The Mavericks closed the game on a 23-11 run, thanks to the insertion of the three-point guard lineup, as Dirk Nowitzki (above) hit some clutch baskets at the end to hand the Hornets their first loss of the season. (AP Photo/LM Otero)Down double-digits in the fourth quarter, the Dallas Mavericks (7-2) knew they had to make a change in order to dethrone the previously undefeated New Orleans Hornets (8-1).
Mavericks' coach Rick Carlisle answered the call by inserting Jason Kidd along with J.J. Barea and Jason Terry in the back court, creating a three-point guard attack that propelled Dallas to a come-from-behind victory and the team's fourth straight win overall.
"We were just searching for a group that could get something going," Carlisle said. ... "It was an attempt to get more playmaking into the game, get more penetration in the game. There's gamble because, when you go small, you don't have the length and they are a very long team. But the group that finished did a great job."
After Peja Stojakavic and Willie Green hit back-to-back three-pointers to make it 87-77 Hornets, Dallas stormed back with a 21-8 run to close the game thanks to some balanced play from their point guard trio.
Terry, Kidd and Barea combined to score 15 of the final 23 points of the game, and the miniature lineup even provided the defense necessary to grind out a victory. The Mavericks suffocating play on the defensive end held Hornets' superstar Chris Paul scoreless in the fourth quarter, and held New Orleans to 4 of 16 shooting overall in the final eight minutes to close out the win.
"We identify defense as the number one variable to us being a true contending team,” Carlisle said of his Mavericks, now first in the NBA in field goal percentage allowed (.422). "...I think our guys realize that hard, consistent defense, and staying with a system, is the most important part of our success and continuing the success that we’re having.”
New Orleans, who came into the game second in both opponent field goal percentage and points allowed, got rocked late by the combo of the three point guards and Dirk Nowitzki. The foursome combined to score all of the Mavs' 29 points in the fourth quarter, making 10 of 17 shots (59 percent) from the field - including an outstanding 6 of 7 (86 percent) from behind the arc.
"We fought back," Kidd said. "New Orleans is a good team and they were undefeated for a reason."
If you've read this blog over the years, you know I'm not normally a proponent of relying on the three point guard lineup for any prolonged amount of time. But you have to give coach Carlisle credit in this situation. He went with a lineup he's rarely used this season (Caron Butler missing his third straight game with back spasms certainly played a role) and it paid dividends.
Terry Heats Up In The Second Half
For the second time in the last three contests, the Mavs' sixth man led his team in scoring - this time dropping 26 points on the normally stingy Hornets' defense - but it didn't come easy, especially in the first half. Terry struggled from the floor in the first two quarters, missing 9 of 11 shots, before busting out in a big way in the second half.
Terry made all three shots he took in the third quarter and 4 of 5 in the final frame to finish at a respectable 9 of 19 from the floor - 7 of 8 in the second half. JET scored 10 points in the fourth, including the Mavs' final two baskets, to shake off his early-game slump as the most integral part of the three guard attack. His last make, a 19-footer off a screen and curl towards the high post, broke a 95-95 tie to seal the game for Dallas.
"In this league, you've got to have subjective amnesia," Carlisle said. "If your struggling you've got to forget about that and stay in the present... He did a great job with it."
Nowitzki Shines In Fourth
The Mavs' MVP and All-NBA player scored eight points in the final quarter and grabbed five rebounds en route to his fourth double-double of the season. Nowitzki finished with 24 points and a team-high 10 rebounds, making it look easy on 58 percent shooting from the floor and 10 of 13 at the charity stripe.
"We really had to battle there in the end. They are obviously one of the best teams in the league right now and they're playing with a lot of confidence and they kept coming and made big shots but we just hung in there," Nowitzki said.
What's next:
Dallas now travels to New Orleans in a double-header to take on the Hornets Wednesday night. Mavericks' coach Carlisle knows it won't be easy to beat a team twice in a row.
"I know that we're going to have to play a better overall game," Carlisle said. ... "We're going to have to be more solid from start to finish, especially on the road. We've got work to do."
Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
News and Notes:
- Along with jumping to first in the NBA in shooting defense, Dallas is also fourth in the NBA in points allowed per game (91.9).
- A big reason why New Orleans is 8-1, the Hornets haven't allowed a team to reach 100 points all season long.
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