Nuggets 114 Mavericks 107: Game 40 Recap

The Lead
Without Dirk, Tyson and Rondo, the Mavs bench makes it interesting down the stretch but falls short in the end.

Box Score

Leaders
Mavs
Points: Barea, 17
Rebounds: Jefferson, 6
Assists: Barea, 6
+-: Aminu, +10
Nuggets
Points: Lawson, 29
Rebounds: Faried, 14
Assists: Lawson, 12
+-: Nurkic, +13

Game Ball
Ty Lawson
29 points, 12 assists, 5 rebounds, 10-18 FG

X-Factor
Dwight Powell
11 points, 5 rebounds, 5-8 FG

Goat Horns
Mavericks 3 point shooting
9-37

Play of the Game
After blocking the shot on one end, Dwight Powell runs the floor and blows by Kenneth Faried for an explosive jam, early in the 2nd quarter.

Stat of the Game
Of the 10 Mavs who played, 8 scored in double figures, including all 5 bench players.

Of Note

• On the second of a back-to-back and coming off an overtime game, the Mavs sat Dirk due to rest, Chandler due to a sore ankle and Rondo due to a sore achilles.
• Monta Ellis, struggled scoring only 5 points on 1-11 shooting and sat out the last quarter and a half.
• Raymond Felton started his first game of the year in Rondo's place and scored 10 points in 29 minutes.
• Once again the Mavs were beaten up on the glass, getting outrebounded 51-39.
• Starting at center, Greg Smith was a disappointment, scoring only one point in 17 minutes.

Grades
Jefferson: B+
Parsons: C
Smith: D-
Ellis: D
Felton: C+
Harris: C+
Villanueva: B+
Powell: A
Aminu: A-
Barea: B

Quote of Note
"I should have rested Ellis. I should have insisted that he didn’t play. He looked tired.”
Rick Carlisle on Monta

Tweet of the Night

Psst. Cavs! The Mavericks are without  Rondo, Dirk, and Chandler and are competitive on a back to back in Denver!
— Hardwood Paroxysm (@HPbasketball) January 15, 2015

Next Up
The Mavs (27-13) will get another shot at the Nuggets (18-20) at home on Friday, this time with a full roster. 

Mavericks at Nuggets: Game 40 Preview

Dallas Mavericks (27-12) at Denver Nuggets (17-20)
Wed. Jan. 14, 8:00 at the Pepsi Center
TV: FSSW, NBALP
Line: Pick 'em

2013-14 Matchups
Nov. 23 at Denver
Nuggets 102 Mavs 100
Nov. 25 at Dallas
Nuggets 110 Mavs 96
Mar. 5 at Denver
Nuggets 115 Mavs 110
Mar. 21 at Dallas
Mavs 122 Nuggets 106

All-Time Series
Mavs 80 Nuggets 75

Team Stats
Mavs
Offense: 111.2 (1st)
Defense: 103.6 (18th)
Point Differential: +6.3
Nuggets
Offense: 102.5 (18th)
Defense: 104.4 (21st)
Point Differential: -1.4

Projected Starters
Mavs
PG: Rajon Rondo
SG: Monta Ellis
SF: Chandler Parsons
PF: Dirk Nowitzki
C: Tyson Chandler
Nuggets
PG: Ty Lawson
SG: Arron Afflalo
SF: Wilson Chandler
PF: Kenneth Faried
C: Jusuf Nurkic

Team Leaders
Mavs
PPG: Ellis, 20.7
RPG: Chandler, 12.1
APG: Rondo, 8.1
PER: Chandler, 21.5
Win Shares: Chandler, 5.7
Nuggets
PPG: Lawson, 16.7
RPG: Faried, 8.7
APG: Lawson, 10.0
PER: Nurkic, 19.6
Win Shares: Lawson, 3.6


Of Note

• The Nuggets are the last team in the West the Mavs have yet to face the season. The only other team they haven't played yet is Orlando.
• Monta Ellis last night was the first Mav with at least 28 points and 10 assists in a road game since Steve Nash in Jan. 2002.
• The Mavericks are 6-2 on the second night of a back-to-back this season, good for the second best record in the league.
• Denver has won 4 games in a row and been off since last Friday.
• The Mavericks, Rockets and Grizzlies are all within a half game of each other for first place in the Southwest Division.
  

Mavericks 108 Kings 104 (OT): Game 39 Recap

The Lead
It was anything but pretty, but the Mavs were able to overcome a 10 point deficit with 4 minutes in regulation to win in OT and stop a two game losing streak.

Box Score 

Leaders
Mavs
Points: Ellis, 28
Rebounds: Chandler, 17
Assists: Ellis, 10
+-: Nowitzki, +19
Kings
Points: Cousins, 32
Rebounds: Cousins, 16
Assists: Cousins, 9
+-: McCallum, +8

Game Ball
Monta Ellis
28 points, 10 assists, 4 rebounds, 4 steals

X-Factor
Tyson Chandler
16 points, 17 rebounds, 6-8 FG, 4-6 FT

Goat Horns
Darren Collison
6-20 FG, 0-6 3PT, 3 assists, 3 turnovers

Play of the Game
With the Mavs down one and the shot clock running down with 1:14 left in OT, Rajon Rondo nails a three to put the Mavs ahead for good.

Stat of the Game
The Mavs were able to overcome a 59-44 rebounding deficit by turning the ball over only 10 times, compared to 20 turnovers by the Kings, including 9 by DeMarcus Cousins.

Of Note

• After falling behind 95-85 with 4 minutes left in regulation, the Mavs outscored the Kings 23-9 for the remainder of the game, as the Kings would only make one more field goal.
• Rondo broke out of a shooting slump by going 10-16 from the field, including the big three in overtime.
• The Mavericks are 4-0 in overtime games this year beating the Kings, Bulls, Knicks and Nets.
• Cousins had an amazing game with 32 points, 16 rebounds and 9 assists but fouled out on an offensive foul on Tyson Chandler with 21.7 left in the 4th quarter.
• The Mavericks bench really struggled going 5-24 from the field, with Devin Harris making three of those shots.
• The Kings were only 1-18 on threes.

Grades
Nowitzki: C+
Parsons: C+
Chandler: A
Ellis: A
Rondo: A
Harris: C
Jefferson: D
Smith: B-
Villanueva: D
Barea: D
Aminu: C-

Quote of Note
"We hate losing, and you've got to hate losing more than you love winning."
Chandler Parsons

Tweet of the Night

That's the "Playoff Rondo" everyone told us was so awesome. Cool.
— Kevin Turner (@ktfuntweets) January 14, 2015

Next Up
The Mavs (27-12) have a tough turnaround on the second night of a back-to-back in Denver, against the Nuggets (17-20) at 8:00.

Mavericks at Kings: Game 39 Preview

Dallas Mavericks (26-12) at Sacramento Kings (16-21)
Tues. Jan. 13, 9:00 at Sleep Train Arena
TV: FSSW, NBALP
Line: Mavs by 4.5

2014-15 Matchups
Nov. 11 at Dallas
Mavs 106 Kings 98 

All-Time Series
Mavs 87 Kings 62

Team Stats
Mavs
Offense: 111.6 (1st)
Defense: 103.9 (19th)
Point Differential: +6.3
Kings
Offense: 103.8 (14th)
Defense: 105.5 (23rd)
Point Differential: -1.5

Projected Starters
Mavs
PG: Rajon Rondo
SG: Monta Ellis
SF: Chandler Parsons
PF: Dirk Nowitzki
C: Tyson Chandler
Kings
PG: Darren Collison
SG: Ben McLemore
SF: Rudy Gay
PF: Jason Thompson
C: Demarcus Cousins

Team Leaders
Mavs
PPG: Ellis, 20.6
RPG: Chandler, 12.0
APG: Rondo, 8.2
PER: Chandler, 21.6
Win Shares: Chandler, 5.5
Kings
PPG: Cousins, 23.9
RPG: Cousins, 12.3
APG: Collison, 6.0
PER: Cousins, 26.7
Win Shares: Collison, 3.6

Of Note

• The Mavericks are looking to avoid their first three games losing streak of the season.
• Dallas has won 19 out of their last 21 games against Sacramento.
• After a hot stretch shooting the ball, Rajon Rondo has really struggled in the last three games, shooting a combined 5-31 from the field including games of 1-13 and 1-11.
• Since a 9-5 start to the season, the Kings are only 7-16 and head coach Michael Malone has been replaced by Tyron Corbin.
• While the Mavs are currently 1-8 against teams in the top 8 in the West, they are 9-0 against the rest of the conference.

Former Mav Tarpley Dies at 50

In some very sad new, former Maverick big man Roy Tarpley has died at age 50 according to the Dallas Morning News. Tarpley was a very talented player who won the NBA Sixth Man of they Year Award in 1987-88 but his career was unfortunately derailed by drug and alcohol problems.
Tarpley, the 7th overall pick in the 1986 draft played all 280 of his career games for the Mavs, before he was suspended for the league for good in 1995.

Mavericks at Clippers: Game 38 Preview

Dallas Mavericks (26-11) at Los Angeles Clippers (24-12)
Sat. Jan. 10, 2:30 at Staples Center
TV: FSSW, NBALP
Line: Clippers by 3

2013-14 Matchups
Jan. 3 at Dallas
Clippers 119 Mavs 112
Jan. 15 at LA
Clippers 129 Mavs 127
Mar. 27 at Dallas
Clippers 109 Mavs 103
Apr. 3 at LA
Mavs 113 Clippers 107

All-Time Series
Mavs 86 Clippers 52

Team Stats
Mavs
Off. Rating: 111.8 (1st)
Def. Rating: 103.4 (16th)
Point Differential: +7.1
Clippers
Offense: 110.1 (3rd)
Defense: 103.2 (15th)
Point Differential: +6.6


Projected Starters
Mavs
PG: Rajon Rondo
SG: Monta Ellis
SF: Chandler Parsons
PF: Dirk Nowitzki
C: Tyson Chandler
Clippers
PG: Chris Paul
SG: J.J. Redick
SF: Matt Barnes
PF: Blake Griffin
C: DeAndre Jordan

Team Leaders
Mavs
PPG: Ellis, 20.5
RPG: Chandler, 12.1
APG: Rondo, 8.2
PER: Chandler, 22.0
Win Shares: Chandler, 5.5
Clippers
PPG: Griffin, 22.6
RPG: Jordan, 13.6
APG: Paul, 9.5
PER: Paul, 25.2
Win Shares: Paul, 6.7

• The Mavs had lost 6 out of 7 to the Clippers, before wining in LA last April 3.
• The Mavericks blew fourth quarter leads in their 3 losses to the Clippers last year.
• A win would be the Mavericks first against a top six team in the West. They have lost one game each to Golden St., Portland, Memphis and Houston.
• Golden St. (13-4) is the only West team with a better road record than the Mavs (13-5).
• This is the Mavericks first game of the year in the state of California.
  

Pistons 108 Mavericks 95: Game 37 Recap

The Lead
The Mavs trail from start to finish as the Pistons win their 7th in a row to snap Dallas' 6 game win streak.

Box Score 

Leaders
Mavs
Points: Nowitzki, 19
Rebounds: Chandler, 15
Assists: Rondo, 8
+-: Powell, +3
Pistons
Points: Monroe, 27
Rebounds: Drummond, 19
Assists: Monroe, Jennings, 6
+-: Jerebko, +14

Game Ball
Greg Monroe
27 points, 18 rebounds, 6 assists, 11-16 FG

X-Factor
D.J. Augustin
26 points, 9-16 3FG, 4-5 3PT

Plays of the Game
After the Mavs got within 4 points with 8 minutes left, D.J. Augustin hit back-to-back threes to push the Detroit lead to 10.

Stat of the Game
The Pistons outrebound the Mavs 60-43 led by 19 rebounds from Andre Drummond and 18 from Greg Monroe.

Of Note

• The loss was the Mavs 4th all year to the East, all at home.
• Dallas was only 6-22 on threes while the Pistons were 10-21.
• Augustin scored 17 of his 26 points in the 4th quarter.
• Rajon Rondo was responsible for 7 of the Mavs 14 turnovers.
• Detroit's 7 game winning streak is their longest in 6 years.

Grades
Nowitzki: C+
Parsons: C
Chandler: B
Ellis: C-
Rondo: D+
Harris: B+
Villanueva: C
Smith: C-
Jefferson: C
Barea: C-

Quote of Note
"We didn't have enough of a hit-first disposition tonight."
Rick Carlisle

Tweet of the Night

Raise the banner, Pistons (via @netw3rk) pic.twitter.com/mkVRQQp1qX
— Mavs Moneyball (@mavsmoneyball) January 8, 2015

Next Up
The Mavericks (26-11), go back on the road for Saturday matinee against the Clippers.