The Mavericks are finding out that you can't win playing 1 on 5 in the playoffs, even when that one is Dirk Nowitzki.
Despite a brilliant 35 point effort from Dirk, Dallas fell to the Spurs by a 94-90 score Friday night, giving San Antonio a 2-1 series edge. The problem for the Mavs was no one else came close to stepping their game up. The rest of the starting lineup combined for a measly 16 points on 5-19 shooting. The worst culprits were Caron Butler(2 points) and Shawn Marion(7 points), who were benched for the start of the 2nd half with Butler not to return.
The Mavs played well in the 3rd quarter taking a four point lead into the 4th, but the team fell apart in the 4th with Jason Terry and J.J. Barea tiring out by playing the entire 2nd half. It would have been worth it to play Butler, if anything to give Terry and Barea a rest.
The Spurs won despite not making a 3 pointer going 0-7 from long range. Tim Duncan led the way again for San Antonio with 25 points, while Tony Parker added 18 including 3 key jumpers late in the 4th. Manu Ginobili scored 11 of his 15 points in the 4th after returning from a broken nose.
The Mavs now find themselves up against the wall with a game 4 loss probably leading to a first round exit. We know Dirk will come to play, but will any other Mav come to join him?
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