the use of their new small ball lineup, reminiscent of the Nellie-ball days. With Nowitzki starting at center and Beaubois starting at shooting guard, the Mavericks have the ability to get out on the break and score with any team in the NBA.
Chicago came into the game first in the NBA in blocks (6.1 per game) and had allowed teams to shoot only 44 percent against them - good for fourth in the NBA. It didn't look like it Saturday night, as the Mavericks shot 56 percent and the Bulls blocked only two shots as Dallas had their way on the offensive end.
"We just couldn't stop them at the other end," said Chicago guard Kirk Hinrich, who scored 14 points and dished out six assists. "Dallas is 43-21 for a reason. They play well together."
The 122 points in the most Chicago has allowed in a regular-season game since March 29, 2009 - in overtime - as they allowed 134 to the Toronto Raptors. Caron Butler (24 points), Shawn Marion (18 points) and Beaubois all had season-highs scoring in a Mavs uniform
Can't Stop Won't Stop
With Jason Terry out at least another two weeks after facial surgery, Dallas needed somebody to step up of the bench and carry at least a piece of JET's 17 point-per-game scoring load.
Roddy B certainly held up his end of the bargain, setting a career-high in points (24) for the third consecutive game, while simultaneously playing good defense and sharing the ball. The rookie tied a season-high with five assists, grabbed five rebounds and played well on the defensive end, securing a steal and swatting Brad Miller's dunk attempt near the end of the second quarter.
"He's a talent," said Jason Kidd, who has mentored Roddy B all-season long. "He's going to be a special player in this league. He's a great student."
Beaubois played a career-high 35 minutes and may be setting himself up for more playing time - even when Terry returns from injury.
The Age-Less One
At age 36, Jason Kidd refuses to stop playing elite-level basketball at the point-guard position.
Kidd was all over the court Saturday night - dishing out 15 assists, grabbing 11 rebounds and coming four points shy of his second triple-double of the season. The most amazing thing to me is how efficient the 15-year vet is. Kidd had only two turnovers all game long. For someone who is relied on as heavily to run the offense as he is, he holds on to the ball extremely well.
Of the top five players in the NBA in assists, Kidd has the lowest turnover-per-game average (tied with Chris Paul) at 2.5 a game. His assists-turnover ratio (3.83) is third-best in the NBA, behind only Jose Calderon (3.88) and the aforementioned Paul (4.42).
Dallas Closing-Out Quarters Well
One of the keys to the game for the Mavericks was their ability to close-out quarters every time the Bulls cut into their lead. For example:
First Quarter: Dallas was down 18-20 to the Bulls before going on a 12-6 run in the final 3:09 of the quarter behind five points from Butler and a block each from Marion and Najera.
Second Quarter: The Bulls rallied to a three-point deficit, down 54-51 with 2:55 left in the first half. The Mavs then went on a 12-4 run behind six points and a steal from Marion, a steal by Kidd and a big block from Beaubois - going into the half with their first double-digit lead of the game at 66-55.
Third Quarter: Chicago got to within seven, 83-76, before Dallas went on a 11-4 run in the final 3:27 of the third. Beaubois had six points and an assist during the run and Dallas sat comfortably going into the final quarter up 94-80.
These crucial runs to end quarters, especially after the opposing team works its way back into the game, has to demoralize the opposition. While the Bulls stayed tough throughout, back-breaking runs to end quarters by Dallas had to of taken its toll on the Bulls.
Whats Next
Dallas travels to Minnesota Monday night to take on the Timberwolves in their fourth and final meeting this season. The Mavs are 2-1 thus far, having lost at home to Minnesota in January.
This is the second meeting between the two teams in the past week.
Minnesota still has the worst record in the West and are currently in the midst of a five-game losing streak. The T-Wolves have won only one time in the past 12 games.
Tip-off is at 7:00 p.m. and can be seen locally on Fox Sports Southwest.
News and Notes:
- With 15 assists and 11 rebounds, Jason Kidd now has four assist-rebound double-doubles this season - most in the NBA.
- Dirk Nowitzki is averaging 26.8 points a game in the month of March (four games).
- The Bulls are now 5-2 this season when Derrick Rose scores 30 or more.
- The Mavericks have their most consecutive wins since the 2006-2007 season. Dallas had streaks of 12, 13 and, the longest streak in franchise history, 17 straight games that season when they went 67-15.
(Portions of this article were taken from The Associated Press)
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