Mavericks at Lakers: Game 80 Preview

Dallas Mavericks (48-31) at Los Angeles Lakers (21-58)
Sun. Apr. 12, 8:30 at the Staples Center
TV: FSSW, NBATV
Line: Mavs by

2014-15 Matchups
Nov. 21 at Dallas
Mavs 140 Lakers 106
Dec. 26 at Dallas
Mavs 102 Lakers 98
Mar. 8 at Los Angeles
Mavs 100 Lakers 93

All-Time Series
Lakers 104 Mavs 38

Team Stats
Mavs
Off. Rating: 107.1 (5th)
Def. Rating: 103.8 (18th)
Point Differential: +2.8
Lakers
Offense: 101.0 (23rd)
Defense: 107.7 (29th)
Point Differential: -6.5


Projected Starters
Mavs
PG: Rajon Rondo
SG: Monta Ellis
SF: Richard Jefferson
PF: Dirk Nowitzki
C: Tyson Chandler
Lakers
PG: Jordan Clarkson
SG: Jabari Brown
SF: Wesley Johnson
PF: Ryan Kelly
C: Tarik Black

Team Leaders
Mavs
PPG: Ellis, 19.2
RPG: Chandler, 11.5
APG: Rondo, 6.5
PER: Stoudemire, 22.3
Win Shares: Chandler, 9.7
Lakers
PPG: Bryant, 22.3
RPG: Hill, 8.0
APG: Bryant, 5.6
PER: Davis, 20.1
Win Shares: Davis, 6.2

Of Note

• It is very much up in the air who exactly will play for the Mavs. Chandler Parsons status remains in doubt due to his knee and Rick Carlisle says he might rest several players either tonight or Monday night in Utah.
• The Mavericks have won 6 straight against the Lakers and can sweep the season series for the second straight year after never doing it previously in franchise history.
• The Mavs have scored over 100 points in five straight games, averaging 119.4 points per game over that span.
• If the Mavericks win their three remaining games, Rick Carlisle  would tie Don Nelson as the winningest coach in team history with 339 wins.
• The Mavericks opening round playoff opponent remains very much in the air. Currently Memphis, San Antonio and the Clippers are in a three-way tie for second in the West at 54-26, while Houston is a half-game back at 53-26. As the #7 seed in the West the Mavs are guaranteed to face the #2 seed.

Mavericks 144 Nuggets 143 (20T): Game 79 Recap

The Lead
After blowing a 23 point lead, the Mavs backups led by Raymond Felton pull it out in double overtime.

Box Score 

Leaders
Mavs
Points: Nowitzki, 25
Rebounds: Chandler, 11
Assists: Harris, Barea, 9
+-: Nowitzki, +16
Nuggets
Points: Gallinari, 47
Rebounds: Hickson, 12
Assists: Lawson, 18
+-: Gallinari, +20

Game Ball
Raymond Felton
13 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds, game-winning basket

X-Factor
Richard Jefferson
24 points, 4 rebounds, 8-15 FG, 4-8 3PT

Play of the Game
With the Mavericks down one and time running out in double OT, Raymond Felton crosses over Randy Foye and then lays it up high off the glass and in with 1.5 seconds left to give the Mavs the lead.  He would then block Kenneth Faried's shot on the other end to seal the victory.

Stat of the Game
The win gives the Mavericks a 6-0 record in overtime games this season. It is their most OT wins in a season without a loss.

Of Note

• Chandler Parsons missed his third straight game with knee soreness while Rajon Rondo rested his ailing knee.
• Danilo Gallinari scored 47 points for the Nuggets despite only having 9 points at halftime.
• Felton got his second start of the season, both of which have come in Denver where he played part of one season.
• The Nuggets 125 field goal attempts were an all-time Mavericks opponent high.
• The Mavericks outshot Denver 52% to 42% but allowed the Nuggets to stay in the game, by giving up 27 offensive rebounds.

Grades
Nowitzki: A
Jefferson: A
Chandler: B
Ellis: B-
Felton: A
Aminu: A-
Harris: A
Villanueva: B-
Stoudemire: A-
Barea: B+
James: B

Quote of Note
"It's most interesting meaningless game I've ever seen. But it wasn't really meaningless. There were a lot of good things that happened out there tonight."
Rick Carlisle

Next Up
The Mavericks (48-31) have a day off tomorrow, before taking on the Lakers (21-58) in L.A. on Sunday night.

Mavericks at Nuggets: Game 79 Preview

Dallas Mavericks (47-31) at Denver Nuggets (29-49)
Fri.. Apr. 10, 8:00 at the Pepsi Center
TV: FSSW, NBALP
Line: Mavs by

2014-15 Matchups
Jan. 14 at Denver
Nuggets 114 Mavs 107
Jan. 16 at Dallas
Mavs 97 Nuggets 89

All-Time Series
Mavs 81 Nuggets 76

Team Stats
Mavs
Offense: 107.0 (5th)
Defense: 103.6 (18th)
Point Differential: +2.9
Nuggets
Offense: 101.0 (22nd)
Defense: 105.1 (24th)
Point Differential: -3.7

Projected Starters
Mavs
PG: Rajon Rondo
SG: Monta Ellis
SF: Richard Jefferson
PF: Dirk Nowitzki
C: Tyson Chandler
Nuggets
PG: Ty Lawson
SG: Randy Foye
SF: Wilson Chandler
PF: Danilo Gallinari
C: Kenneth Faried

Team Leaders
Mavs
PPG: Ellis, 19.2
RPG: Chandler, 11.5
APG: Rondo, 6.5
PER: Stoudemire, 21.9
Win Shares: Chandler, 9.7
Nuggets
PPG: Lawson, 15.4
RPG: Faried, 8.8
APG: Lawson, 9.5
PER: Lawson, 18.7
Win Shares: Lawson, 7.0

Of Note

• Chandler Parsons will miss his third straight game with knee soreness. The team hopes he can return to play in the last couple regular season games.
• The teams split back-to-back meetings in January, each winning at home. In the loss in Denver Dirk, Chandler and Rondo all sat on the second night of a back-to-back.
• Dirk has scored at least 18 points in five straight games for the first time all season. 
• In his last four games, Tyson Chandler has averaged 11.0 points and 13.5 rebounds and shot 72% from the field.
• A 3-1 finish would give the Mavs their first 50 win season since 2011. They fell one game short of the mark last year. The franchise won at least 50 games in 11 straight seasons from 2001 to 2011.

Mavericks 107 Suns 104: Game 78 Recap

The Lead
In a game that was tight throughout, Dirk's clutch three helps the Mavs get win number 47.

Box Score

Leaders
Mavs
Points: Ellis, 20
Rebounds: Chandler, 23
Assists: Rondo, 7
+-: Nowitzki, +12
Suns
Points: Green, 30
Rebounds: Marcus Morris, 10
Assists: Markieff Morris, 7
+-: Bledsoe, +6

Game Ball
Tyson Chandler
12 points, 23 rebounds, 2 blocks, 5-9 FG

X-Factor
Rajon Rondo
12 points, 7 assists, 1 TO, 6-9 FG

Play of the Game
With the Mavericks holding a one point lead with 22.8 seconds left, Dirk nails an open three off the feed from Monta to make it a two possession game. The Mavs would later withstand three Suns potential game-tying three point attempts.


Stat of the Game
Led by Chandler's 23 rebounds, the Mavs outrebounded a thin Suns frontline 47-37, including 15 offensive rebounds, 9 of which were by Tyson.


Of Note

• The Mavericks are now locked into the 7th seed in the West playoffs. Their opponent is very much in the air as it could be Memphis, Houston, the Clippers or San Antonio.
• Chandler Parsons missed his second straight game with knee soreness.
• The win was the Mavs first over the Suns this season after three losses. The only three teams Dallas failed to beat this year were Golden State, Atlanta and somehow Indiana.
• Before Dirk's late three, the only made threes of the game by the Mavs came from Charlie Villanueva, who made three in the first half.
• The 23 rebounds were the second highest total for Tyson this year behind his 25 rebound effort against the Knicks on Nov. 26. It was also his 30th double-double of the season.

Grades
Nowitzki: A-
Jefferson: B-
Chandler: A+
Ellis: B
Rondo: A-
Aminu: B-
Stoudemire: B+
Harris: B+
Barea: B-
Villanueva: B+

Quote of Note
"I think I even saw 1 or 2 post moves out him tonight, which was great. He played a great game."
Dirk on Tyson

Next Up
The Mavericks (47-31) begin their final road trip of the year on Friday, against the Denver Nuggets (29-49).

Mavericks vs. Suns: Game 78 Preview

Dallas Mavericks (46-31) vs. Phoenix Suns (39-39)
Wed. Apr. 8, 8:30 at the AAC
TV: Ch. 21, ESPN
Line: Mavs by 8.5

20-14-15 Matchups
Dec. 5 at Dallas
Suns 118 Mavs 106
Dec. 23 at Phoenix
Suns 124 Mavs 115
Mar. 22 at Phoenix
Suns 98 Mavs 92

All-Time Series
Suns 77 Mavs 66

Team Stats
Mavs
Off. Rating: 106.9 (5th)
Def. Rating: 103.5 (18th)
Point Differential: +2.9
Suns
Offense: 103.5 (13th)
Defense: 103.1 (16th)
Point Differential: -0.4


Projected Starters
Mavs
PG: Rajon Rondo
SG: Monta Ellis
SF: Chandler Parsons or Richard Jefferson
PF: Dirk Nowitzki
C: Tyson Chandler
Suns
PG: Eric Bledsoe
SG: P.J. Tucker
SF: Marcus Morris
PF: Markieff Morris
C: Brandan Wright


Team Leaders
Mavs
PPG: Ellis, 19.1
RPG: Chandler, 11.4
APG: Rondo, 6.5
PER: Stoudemire, 21.6
Win Shares: Chandler, 9.5
Suns
PPG: Bledsoe, 17.2
RPG: Len, 6.6
APG: Bledsoe, 6.0
PER: Bledsoe, 18.7
Win Shares: Bledsoe, 6.9

Of Note

• Thanks to the Thunder's loss to the Spurs on Tuesday, the Mavericks clinched their 14th playoff appearance in 15 years. A win would lock the Mavs into the 7th seed in the West.  
• Chandler Parsons missed pratice Tuesday due to his sore knee and is questionable. Both Rajon Rondo (knee) and Richard Jefferson (toe) practiced and are expected to play.
• Both Brandon Knight (heel) and Alex Len (broken nose) are out for the Suns.
• The Suns are the only West team other than Golden State that the Mavs have yet to beat this season.
• Brandan Wright will play his first game in Dallas since being traded by the Mavs in the Rondo deal on Dec. 18. He has averaged 12.7 points and 7.0 rebounds in his last three games, all starts.

The Bonus
All-Time Mavs and Suns Team
G: Steve Nash
G: Jason Kidd 
F: Michael Finley
F: Shawn Marion
C: Amare Stoudemire
Coach: John MacLeod

Mavericks vs. Warriors: Game 77 Preview

Dallas Mavericks (46-30) at Golden State Warriors (62-13)
Sat. Apr. 4, 7:30 at the AAC
TV: FSSW, NBALP
Line: Warriors by 4.5

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

All-Time Series
Mavericks 78 Warriors 65

Team Stats
Mavs
Off. Rating: 107.0 (5th)
Def. Rating: 103.3 (17th)
Point Differential: +3.1
Warriors
Offense: 109.6 (2nd)
Defense: 97.6 (1st)
Point Differential: +10.7


Projected Starters
Mavs
PG: Rajon Rondo
SG: Monta Ellis
SF: Chandler Parsons or Richard Jefferson
PF: Dirk Nowitzki
C: Tyson Chandler
Warriors
PG: Stephen Curry
SG: Klay Thompson
SF: Harrison Barnes
PF: Draymond Green
C: Andrew Bogut


Team Leaders
Mavs
PPG: Ellis, 19.2
RPG: Chandler, 11.3
APG: Rondo, 6.5
PER: Stoudemire, 21.7
Win Shares: Chandler, 9.3
Warriors
PPG: Curry, 23.8
RPG: Bogut, 8.2
APG: Curry, 7.8
PER: Curry, 27.8
Win Shares: Curry, 14.4


Of Note

• Chandler Parsons is questionable after leaving Thursday's game in the third quarter with knee soreness.
• Draymond Green is expected to play for the Warriors after missing the last three games with a shin injury.
• The Mavericks look pretty locked into the 7th seed in the West with a four game lead on 8th place Oklahoma City and a four games deficit behind 6th place San Antonio.
• The Mavs have lost six in a row to the Warriors including three games this season by an average of 12 points.
• To no one's surprise MVP frontrunner Stephen Curry has absolutely torched Dallas this year, averaging 34 points on 52.5% shooting from the field and 51.4 % shooting on threes in the three games. He scored 51 points in the Warriors 128-114 victory over the Mavs on Feb. 4.
  

Mavericks 135 Thunder 131: Game 75 Recap

The Lead
The Mavs get an important win in an incredible offensive shootout as Parsons takes over late.

Box Score

Leaders
Mavs
Points: Ellis, 26
Rebounds: Chandler, 10
Assists: Rondo, 10
+-: Harris, +15
Thunder
Points: Morrow, 32
Rebounds: Kanter, 16
Assists: Westbrook, 11
+-: McGary, Novak, +5

Game Ball
Chandler Parsons
22 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, 10-15 FG

X-Factor
Amare Stoudemire
18 points, 4 rebounds, 8-9 FG, 20 minutes

Goat Horns
D.J. Augustin
3 points, 1 assists, 1-4 FG, 20 minutes

Play of the Game
Clinging to one point lead with 13 seconds left, Chandler Parsons hit a turnaround jumper to put the Mavs up three.

Stat of the Game
The Mavs scored 135 points despite making only 4 threes thanks to 72 points in the paint and 62% shooting.

Of Note

• The win gave the Mavs a 4 game lead over OKC for 7th in the West and the tiebreaker by wining the season series 3-1.
• Parsons scored 13 of his points in the last 5:08 of the game on 6-6 shooting.
• The Thunder had three different 30 point scorers (Morrow, Westbrook, Kanter). They are the first team to do that and lose since 1997. 
• Despite getting a triple-double, the Mavs led by Rajon Rondo held Russell Westbrook to 10-32 shooting.
• The game was the highest scoring game of the season in the NBA.

Grades
Nowitzki: A-
Parsons: A+
Chandler: A-
Ellis: A
Rondo: A
Stoudemire: A+
Harris: A-
Barea: A-
Aminu: A

Quote of Note
"It was a great basketball game. Every once in a while, you stand over there and you say, 'This is an unbelievable game to be a part of,' and it was. The extreme momentum swings back and forth - the shot making was breathtaking."
Rick Carlisle

They Tweeted It

The complete list of players who score more PPP as P&R ball-handlers than Parsons (0.962) (min 100 poss): L Williams, C Paul, S Curry
— Bobby Karalla (@bobbykaralla) April 2, 2015

Next Up
The Mavericks (46-29) face another MVP candidate, when James Harden and the Houston Rockets (51-24), come to the AAC, tonight at 7:30.