Mavericks 114 Warriors 91: Game 32 Recap

The Lead
Mavericks dominate the Curry-less Warriors for their fourth straight win, as they hand Golden State only their second loss of the season.

Box Score

Leaders
Mavs
Points: Barea, 23
Rebounds: Pachulia, 15
Assists: Barea, 6
+-: Nowitzki, Parsons, +24
Warriors
Points: Clark, 21
Rebounds: Bogut, 10
Assists: Green, Livingston, 4
+-: Speights, -3

Game Balls
J.J. Barea
23 points, 6 assists, 9-12 FG, 5-7 3PT
Zaza Pachulia
14 points, 15 rebounds, 5-8 FG, 4-4 FT

X-Factor
Wesley Matthews
13 points, 5-9 FG, 3-4 3PT, held Klay Thompson to 4-15 FG

Play of the Game
Late in the second quarter Dirk blows by Brandon Rush and puts down a two-handed slam that gave the Mavs a 57-40 lead.

Stat of the Game
After taking a 11-10 lead with 6:35 left in the first quarter, the Mavs would lead for the remainder of the game and led by at least 17 the entire second half.

Of Note

• The Warriors were without reigning MVP Stephen Curry who missed his first game of the season due to a bruised left lower leg. 
• In the four games he has started in place of the injured Deron Williams, J.J. Barea has averaged 21.8 points and 6.8 assists while shooting 63% from the field and 69% on threes.
• In the last three games Wesley Matthews had held top shooting guards Jimmy Butler, Khris Middleton and Klay Thompson to a combined 14-39 from the field.
• Despite the loss the Warriors still have the league's best ever record after 31 games at 29-2.
• The Mavs snapped a 7 game losing streak to the Warriors.
• During their four game winning streak the Mavs have shot 56-116 (.483%) on three point attempts.

Quote of Note
 "I've been able to help my team a lot the past couple days, especially early in games I bring a lot of energy. It's great man. They got confidence in me; they keep finding me; they set screens for me. It's awesome to be out there with them."
J.J. Barea

Tweet of the Night
 

look, no curry. whatever. mavs are lighting up a team with klay, Livingston, DRAYMOND GREEN, andrew bogut and Iggy as defenders. that's fire

— Mavs Moneyball (@mavsmoneyball) December 31, 2015

Next Up
The Mavericks (19-13) head out for a brief trip to Miami on  New Year's Day to face the Heat (18-13).

Mavericks vs. Warriors: Game 32 Preview

Dallas Mavericks (18-13) vs. Golden State Warriors (29-1)
Wed. Dec. 30, 7:30 at the AAC
TV: FSSW, NBALP
Line: Warriors by 8 1/2

2014-15 Matchups
Dec. 13 at Dallas
Warriors 105 Mavs 98
Feb. 4 at Oakland
Warriors 128 Mavs 114
Mar. 6 at Oakland
Warriors 104 Mavs 89
Apr. 4 at Dallas
Warriors 123 Mavs 110

All-Time Series
Mavs 78 Warriors 66


Team Stats
Mavs
Off. Rating: 105.4 (9th)
Def. Rating: 104.7 (15th)
Point Differential: +0.7
Warriors
Offense: 114.2 (1st)
Defense: 100.8 (3rd)
Point Differential: +13.4

Projected Starters
Mavs
PG: J.J. Barea
SG: Wesley Matthews
SF: Chandler Parsons
PF: Dirk Nowitzki
C: Zaza Pachulia
Warriors
PG: Stephen Curry or Shaun Livingston
SG: Klay Thompson
SF: Brandon Rush
PF: Draymond Green
C: Andrew Bogut

Team Leaders
Mavs
PPG: Nowitzki, 17.1
RPG: Pachulia, 10.4
APG: Williams, 5.8
PER: Nowitzki, 20.9
Warriors
PPG: Curry, 30.5
RPG: Green, 9.0
APG: Green, 7.0
PER: Curry, 32.0


Of Note

• Deron Williams' status remains uncertain as he continues to rehab his strained hamstring.
• For the Warriors, reigning MVP Stephen Curry will be a game-time decision with a left lower leg injury.
• Harrison Barnes (sprained ankle) and Leandro Barbosa (sprained shoulder) are out for Golden State.
• The Warriors 29-1 record is the best for any team after 30 games in NBA history.
• The Mavs have dropped 7 straight to the Warriors, including getting swept in all 4 games last season.
• In the last two seasons only four players have made 10 threes in a game. Three will be on the floor in this game (Matthews, Curry, Thompson).
  

Mavericks 103 Bucks 93: Game 31 Recap

The Lead
The Mavs never trail despite a Bucks fourth quarter rally, as the Mavs ability to take care of the ball proves decisive.

Box Score

Leaders
Mavs
Points: Matthews, 22
Rebounds: Pachulia, 8
Assists: Barea, 5
+-: Matthews, +23
Bucks
Points: Bayless, 19
Rebounds: Monroe, 11
Assists: Bayless, 7
+-: O' Bryant, +12

Game Ball
Wesley Matthews
22 points, 6-10 FG, 5-7 3PT, 5-6 FT

X-Factor
Zaza Pachulia
17 points, 8 rebounds, 6-12 FG

Plays of the Game
After Milwaukee tied the game at 89 with 4:49 left, Wesley Matthews hit  threes on back-to-back possesions to give the Mavs a lead they would not relinquish.

Stat of the Game
The Mavs tied a franchise record with only 4 turnovers including 0 in the first half. They also outscored the Bucks 26-0 on points off turnovers.

Of Note

• Deron Williams missed his third straight game with a strained hamstring.
• Chandler Parsons returned to the starting lineup with Raymond Felton going to back to a reserve role.
• The Mavs were able to overcome a 3-15 shooting night from Dirk, which included him going only 1-7 on threes.
• Zaza Pachulia's 17 points and 8 rebounds were especially sweet coming against the team that traded him this summer to the Mavs after two years in Milwaukee.
• The Mavericks have won 6 straight against the Bucks.
• In his last two games Felton has scored 27 points on only 11 shot attempts. He is 7-11 from the field and 11-12 from the line.

Quote of Note
"It doesn't matter how thankful you are that they traded you to Dallas, to a good team and a better situation. This is a special game going against your old team. ... It's a personal challenge."
Zaza

Tweet of the Night

GOOD WIN #MFFL #MAVS pic.twitter.com/QSzZ4fY884

— PÎÊRRĘ (@JaValeMcGee34) December 29, 2015

Next Up
The Mavericks (18-13) get their biggest test of the season when they host Stephen Curry and the defending champion Golden State Warriors (29-1) on Wednesday.

Mavericks vs. Bucks: Game 31 Preview

Dallas Mavericks (17-13) vs. Milwaukee Bucks (12-19)
Mon. Dec. 28, 7:30 at the AAC
TV: FSSW, NBALP
Line: Mavs by 6 1/2
  
2014-15 Matchups
Dec. 3 at Milwaukee
Mavs 107 Bucks 105
Dec. 7 at Dallas
Mavs 125 Bucks 102

All-Time Series
Bucks 37 Mavs 30

Team Stats
Mavs
Off. Rating: 105.2 (13th)
Def. Rating: 104.8 (15th)
Point Differential: +0.4
Bucks
Offense: 102.3 (25th)
Defense: 108.6 (28th)
Point Differential: -5.9


Projected Starters
Mavs
PG: J.J. Barea
SG: Raymond Felton
SF: Wesley Matthews
PF: Dirk Nowitzki
C: Zaza Pachulia
Bucks
PG: Michael Carter-Williams
SG: Khris Middleton
SF: Giannis Antetokounmpo
PF: Jabari Parker
C: Greg Monroe

Team Leaders
Mavs
PPG: Nowitzki, 17.4
RPG: Pachulia, 10.4
APG: Williams, 5.8
PER: Nowitzki, 21.5
Bucks
PPG: Monroe, 15.8
RPG: Monroe, 9.6
APG: Carter-Williams, 5.4
PER: Monroe, 22.3

Of Note

• Deron Williams, who has missed the last two games with a strained left hamstring, is still considered day-to-day and is listed as questionable to play.
• Bucks coach and former Maverick Jason Kidd is out right now following hip surgery. Former Maverick assistant coach Joe Prunty is coaching the team in the interim.
• Zaza Pachulia spent the previous two seasons in Milwaukee, including starting at center for last year's playoff team. Zaza's 16 double-doubles this season are more than the 15 he had all of last season.
• The Bucks are off to a disappointing start after last year's surprise season, but they did hand the Warriors there only loss on Dec. 12
• The Mavericks have a worse all-time winning percentage (.448%) against the Bucks than any Eastern Conference opponent. However they have won the last five games in the in the series.

Mavericks 118 Bulls 111: Game 30 Recap

The Lead
In a highly entertaining contest, the Mavs make the key plays late for their second straight thrilling victory.

Box Score

Leaders
Mavs
Points: Barea, 26
Rebounds: Pachulia, 12
Assists: Barea, Felton, Parsons, 5
+-: Nowitzki, +29
Bulls
Points: Rose, 25
Rebounds: Gasol, 9
Assists: Butler, 8
+-: McDermott, +9

Game Ball
J.J. Barea
26 points, 5 assists, 9-14 FG, 7-8 3PT

X-Factor
Raymond Felton
13 points, 5 assists, 8-8 FT

Play of the Game
With the Mavs holding a 2 point lead with just less than a minute left, Raymond Felton steals Derrick Rose pass that leads to a Wesley Matthews fast break layup off a Chandler Parsons feed.

Stat of the Game
The Mavericks had 30 second chance points, their most in a game since March 10, 2011.

Of Note

• Deron Williams missed his second straight game with his strained hamstring. Devin Harris returned from a 3 game absence due to his injured hamstring.
• Barea who had 26 points including a career high 7 three pointers, has a total of 58 points and 16 assists in his last two games. He has shot 22-34 from the floor and 12-15 on threes in those games.
• Parsons tied a season high with 20 points. He has now scored at least 16 in 3 out of the last 6 games, all Mavericks wins.
• The win was the Mavs' first over an East team at home after four prior losses.
• Felton was a perfect 6-6 from the line in the final 1:07 of the game.
• Derrick Rose led the Bulls with 25 points, his third highest total of the season, but commited a key second violation on an inbound play with 11 seconds left and the Mavs up by 3.

Quote of Note
"Two weeks from now you’re going to see a guy that looks even better than he looks now, and he looks damn good now."
Rick Carlisle on Parsons

Tweet of the Night

Told Dirk he was 16 points closer to Wilt. "Kareem," he replied, deadpan.

— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) December 27, 2015

Next Up
The Mavericks (17-13) stay at home to face the Jason Kidd-less Milwaukee Bucks (12-19) on Monday.

Mavericks vs. Bulls: Game 30 Preview

Dallas Mavericks (16-13) vs. Chicago Bulls (16-11)
Sat. Dec. 26, 7:30 at the AAAC
TV: FSSW, NBALP
Line: Mavs by 3

2014-15 Matchups
Dec. 2 at Chicago
Mavs 132 Bulls 129 (2OT)
Jan. 23 at Dallas
Bulls 102 Mavs 98

All-Time Series
Mavs 34 Bulls 34

Team Stats
Mavs
Off. Rating: 104.5 (15th)
Def. Rating: 104.3 (15th)
Point Differential: +0.2
Bulls
Offense: 101.4 (27th)
Defense: 100.2 (3rd)
Point Differential: +1.2

Projected Starters
Mavs
PG: J.J. Barea
SG: Raymond Felton
SF: Wesley Matthews
PF: Dirk Nowitzki
C: Zaza Pachulia
Bullls
PG: Derrick Rose
SG: Jimmy Butler
SF: Nikola Mirotic
PF: Taj Gibson
C: Pau Gasol


Team Leaders
Mavs
PPG: Nowitzki, 17.5
RPG: Pachulia, 10.4
APG: Williams, 5.8
PER: Nowitzki, 21.7
Bulls
PPG: Butler, 21.5
RPG: Gasol, 10.9
APG: Rose, 5.2
PER: Gasol, 21.8

Of Note

• Deron Williams will miss his second straight game with a strained hamstring. Devin Harris is listed as questionable with his hamstring injury.
• Joakim Noah is out for the Bulls with an injured shoulder.
• The Mavs are still looking for their first home win against an East team, as they are 0-4 on the season. They have won 5 games against the East on the road.
• The Bulls had lost three in a row before winning in Oklahoma City yesterday in what was probably their best performance of the season. 
• In the Mavs last three wins, Chandler Parsons has averaged 14.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists. 

Mavericks 119 Nets 118 (OT): Game 29 Recap

The Lead
Dirk drops the game-winner in the same game he passes Shaq for 6th in NBA history in scoring.

Box Score

Leaders
Mavs
Points: Barea, 32
Rebounds: Parsons, 7
Assists: Barea, 11
+-: Nowitzki, Barea, +16
Nets
Points: Young, 29
Rebounds: Young, 10
Assists: Jack, 8
+-: Bogdanovic, +16

Game Balls
Dirk Nowitzki
22 points, 7-13 FG, 3-5 3PT, 6th all-time NBA scorer
J.J. Barea
32 points, 11 assists, 13-20 FG, 5-7 3PT

X-Factor
Chandler Parsons
11 points, 8 assists, 7 rebounds, 5-7 FG

Play of the Game
With 9:51 left in the second quarter, Dirk hit a jumper over Andrea Bargnani that moved him past Shaquille O' Neal for 6th on the NBA's all-time scoring list.

Stat of the Game
J.J. Barea's 32 points were a career high. His previous high of 29 came on New Year's Day 2011 in Milwaukee. Barea also had a game high 11 assists.

Of Note

• Former Net Deron Williams missed the game due to the strained hamstring he suffered in the game in Toronto. Devin Harris also sat out with a hamstring injury.
• The Mavericks led at halftime by 11 points thanks to 71% shooting from the field, which included going 10-13 on threes.
• Unfortunately, the Mavs were dominated in the third period and fell behind by as much as 11 early in the fourth.
• A Barea three point play with 12.4 seconds left in regulation gave the Mavs a three point lead, but the Nets tied it when Thaddeus Young hit only his second three of the season.
• With the Mavs trailing by one with 19 seconds left in OT, Dirk made the game-winning layup on a up-and-under move on Joe Johnson. 
• Dirk finished the game with 28,609 career points. Next up is Wilt Chamberlain in fifth place with 31,419 career points. 

Quote of Note
"That's what I play for, is to compete at the highest level for this franchise, for this team," Obviously No. 6 in the bigger picture is a lot bigger than this win in Brooklyn in December, but when you're out there you don't think about that. You want to get this win bad and fight out there against a talented team."
Dirk

Tweet of the Night

6

— Dirk Nowitzki (@swish41) December 24, 2015

Next Up
The Mavericks (16-13) begin a three game homestand to finish out 2015 on Saturday, when they welcome the Chicago Bulls (15-11) to the AAC.

Mavericks at Raptors: Game 28 Preview

Dallas Mavericks (15-12) at Toronto Raptors (17-12)
Tues. Dec. 22, 6:30 at the Air Canada Centre
TV: FSSW, NBATV
Line: Raptors by 4

2015-16 Matchups
Nov. 3 at Dallas
Raptors 102 Mavs 91

All-Time Series
Mavs 24 Raptors 14

Team Stats
Mavs
Off. Rating: 103.9 (17th)
Def. Rating: 103.6 (13th)
Point Differential: +0.3
Raptors
Offense: 106.1 (6th)
Defense: 102.8 (12th)
Point Differential: +3.1


Projected Starters
Mavs
PG: Deron Williams
SG: Raymond Felton
SF: Wesley Matthews
PF: Dirk Nowitzki
C: Zaza Pachulia
Raptors
PG: Kyle Lowry
SG: DeMar DeRozan
SF: James Johnson
PF: Luis Scola
C: Bismack Biyombo


Team Leaders
Mavs
PPG: Nowitzki, 17.2
RPG: Pachulia, 10.8
APG: Williams, 5.8
PER: Nowitzki, 21.5
Raptors
PPG: DeRozan, 22.6
RPG: Valanciunas, 9.3
APG: Lowry, 5.9
PER: Lowry, 23.4

Of Note

• Devin Harris is questionable with a right hamstring strain that caused him to miss the Mavs' last game on Friday.
• Starters DeMarre Carroll (knee contusion) and Jonas Valanciunas (broken hand) are out with injuries for the Raptors.
• The Mavericks at 8-7 are one of only three West teams with a winning record on the road. The Warriors and the Spurs are the others.
• Charlie Villanueva has struggled with his shooting much of the year, but has scored 19 points while shooting 8-15 in the last two games.
• Raptors coach and former Mavs assistant Dwane Casey is 4-4 against his old team since he joined Toronto in 2011.

Mavericks 97 Grizzlies 88: Game 27 Recap

The Lead
Mavericks bench led by Parsons and McGee are the key to a comfortable home win.

Box Score

Leaders
Mavs
Points: Nowitzki, 20
Rebounds: Pachulia, 18
Assists: Parsons, 7
+-: McGee, +20
Grizzlies
Points: Conley, 20
Rebounds: Gasol, Randolph, 8
Assists: Jeff Green, 3
+-: Barnes, 0

Game Ball
Chandler Parsons
16 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, 5-10 FG

X-Factor
JaVale McGee
10 points, 5 rebounds, 3 blocks, 5-6 FG

Play of the Game
J.J. Barea threw it up high for JaVale Mcgee, who finished the lob dunk to give the Mavs a game high 18 point lead at 93-75 with 5:23 to go.

Stat of the Game
The Dallas bench had four players combine for 43 points, led by Parsons' 16, with McGee and Charlie Villanueva also scoring in double figures and Barea pitching in with 7 points.

Of Note

• Dirk, who led the way with 20 points, is now 30 points behind Shaquille O'Neal for 6th on the NBA's all-time scoring list. He should pass Shaq on the upcoming road trip to Toronto and Brooklyn.
• Devin Harris missed the game with a right hamstring strain that was injured Wednesday in Indiana.
• Zaza Pachulia, with 10 points and 18 rebounds, recorded his 15th double-double which matched his total all of last season in Milwaukee.
• Parsons set season highs in rebounds (7), assists (7) and minutes played (31:30). His 16 points were his third highest total of the season.
• McGee set season highs with 10 points and 3 blocks.

Quote of Note
"Everybody wants a nice cooked steak, but nobody wants to see you chopping up the cows in the back. The last five or six months, Parsons has been in the back butchering the cows -- that s the kind of work he s had to do."
Rick Carlisle on Parsons' recovery from his off-season knee surgery.

Tweet of the Night

Halfcourt shooting foul on Matt Barnes wasn't the smartest thing he's ever done. Not the dumbest, either.

— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) December 19, 2015

Next Up
The Mavericks (15-12), have three days off before beginning a road back-to-back on Tuesday, north of the border against the Raptors (17-11).

Mavericks at Pacers: Game 26 Preview

Dallas Mavericks (14-11) at Indiana Pacers (14-9)
Wed. Dec. 16, 6:00 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse
TV: FSSW, NBALP
Line: Pacers by 3 1/2

2014-15 Matchups
Nov. 24 at Dallas
Pacers 111 Mavs 100
Mar. 29 at Indiana
Pacers 104 Mavs 99

All-Time Series
Mavs 39 Pacers 28

Team Stats
Mavs
Off. Rating: 102.8 (10th)
Def. Rating: 100.9 (13th)
Point Differential: +1.0
Pacers
Offense: 103.0 (9th)
Defense: 99.3 (9th)
Point Differential: +4.2

Projected Starters
Mavs
PG: Deron Williams
SG: Raymond Felton
SF: Wesley Matthews
PF: Dirk Nowitzki
C: Zaza Pachulia
Pacers
PG: George Hill
SG: Monta Ellis
SF: C.J. Miles
PF: Paul George
C: Ian Mahinmi


Team Leaders

Mavs
PPG: Nowitzki, 17.3
RPG: Pachulia, 10.4
APG: Williams, 5.9
PER: Nowitzki, 21.8
Pacers
PPG: George, 26.5
RPG: George, 7.8
APG: Ellis, 4.7
PER: George, 24.7

Of Note

• The Mavericks are 17-2 on the road against the East during the last two seasons including 4-0 this year. One of those losses happened in Indiana last season.
• After a slow start to the season, Devin Harris has shot 50% or better from the field in 8 out of the last 9 games. He is combined 29-46 (63%) in those games.
• Former Mav, Monta Ellis, has struggled in his first year for the Pacers with his scoring average dropping from 18.9 PPG to 12.3. His percentages from the field, three point line and free throw line have all dropped as well. 
• The Pacers other former Mav, Ian Mahinmi, has started in all 22 games he has played in, more starts than he had in his career combined entering this season.
• After playing in 6 of the first 9 games he was active for, JaVale McGee has not played in the Mavs' last three contests.

NBA Power Rankings

1. Golden St. (24-1)
MVP: Stephen Curry

2. San Antonio (21-5)
MVP: Kawhi Leonard

3. Cleveland (15-7)
MVP: LeBron James

4. Oklahoma City (16-8)
MVP: Russell Westbrook

5. Toronto (16-10)
MVP: Kyle Lowry

6. Charlotte (14-9)
MVP: Nicolas Batum

7. Indiana (14-9)
MVP: Paul George

8. Boston (14-10)
MVP: Isaiah Thomas

9. LA Clippers (15-10)
MVP: Blake Griffin

10. Chicago (14-8)
MVP: Jimmy Butler

11. Miami (14-9)
MVP: Chris Bosh

12. Dallas (14-11)
MVP: Dirk Nowitzki

13. Detroit (14-12)
MVP: Andre Drummond

14. Atlanta (14-12)
MVP: Paul Millsap

15. Orlando (13-11)
MVP: Nikola Vucevic

16. Memphis (14-12)
MVP: Marc Gasol

17. Houston (12-13)
MVP: James Harden

18. Utah (10-13)
MVP: Derrick Favors

19. Phoenix (11-15)
MVP: Eric Bledsoe

20. Portland (11-15)
MVP: Damian Lillard

21. Washington (10-13)
MVP: John Wall

22. New York (11-14)
MVP: Carmelo Anthony

23: Milwaukee (10-15)
MVP: Greg Monroe

24. Sacramento (9-15)
MVP: Demarcus Cousins

25. Minnesota (9-14)
MVP: Karl-Anthony Towns

26. Denver (10-14)
MVP: Danilo Gallinari

27. New Orleans (6-18)
MVP: Anthony Davis

28. Brooklyn (7-17)
MVP: Brook Lopez

29. LA Lakers (3-21)
MVP: Jordan Clarkson

30. Phliladelphia (1-25)
MVP: Jahlil Okafor

Mavericks 104 Suns 94: Game 25 Recap

The Lead
A big 3rd quarter run fueled by Chandler Parsons, leads the Mavs to victory to end their mini-slump.

Box Score

Leaders
Mavs
Points: Williams, 18
Rebounds: Pachulia, 12
Assists: Nowitzki, Felton, 4
+-: Williams, +15
Suns
Points: Bledsoe, 23
Rebounds: Leuer, 12
Assists: Bledsoe, 7
+-: Leuer, Goodwin, +12

Game Ball
Chandler Parsons
17 points, 5-10 FG, 2-5 3PT, 5-5 FT

X-Factor
Devin Harris
12 points, 6 steals, 5-8 FG, 2-3 3PT

Play of the Game
Chandler Parsons hit a driving bank shot as time expired in the 3rd quarter to finish an 11-0 run that put the Mavs up 19. Parsons scored 8 of those points.

Stat of the Game
In two games against the potent Suns offense this season, the Mavs have held Phoenix to 94.5 points per game with the Suns shooting 39% and 41% in those games.

Of Note

• Parsons' 17 points (15 in the second half) were his second highest total of the season behind the 20 he scored in Philadelphia. The 28 minutes he played were a season high.
• Devin Harris tied a career high with 6 steals
• In his first game back in Dallas since singing with the Suns this summer, Tyson Chandler had 6 points and 3 rebounds in 14 minutes.
• The Mavs are now 6-1 at home against the West compared to 0-4 at home against the East.
• Wesley Matthews has made at least 2 threes in 5 straight games. He is 23-51 from deep in those games.

Quote of Note
"I haven’t had that feeling where the next shot is gonna go in in a long time. Felt like myself, felt fresh, felt bouncy."
Chandler Parsons

Tweet of the Night

"There has been an awakening. Have you felt it?" pic.twitter.com/B0YlpbHGK6

— Mavs Moneyball (@mavsmoneyball) December 15, 2015

Next Up
The Mavericks (14-11) travel to Indiana for a meeting with the Pacers (14-9) and another former teammate, Monta Ellis.

Mavericks vs. Wizards: Game 24 Preview

Dallas Mavericks (13-10) vs. Washington Wizards (9-12)
Sat. Dec. 12, 7:30 at the AAC
TV: FSSW, NBALP
Line: Mavs by 6 1/2


2015-16 Matchups
Dec. 6 at Washington
Mavs 116 Wizards 104

All-Time Series
Mavs 38 Wizards 30

Team Stats
Mavs
Off. Rating: 104.1 (17th)
Def. Rating: 103.3 (13th)
Point Differential: +0.8
Wizards
Offense: 102.3 (19th)
Defense: 106.2 (23rd)
Point Differential: -3.8

Projected Starters
Mavs
PG: Deron Williams
SG: Raymond Felton
SF: Wesley Matthews
PF: Dirk Nowitzki
C: Zaza Pachulia
Wizards
PG: John Wall
SG: Bradley Beal or Garrett Temple
SF: Otto Porter
PF: Jared Dudley
C: Marcin Gortat

Team Leaders

Mavs
PPG: Nowitzki, 17.6
RPG: Pachulia, 10.3
APG: Williams, 6.0
PER: Nowitzki, 22.2
Wizards
PPG: Wall, 19.9
RPG: Gortat, 8.9
APG: Wall, 8.4
PER: Wall, 21.4

Of Note

• The Mavs have won 11 straight against the Wizards, their longest current streak vs. any opponent.
• The Mavericks are only shooting 29% on threes at home, the lowest mark in the NBA.
• Bradley Beal is questionable for the Wizards after missing last night's game with a sore right leg.
• Dating back to last season, the Mavs are only 8-10 at home against the East including 0-3 this year. Oddly they are 17-2 on the road.
• In the last three games, Raymond Felton is averaging 12.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.3 assists.

Mavericks vs. Hawks: Game 23 Preview

Dallas Mavericks (13-9) vs. Atlanta Hawks (13-9)
Wed. Dec. 9, , 8:30 at the AAC
TV: FSSW, ESPN
Line: Mavs by 2


2014-15 Matchups
Dec. 22 at Dallas
Hawks 105 Mavs 102
Feb. 25 at Atlanta
Hawks 104 Mavs 87

All-Time Series
Hawks 36 Mavs 32


Team Stats

Mavs
Off. Rating: 104.3 (15th)
Def. Rating: 103.3 (13th)
Point Differential: +0.9
Hawks
Offense: 105.7 (8th)
Defense: 103.6 (14th)
Point Differential: +2.0

Projected Starters
Mavs
PG: Deron Williams
SG: Wesley Matthews
SF: Chandler Parsons
PF: Dirk Nowitzki
C: Zaza Pachulia
Hawks
PG: Jeff Teague
SG: Kyle Korver
SF: Thabo Sefolosha
PF: Paul Millsap
C: Al Horford

Team Leaders

Mavs
PPG: Nowitzki, 17.9
RPG: Pachulia, 10.0
APG: Williams, 6.0
PER: Nowitzki, 22.8
Hawks
PPG: Millsap, 18.2
RPG: Millsap, 9.5
APG: Teague, 6.4
PER: Millsap, 23.4

Of Note

• J.J. Barea (ankle) and Devin Harris (ribs) are both listed as questionable to play.
• The Mavs are 4-2 against the East this season but are 0-2 at home.
• Zaza Pachulia played 8 seasons for the Hawks (2005-2013), where he averaged 7.3 points and 5.8 rebounds in 556 games.
• The Hawks who are 13-9, didn't lose their 9th game until Feb. 2 last season when they were 40-9.
• Deron Williams has scored at least 20 points in 4 out of the last 6 games, averaging 19.2 points in that time span.

Mavericks 104 Knicks 97: Game 22 Recap

The Lead
Another strong shooting night gives the Mavs a back-to-back sweep despite a late Porzingis-led Knicks rally.

Box Score

Leaders
Mavs
Points: Nowitzki, 25
Rebounds: Pachulia, 8
Assists: Williams, 7
+-: Nowitzki, +21
Knicks
Points: Porzingis, 28
Rebounds: Calderon, 7
Assists: Anthony, 8
+-: Thomas, +5

Game Ball
Dirk Nowitzki
25 points, 6 rebounds, 9-18 FG

X-Factor
Raymond Felton
14 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists

Play of the Game
After a Carmelo Anthony missed three, Deron Williams finds Dirk for one his patented trailer threes to give the Mavs an 18 point lead early in the third quarter.

Stat of the Game
The Mavericks made 13 threes, their second highest total of the season behind the 16 they made in Washington last night. Before that they hadn't made more than 11 in a game.

Of Note

• J.J. Barea (sprained ankle) and Devin Harris (hip) both sat out for Dallas.
• After the Mavs led by much as 20 in the fourth quarter, the Knicks stormed back to get as close as 4 points in the last minute before the Mavs held on.
• Rookie sensation Kristaps Porzingis had 12 of his game high 28 points in the 4th.
• Deron Williams had 20 points and 7 assists in a semi-return to New York after he was bought out of his contract with Brooklyn this summer.
• Dirk scored 11 of his 25 points in the first 3 1/2 minutes of the game.
• The Mavericks have won 11 out of 14 and 23 out of 28 against the Knicks.

Quote of Note
"The comparisons are more than fair. He's way ahead of the curve. When I was 20 I was scared to death out there. He's almost averaging a double-double out there. He's better than I was in my 20s, so the comparison is probably unfair to him. He's a complete package."
Dirk on Porzingis

Tweet of the Night

When your idol becomes your rival (via @nyknicks) pic.twitter.com/rQ5uIaEVw6

— FOX Sports Live (@FOXSportsLive) December 8, 2015

Next Up
The Mavericks return home for a long awaited homestand that starts against the Hawks (13-9) on Wednesday.

Mavericks 116 Wizards 104: Game 21 Recap

The Lead
The Mavs hot shooting led by a Wesley Matthews three point barrage keys a road win.

Box Score

Leaders
Mavs
Points: Matthews, 36
Rebounds: Felton, 10
Assists: Williams, 9
+-: Matthews, +21
Wizards
Points: Wall, 28
Rebounds: Porter, 11
Assists: Wall, 10
+-: Neal, -1

Game Ball
Wesley Matthews
36 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 10-17 3PT

X-Factor
Jeremy Evans
7 points, 7 rebounds, 3-3 FG

Play of the Game
With just less than a minute left Wesley Matthews hit his franchise record-tying 10th three of a feed from Deron Williams. The three also gave Matthews 36 points to tie a career high.

Stat of the Game
Matthews' 10 threes were also an NBA season high. Stephen Curry has two games with 9 threes.

Of Note

• The Mavericks played the game fairly shorthanded. Both Chandler Parsons and JaVale McGee sat out the first night of a back-to-back while J.J. Barea sat out his 4th straight game with a sprained ankle and Dwight Powell sat with a minor knee injury. Then Devin Harris left the game in the second quarter with an injured hip after accidentally colliding with Justin Anderson.
• The Wizards were shorthanded themselves as they had to play ultra-small with most of their big men out. John Wall also left the game in the final minutes with a knee injury.
• George McCloud had the other game of 10 threes by a Maverick on Dec. 16, 1995. Mavs with 9 threes in a game are McCloud, Dennis Scott and Roddy Beaubois.
• Because of the missing players, Jeremy Evans and John Jenkins got extended minutes and both were bright spots. Evans had 7 points and 7 rebounds in 20 minutes while Jenkins made 2-3 shots and was a +15 in his 20 minutes.
• The Mavs have now won 11 straight vs. the Wizards their longest active streak vs. any opponent, with the last Washington win coming in the opening game of the 09-10 season.
• After turning it over 8 times against Houston, Deron Williams rebounded with only 1 turnover to go along with his 9 assists on the night.

Quote of Note
“We were all excited for him. You know, he’s a guy that really endlessly works for the team. He always has to guard the best offensive player on the other team. And you’re just happy for a guy like that, that puts the team first and works so hard. He just hasn’t been able to break through with his shooting, but he was on a roll tonight. It felt like everything he was shooting was going to go in. It was fun to be a part of tonight.”
Dirk on Wes' big night

Tweet of the Night

Wesley Matthews' 3-point percentage went from 30.8 to 34.3 with his 10-of-17 night.

— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) December 7, 2015

Next Up
The Mavericks (12-9) play the back end of their East back-to-back tomorrow night against the Knicks (10-11) at the world's most famous arena.

Mavericks vs. Rockets: Game 20 Preview

Dallas Mavericks (11-8) vs. Houston Rockets (8-11)
Fri.. Dec.. 4, 7:30 at the AAC
TV: FSSW, NBALP
Line: Mavs by 5.5


2015-16 Matchups
Nov. 14 at Houston
Mavs 110 Rockets 98

All-Time Series
Rockets 84 Mavs 80


Team Stats
Mavs
Off. Rating: 103.2 (17th)
Def. Rating: 102.9 (12th)
Point Differential: +0.3
Rockets
Offense: 103.1 (18th)
Defense: 108.6 (27th)
Point Differential: -5.4

Projected Starters
Mavs
PG: Deron Williams
SG: Wesley Matthews
SF: Chandler Parsons
PF: Dirk Nowitzki
C: Zaza Pachulia
Rockets
PG: Patrick Beverley
SG: James Harden
SF: Trevor Ariza
PF: Clint Capela
C: Dwight Howard

Team Leaders

Mavs
PPG: Nowitzki, 17.5
RPG: Pachulia, 10.2
APG: Williams, 5.8
PER: Nowitzki, 21.9
Rockets
PPG: Harden, 29.5
RPG: Howard, 12.3
APG: Harden, 6.6
PER: Harden, 25.3

Of Note

• Once again the Mavericks return home for just one game, as they are in a strech of 15 games in a row without back to back games in the same city.
• In the team's first meeting this year the Mavs won by double digits in Houston despite resting Dirk, Matthews and Parsons.
• Zaza Pachulia is tied for 2nd in the league with 12 double doubles on the year. Andre Drummond leads the league with 17.
• The Rockets are 4-4 under interim coach J.B. Bicketstaff but those wins have come against Portland, Philadelphia, New York and New Orleans. Two of those wins were in overtime and they only beat the Sixers by two at home.
• In the Mavs last three wins, Deron Williams has averaged 25 points and shot 56% from the field.

Mavericks 115 Blazers 112 (OT): Game 19 Recap

The Lead
Mavs late comeback in regulation leads to a much needed overtime win.

Box Score 

Leaders
Mavs
Points: Williams, 30
Rebounds: Pachulia, 21
Assists: Williams, 8
+-: Matthews, +20
Blazers
Points: Lillard, 25
Rebounds: Davis, 11
Assists: Lillard, 10
+-: Harkless, +16

Game Ball
Deron Williams
30 points, 8 assists, 6 rebounds, 11-17 FG

X-Factor
Wesley Matthews
18 points, 5 rebounds, 3-6 3PT

Play of the Game
With the Mavs down 2 with 6 seconds left, Dirk tips in Charlie Villanueva's missed three to tie the game.

Stat of the Game
The trio of Dirk, Deron Williams and Zaza Pachulia combined for 72 points, 34 rebounds and 15 assists.

Of Note

• After falling behind 89-79 with 5:17 to go, the Mavericks outscored Portland 17-7 to finish the fourth quarter.
• The win ended a four game road losing streak for the Mavs.
• The Mavericks started the game on a 20-5 run.
• Wesley Matthews had 18 points in his first game back in Portland after leaving the Blazers after 5 years to sign with the Mavs. His back-to-back threes trimmed the Blazers lead from 10 to 4 with 4 1/2 minutes to go.
• Zaza Pachulia's 21 rebounds tied a career high.

Quote of Note
"It was amazing. I didn't really know what to expect, but these fans have been amazing to me since I got here. It meant a lot."
Wesley Matthews on the standing ovation he received when he was introduced.

Tweet of the Night

Dallas is out-executing TF outta Portland. They get the switch they want every time down, they space appropriately & Big Fella goes to work

— Amin Elhassan (@AminESPN) December 2, 2015

Next Up
The Mavericks (11-8) return home again for a singe game, Friday night against the still struggling Rockets (7-11).