Energy-Less Mavs Fall Hard To Magic - 97-82

The hot shooting Magic, led by Dwight Howard's (12) dominating play both offensively and defensively, whipped a tired, sloppy Mavericks team into submission. (AP Photo/Tim Sharp)

The Orlando Magic (53-22) showed the Dallas Mavericks (50-26) what it's like to truly have an elite big-man Thursday night. Dwight Howard scored 17 points, grabbed 20 rebounds, contributed some lock-down defense with five blocks and didn't commit one foul in 43 minutes of game action.

"Coach puts a lot on me to be the backbone of the defense and I just try and do my best to erase mistakes," said Howard, who leads the NBA in both blocks (2.77) and rebounds (13.4).

Howard's tendency to "erase mistakes" was huge for the Magic. The Mavericks' efforts to get to the basket were squandered all evening by his ability to not only block shots but get up there and change them. Magic players around the locker room said that Howard's presence allows them to play a more aggressive style of defense and not worry as much about mistakes.

"It's very comforting," Vince Carter said of Howard's presence in the post. "You can get up on a guy, shooters and three-point shooters, and just make those guys drive."

Dallas shot only 38.3 percent from the field for the game, while dishing out only seven assists - a season low. To put the assists total in perspective, Jason Kidd averages over two more than that per game (9.1). Caron Butler was 0-4 from the field, Shawn Marion 2-7, and Brendan Haywood was 3-7 - guys that normally excel by getting to, or scoring around, the basket were completely shut down by the Orlando defense.

"They're a very good defensive team," said Carlise. "They are one of the top two or three in the league so they're going to make it hard. They were doing a good job of keeping us in front and contesting shots."

When Howard wasn't having his way with Dallas in the post, Magic shooters were lighting it up from beyond the arc. The troubles they had from deep in the Feb. 19 meeting in Orlando were non-existent on this night. The Magic made 14-24 attempts from 3-point range led by Mikeal Pietrus (6-6) and his season-high 24 points. Four players hit at least two 3's and the 3-point barrage was simply too much for the Mavericks.

"We had an off night," said Matt Barnes, referring to the Feb. 19 contest where the Magic made only 4 of 25 attempts from deep. "Tonight we didn't [have an off night] and we made them pay for that."

"I just thought Orlando played a better game and hit more three's than us," said Carlisle. "When you give up 14 three's at 58 percent, it's going to be hard to win."

While it seemed to me at least that Mavericks' defensive rotations may have been a little slower than usual, especially after going into overtime Wednesday night in Memphis. Carlisle didn't think fatigue was an issue.

"I thought our effort was good," said Carlise. "The game was tight after the first quarter and then they started hitting 3's. But it was an uphill battle all night."

Dallas is now tied with Utah at 50-26 for second-place in the Western Conference, although Utah holds the tiebreaker. It wasn't pretty for the Mavericks as it seemed as though they were a step-slower than the Magic, who hadn't played since Sunday. Shots came up short for Dallas, grazing the front of the rim or some simply catching only air. All excuses aside, Orlando was the better team this night just as Dallas was the better team Feb. 19.

Nowitzki/Barea Lone Options For Mavs On Offense

Through the first three quarters, Dirk Nowitzki was just about the only scoring option for the Mavericks. In fact, at one point in the third quarter, Nowitzki had scored 20 of Dallas' 44 total points.

"Early on Dirk was the only we were really able to get going," said Carlise. "Then that made it tougher because they were just really locking in on him."

That's where J.J. Barea came in. Obviously it didn't lead to a Mavs victory, but the insertion of Barea into the lineup after a two game absence definitely provided a spark on the offensive end - something Dallas had lacked all night.

"[Barea] made a difference," said Carlise, "he made some good things happen."

JJB scored all of his 16 points in the second-half, 14 in the fourth quarter alone, as the Mavericks tried desperately for a second-straight fourth quarter comeback. It was his highest scoring game since he dropped 17 in Sacramento on Jan. 2. Nowitzki finished with 24 points, while he and Barea combined to score 40 of the Mavs' 82 overall points. The duo were two of only three Dallas players to score in double digits (Jason Terry also had 16).

Orlando's Third Quarter Run

The Magic took their largest lead of the game at 18 (68-50) with 2:04 left in the third and didn't look back. Orlando started the quarter making their first four and hit 10 of the 17 shots they attempted (59 percent). During this time, the Magic saw their lead grow from only five at 11:41 (43-38) to 18, a 25-12 push.

Orlando scored 29 points in the third (most of any quarter) and held Dallas to only 20 points on 6 of 18 shooting (33 percent). This was a game-changer as the Mavericks then found themselves in catch-up mode the rest of the evening and couldn't dig themselves out of the gaping 18-point hole. Dallas didn't get within single-digits for the rest of the game.

What's Next

The Mavericks finish their three games in four nights stretch Saturday at home against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Thunder have an excellent road record at 22-15, fifth best in the NBA, and have won two straight away from home. Overall OKC is 46-28, sixth in the Western Conference, and have won four of their last five games.

Dallas is 2-1 this season against the Thunder, with wins at home and in Oklahoma City. However, the Thunder won the last meeting, 99-86 on Feb. 16.

Tip-off is at 7:30 p.m. and can be seen locally on Fox Sports Southwest.

News and Notes:

• With only two assists, Jason Kidd had his lowest total of the season.
• Brandon Bass played 12 minutes off the bench for the Magic and showed many of the around-the-basket skills that allowed him to prosper with the Mavericks. Bass finished with eight points and two rebounds.
• Dwight Howard had yet another double-double with 17 points and 20 rebounds. Howard leads the NBA with 59 this season in 75 games.