Lock Down - Spurs 92 - Dallas 83

Antonio McDyess and the San Antonio Spurs Defense Held Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks to 35.4 percent shooting on the night. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

Crater-Face Coach Popovich Leads Back-Ups to Victory Over Mavs.

The Dallas Mavericks came into their game Wednesday night (Nov. 11) against the San Antonio Spurs on an offensive tear, averaging 119 points a game over their last three games. That all came to an end as the Spurs defense (without Tim Duncan and Tony Parker) completely bent over the Dallas offense, holding the Mavs to their lowest scoring output of the season (83).

Dallas started the game going 2-18 from the field, shooting 26.9 percent for the first quarter. The second quarter wasn't much better as the Mavericks ended the half with only 38 points on 28 percent shooting. Dirk Nowitzki had 29 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Mavericks, but it took him 27 shots to do so.

"I probably took a couple of shots that I shouldn't have taken," Nowitzki said. "But hey, we still had a chance."

San Antonio, on the other hand, went 9-18 from behind the arc in the first half, taking a 14-point lead into the locker-room at half-time. San Antonio newcomers Richard Jefferson and Keith Bogans combined to go 5-11 for three for the game and Jefferson led the Spurs with 29 points, a season high.

"I remember walking out in the second half and we were starting four guys that are new for this team," said Jefferson, who had his best game since being traded from Milwaukee this summer. "To have a little success, to give some new guys some extra minutes in the season, is good."

Josh Howard, who had given the Mavs a lift after returning from missing the first five games of the season, went 2-11 from the field for eight points but did contribute five rebounds. Howard played to begin the second-half for a few minutes, but then sat the rest of the game. J-Ho logged only 19 minutes on the night.

After Dallas spanked the Spurs last season for a 4-1 first round playoff win, and with San Antonio being without their two best players, it was expected the the Mavericks would come out and win this game; even on the second night of a back-to-back. But that simply wasn't the case as the Spurs simply outworked Dallas and held the more talented team (on this night) to their most pathetic offensive output of the season.

The Mavericks have a change to rebound from this game Friday, Nov.13, in Minnesota against the Timberwolves. Tip-off is at 7:00 on Fox Sports Southwest.

(Portions of this article were taken from The Associated Press)