Tough defense, a balanced offensive effort and a second-half surge lead Dirk Nowitzki (41) and the Mavs over the Clipps Sunday afternoon. (AP Photo/ Bret Hartman)For the seventh straight game, 13 of 14 overall, the Dallas Mavericks (2-1) have defeated the Los Angeles Clippers (0-3).
This time, Dallas used a suffocating defense and some unselfishness on the offensive end to take care of a lesser team.
"We wanted it. We needed to stay active," reserve forward Shawn Marion said. "I think everybody was making extra passes and looking for each other. That's the mark of a great team. And I think the more we keep helping each other, the better we are. For us to spread the wealth like this is amazing. It's a great feeling and a great win because we were coming off a rough loss last night and we needed this one."
Six Mavericks scored in double figures and the Dallas D held the Clippers to 34 percent shooting while allowing 90 points or under for the third straight game to start the season.
Caron Butler led the way with 17 points, while Dirk Nowitzki (16) and Jason Terry (15) rounded out the Mavs top-three scorers. The Mavs dished out 23 assists, led by Jason Kidd's seven.
Defensively the Mavs kept the peddle to the metal as they have so far in the young season. Rookie phenom Blake Griffin, one of only two Clippers' starters to get to double figures in scoring, missed his first 11 shots and finished the game 4 of 15 from the field (27 percent).
"We got down offensively and didn't make shots, which affected our defense," Clippers' point guard Baron Davis said. "We just ran into a team that stuck to their game plan. The team that sticks to their game plan is the team that is going to win."
The game turned at the end of the first half, with L.A. leading 47-46, Jason Kidd launched a three-pointer from behind the opposite court three-point line (65 feet away) that swished in to put Dallas ahead 49-47 going into the locker room. The Clippers wouldn't lead again in the game as the Mavs outscored them 29-19 in the third quarter and L.A. got no closer than 11 points the rest of the game.
"I got the rebound, maybe with 2 seconds left, and I was going to eat it. But [Jason Terry] told me to shoot it," said Kidd, who finished with 13 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. "I'm not going for the 3-point record, percentage-wise, so I let it go and it was on line. A lot of times when they're on line, they don't go in. So I got lucky."
That's all Dallas needed as they kept L.A. win-less and got their first road victory of the season while pushing their own record one game above .500.
What's Next:
Dallas gets a couple of days off before traveling to Denver to take on the Nuggets Wednesday night. Denver is 2-1 this season but have some concerns with star Carmelo Anthony and his refusal to sign an extension with the team. Trade winds are swirling but only time will tell if Anthony will finish this season in a Nuggets uniform.
Tip-off is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. central time.
(Portions of this article were taken from The Associated Press)
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