Spurs 109 Mavericks 103: WCQF Game 5 Review

                 PICKED APART AND ROLLED
Mavs fight hard but can't stop the Spurs offensive attack.

Box Score  

Leaders
Mavs
Points: Carter, 28
Rebounds: Nowitzki, 15
Assists: Ellis, 6
+-: Carter, +10
Spurs
Points: Parker, 23
Rebounds: Duncan, Splitter, 12
Assists: Diaw, 6
+-: Duncan, +14

Game Ball
Tiago Splitter
17 pts., 12 rbs., 5 ast., 7-10 FG

X-Factor
Kawhi Leonard
15 pts., 8 rbs., 6-10 FG

Goat(s)
Jose Calderon and Devin  Harris
6-20 FG combined

Play of the Game
Tony Parker hits a three to give the Spurs a 7 point lead with 1:52 to go after the Mavs had gotten to within 4.

Stat of the Game
Spurs had 24 assists to only 5 turnovers and they executed their offense to near-perfection.

Mavs Grades
Nowitzki: A-
Marion: C-
Dalembert: B-
Ellis: C+
Calderon: C-
Harris: D+
Carter: A+
Wright: C
Crowder: C

Additional Notes
Dirk had his best game of the series with 26 points and 15 rebounds, including 14 4th quarter points.
The Mavs were without DeJuan Blair due to suspension and looked like they would be without Sam Dalembert after he sprained his ankle in the first quarter. However he returned to the game minutes later.
The Mavs had 3 players with 20+ points (Nowitzki, Carter, Ellis), but no one else scored in double-digits.
The Spurs has 5 players with at least 15 points (Parker, Ginobili, Duncan, Leonard, Splitter).
The Mavs never led in the game. They were tied at 42 in the second quarter.

Quote of Note
“I think we fought like heck to get back in the game, and we gave ourselves a chance. That’s all you can ask for.”
Vince Carter

Tweet of the Game

Mavs will make Game 6 tough. Never felt like they were in this game - never led - yet it never really was over till it was over.
— Jeff Caplan (@Caplan_NBA) May 1, 2014

Next Up
The Mavs will try to stave off elimination when they return home for game 6 on Friday.

Blair Suspended for Game 5

Mavericks Center DeJuan Blair has been suspended by the NBA for one game for his kick to the head of the Spurs Tiago Splitter in Game 5, while both were on the ground fighting for a loose ball. Blair was called for a  foul and then ejected from  with 3:08 to go in the game for what was deemed a "hostile act". Blair scored 12 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in the game, and was crucial in the Mavs' comeback from 20 points down.

Mavericks at Spurs: WCQF Game 5 Preview

Dallas Mavericks  vs. San Antonio Spurs
Game 5 Western Conference Quarterfinals (Series Tied 2-2)
Apr. 30, 6:00 at the AT&T Center
TV: Ch, 21, TNT
Line: Spurs by 6 1/2

Series Results and Schedule
Game 1 at San Antonio
Spurs 90 Mavs 85
Game 2 at San Antonio
Mavs 113 Spurs 92
Game 3 at Dallas
Mavs 109 Spurs 98
Game 4 at Dallas
Spurs 93 Mavs 89
Game 5 at San Antonio
April 30, 6:00
Game 6 at Dallas
May 2, TBA
Game 7 at San Antonio*
May 4, TBA

Team Playoffs Rankings
Mavs
Offense: 6th (109.8)
Defense: 8th (106.2)
Spurs
Offense: 9th (106.2)
Defense: 11th (109.8)

Projected Starters
Mavs
PG: Jose Calderon
SG: Monta Ellis
SF: Shawn Marion
PF: Dirk Nowitzki
C: Samuel Dalembert
Spurs
PG: Tony Parker
SG: Danny Green
SF: Kawhi Leonard
PF: Tim Duncan
C: Tiago Splitter

Team Playoff Leaders
Mavs
PPG: Ellis, 20.3
RPG: Dalembert, 10.0
APG: Calderon, 4.8
PER: Blair, 35.7
Spurs
PPG: Ginobili, 19.8
RPG: Splitter, 10.3
APG: Parker, 4.5
PER: Ginobili, 24.6

Notes
The Mavs are 6-4 all-time when a playoff series is tied 2-2 in a best of seven series. They are 5-0 at home and 1-4 on the road. Monta Ellis has scored at 20 points in 6 of the 8 games he has played this year against the Spurs. Samuel Dalembert has collected double-digit rebounds in 5 of his last 10 games including the last two. Danny Green hit 12-20 on threes against the Mavs in the regular season but is only 3-10 in this series.

Spurs 93 Mavericks 89: WCQF Game 4 Review

            DIAW LATE AND HEARTBREAK
Mavs comeback from 20 down, but fall just short as Spurs even series.

Box Score

Leaders
Mavs
Points: Ellis, 20
Rebounds: Dalembert, 15
Assists: Carter, 5
+-: Blair, +4
Spurs
Points: Ginobili, 23
Rebounds: Leonard, Splitter, 12
Assists: Ginobili, 5
+-: Ginobili, +11

Game Ball
Boris Diaw
17 pts.,4 rbs, 4 ast., 7-12 FG, 4-6 3PT,

X-Factor
DeJuan Blair
12 pts., 11 rbs., 5-5 FG, 16 min.

Play of the Game
Boris Diaw hits what turns out to be the Game winning 3 with 32.9 seconds to go.

Stat of the Game
Mavs go only 18-28 from the line including Sam Dalembert's 1-6 including 2 late misses.

Mavs Grades
Nowitzki, C+
Marion, C
Dalembert, B-
Ellis, B-
Calderon: B
Carter: C
Harris: C
Blair: A
Crowder: C+
Wright: C+

Additional Notes
The Mavs came back from 20 down (58-38) early in the third to take the lead (81-80) with 4:50 to go.
Dallas led 83-82 when DeJuan Blair was called for a foul and than ejected for a kick to Tiago Splitter with 3:08 to go. The Mavs never led again.
Dirk Nowitzki and Monta Ellis combined to go 13-39 from the field.
Dalembert and Blair combined for 26 rebounds.
Diaw's 17 points eclipsed his 15 combined points in the first 3 games.

Quote of Note
"Hostile act, is that a movie?"
Shawn Marion on DeJuan Blair's ejection and the ref's' determination that his kick constituted a "hostile act".

Tweet of the Night

Mavs scoring 111.0 PPG on 50% FGs in 2 playoff wins, 87.0 PPG on 39.6% FGs in 2 losses.
— mavstats (@mavstats) April 29, 2014

Next Up
The series returns to San Antonio for a pivotal game 5, Wednesday at 6:00.

Mavericks 109 Spurs 108: WCQF Game 3 Review

                 HALF-MAN ALL-AMAZING
 Carter's three at the buzzer gives the Mavs a 2-1 series lead in a playoff thriller.

Box Score


Leaders
Mavs
Points: Ellis, 29
Rebounds: Dalembert, 10
Assists: Calderon, 9
+-: Calderon, +14
Spurs
Points: Duncan, 22
Rebounds: Splitter, 13
Assists: Parker, 6
+-: Ginobili, +10

Game Ball
Monta Ellis
29 pts., 12-22 FG, 3-7 3PT

X-Factor
Samuel Dalembert
13 pts., 10 rebs., 4 blk.

Goat
Danny Green
3 pts., 1-5 FG, 1-4 3PT

Play of the Game
Carter's three from the corner over Manu Ginobili, that beat the buzzer to give the Mavs the win. The Mavs were down by 2 with 1.7 to go.

Stat of the Game
The Mavs scored on their final 6 possessions of the game once they fell behind 100-95 with 2:12 to go.

Mavs Grades
Nowitzki: B+
Marion: B
Dalembert: A+
Calderon: A
Ellis: A+
Carter: A
Harris: C
Wright: B-
Crowder: B
Blair: C-

Additional Notes
The Mavs lead a series for the first time since the 2011 Finals.
Vince is the oldest player to hit a buzzer-beater in a playoff game since Eddie Johnson in 1997.
Dirk has been held under 20 points in three straight playoff games for the first time since the 2001 WCSF vs. the Spurs.
When tied 1-1 in a series and Game 3 is on the road, the Spurs have gone 8-0 when they've won game 3. They are 0-10 when losing game 3.
Today was the 30th anniversary of the "Moody Madness", in which the Mavs won their first ever playoff series.

Quote of Note
"Vince really deserves it. He's been so good for us and he's been about so many of the right things."
Rick Carlisle

Tweet of the Night

Welp, I'm completely trashed drunk and I haven't had a sip to drink
— Jeff Wade (@SkinWade) April 26, 2014

Next Up
The Mavs look to take a commanding 3-1 series lead when they face the Spurs at the AAC in Game 4, Monday at 8:30.

Mavericks vs. Spurs: WCQF Game 3 Prevew

Dallas Mavericks  vs. San Antonio Spurs
Game 3 Western Conference Quarterfinals (Series Tied 1-1)
Apr. 26, 3:30 at the AAC
TV: Ch, 21, TNT
Line: Spurs by 3 1/2

Series Results
Game 1 at San Antonio
Spurs 90 Mavs 85
Game 2 at San Antonio
Mavs 113 Spurs 92


Team Playoffs Rankings
Mavs
Offense: 4th (111.3)
Defense: 3rd (102.3)
Spurs
Offense: 14th (102.3)
Defense: 13th (111.3)

Projected Starters
Mavs
PG: Jose Calderon
SG: Monta Ellis
SF: Shawn Marion
PF: Dirk Nowitzki
C: Samuel Dalembert
Spurs
PG: Tony Parker
SG: Danny Green
SF: Kawhi Leonard
PF: Tim Duncan
C: Tiago Splitter

Team Playoff Leaders
Mavs
PPG: Harris, 18.5
RPG: Dalembert, 7.5
APG: Harris, 5.0
PER: Blair, 34.3
Spurs
PPG: Ginobili, 22.0
RPG: Splitter, 8.0
APG: Parker, 4.5
PER: Ginobili, 28.7

Notes
The Mavs have outplayed the Spurs in the series despite Dirk being only 11-33 from the field. The previous four times the Mavs and Spurs have been tied in a series 1-1, the team that has won game 3 has gone on to win the series each time. In 9 career playoff games against the Spurs, Devin Harris has scored at least 18 points 5 times. Home teams are only 9-10 in the playoffs so far this year. Tim Duncan turned 38 on Friday.

Dirk wins Magic Johnson Award

Dirk Nowitzki was awarded the Magic Johnson Award for this season by the Pro Basketball Writers Association. The honor goes to a player for their success on their court combined with their cooperation with fans and the media. Dirk beat out five other finalists for the award. The Magic Johnson Award was created in 2001 to honor Johnson, the model of the award.

Looking Back at the Mavs-Spurs Playoff Series

2001 WCSF: Spurs 4 Mavericks 1
The Mavs coming of the high of winning the final three games against Utah, crash back to earth,losing the first two games in San Antonio to the top seeded Spurs by 16 and 14 points. The most notable things to come of these games was the one game suspension of Juwan Howard for his hard foul that injured Derek Anderson and knocked him out for the remainder of the series. Dallas didn't do much better in Game 3, falling at home 104-90. Game 4 was the last ever game at Reunion Arena and the Mavs avoided the sweep behind 30 points from Dirk, who returned to the game after getting a tooth knocked out. The Mavericks would lose Game 5 however, despite 42 and 18 from Dirk as Michael Finley went only 1-17 from the field.

2003 WCF: Spurs 4 Mavericks 2
Playing in their first conference finals in 15 years, the Mavs stole homecourt in game 1 with a 113-110 victory as they shot 49-50 from the line. The Spurs cruised to a Game 2 win as Don Nelson was ejected early by Joey Crawford. The Spurs would win Game 3 in Dallas by 13, but the bigger loss for the Mavs was the knee injury to Dirk that would keep him out for the rest of the series. Game 4 would also go to the Spurs thanks to 20+ from Duncan, Parker and Ginobili. The Mavs would stay alive however by stunning the Spurs in Game 5 thanks 31 points from Finley. It looked like the series would go 7 when the Mavericks took a 13 point lead in the 4th quarter of Game 6. The Spurs though would outscore Dallas 34-9 in the fourth, with Steve Kerr coming off the bench cold to hit 4 threes.

2006 WCSF: Mavericks 4 Spurs 3
In one of the greatest playoff series in NBA history, the first two games in San Antonio would matched closely with the opening two games of this year's series. After dropping a Game 1 heartbreaker when Jerry Stackhouse missed a potential game-winning 3, the Mavs bounced back big time with 113-91 blowout in Game 2. The insertion of Devin Harris into the starting lineup was key as he had 20 points. The Mavs squeaked out a one point victory in Game 3 as Dirk went 21-24 from the line and won Game 4 in overtime as Dirk, Terry and Stackhouse all scored at least 26 points as did the Spurs big 3. Game 5 saw the Spurs stay alive with a one point win led by Duncan's 36 points. The Mavs dropped Game 6 as they played without Jason Terry as he was suspended for a shot to Michael Finley's groin in Game 5. Game 7 saw the Mavs take an early 20 point lead, only for the Spurs to charge back to take the lead on a Manu Ginobili 3 in the final minute. However Ginobili would foul Dirk on a three point play to force overtime, and the Mavs dominated the extra period to take the series with a 119-111 win as Dirk scored 37 points and grabbed 15 rebounds.

2009 WCQF: Mavericks 4 Spurs 1
The Mavs took advantage of Ginobili-less Spurs team by first stealing homecourt with a 105-97 Game 1 win despite the Spurs htting 11-14 from downtown. Game 2 was all Spurs as Tony Parker scored 38 points on 16-22 shooting. Game 3 saw the Mavs build a 33 point lead after 3 quarters as they held the Spurs to only 67 points. Dallas overcame Parker's 43 points in Game 4 to take a 3-1 series lead as they got an unexpected boost from Ryan Hollins, including a big dunk on Duncan. The Mavs closed out San Antonio with an easy 106-93 win in Game 5, behind 31 points from Dirk.

2010 WCQF: Spurs 4 Mavericks 2
Game 1 went to the Mavericks as Dirk went 12-14 from the field on his way to 36 points. The Spurs would even the series with a 102-88 win in Game 2 as Duncan registered 25 points and 17 rebounds. The Spurs would win both games 3 and 4 in San Antonio by slim 4 and 3 point margins. Game 4 was especially painful as Dallas lost an 11 point halftime lead by getting outscored 29-11 in the 3rd period. A 22 point Game 5 win behind Caron Butler's 35 point effort sent the series back to the Alamo City. In Game 6 the Mavs were doomed by an 8 point first quarter, and despite 16 points off the bench from Rodrigue Beaubois, they would fall short losing by 10 as Jason Terry was held to 2 points on 1-7 shooting.

Mavericks 113 Spurs 92: WCQF Game 2 Review

                    ALAMO CITY BEATDOWN 
Mavs come back from Game 1 disappointment to dominate the mistake-prone Spurs.

Box Score

Leaders
Mavs
Points: Ellis, 21
Rebounds: Dalembert, Blair, 7
Assists: Calderon, Haris, 5
+-: Carter, +19
Spurs
Points: Ginobili, 27
Rebounds: Duncan, 7
Assists: Ginobili, 4
+-: Joseph, +8

Game Ball
Shawn Marion 
20 pts., 5 rbs., 8-10 FG, 2-4 3PT

X-Factor
DeJuan Blair
8 pts., 7 rbs., 4 stl., 3-6 FG

Goat
Kawhi Leonard
6 pts., 5 rbs., 1-5 FG

Play of the Game
Dirk hits a jumper and his fouled by Doris Diaw with 9:26 to go. The 3 point play gave the Mavs a 21 point lead and pushed back  any thought of a Spurs comeback.

Stat of the Game
Dallas took advantage of 24 San Antonio turnovers and took care of the ball themselves, turning it over only 8 times.

Mavs Grades
Nowitzki: B
Marion: A+
Dalembert: B
Ellis: A-
Calderon: B+
Harris: A
Carter: B
Crowder: B-
Blair: A
Wright: B

Addtional Notes
Tonight was the first playoff win for the Mavs since the championship clincher in 2011. Dallas also ended a 10 game losing streak to the Spurs.
The 21 point loss by the Spurs was their worst in a home playoff game since they lost 113-91 to the Mavs in game 2 of the 2006 WCSF.
The win was also the largest margin by an 8 seed over 1 seed on the road in NBA history. The previous record was the Knicks beating the Heat by 20 in 1999.
After missing his first 6 shots, Dirk made 7 of his next 10 from the field.
Jose Calderon scored all 12 of his points in the 3rd quarter after struggling in the first 3 halves of the series.

Quote of the Note
"He's one of the strangest players that I've played with in this league. He can do a lot of things out there. On defense, I've been saying for the last five years with him, he's our best perimeter defender. I've seen him guard [point guards to centers] in my five years with him, so on that end, you can always rely on him. On offense, he's just so great on the move. He posts up a little bit, he's just so great when he cuts and moves, and when he makes the 3 ball, he's great. We're going to need him. He was great tonight." 
Dirk on the Matrix

Tweet of the Night

Rick Carlisle is some kind of wizard. This is unbelievable.
— Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe_NBA) April 24, 2014

 Next Up
The series shift to the AAC Saturday at 3:30, where the now confident Mavericks will try to keep the homecourt advantage in the series they now enjoy.

Ranking the Dirk Playoff Runs

1. 2011
Won Championship (16-5), 27.7 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 2.5 APG, .485/.460/.941, 25.2 PER
What more can be said about Dirk's championship run. There are too many great moments to pick from to single out, although Game 1 vs. the Thunder (12-15 FG, 24-24 FT), stands out.

2. 2006
Lost Finals (14-9), 27.0 PPG, 11.7 RPG, 2.9 APG, .468/.343/.895, 26.8 PER
Everything was going pretty much perfect from Game 7 in San Antonio to his 50 point game against the Suns. Then Dwyane Wade and Bennett Salvatore got in the way.

3. 2003
Lost WCF (10-10), 21.4 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 1.8 APG, .479/.443/.912, 23.2 PER
Had two great game sevens on his way to his first conference Finals. Unfortunately  a knee injury ended his season early against the Spurs.

4. 2009
Lost WCSF (5-5), 26.8 PPG, 10.1 RPG, 3.1 APG, .518/.286/.925, 28.4 PER
Played some of his best basketball through off the court drama in the Denver series.

5. 2002
Lost WCSF (4-4), 28.4 PPG, 13.1 RPG, 2.3 APG, .445/.571/.878, 24.8 PER
Dominated Kevin Garnett averaging over 30 and 15 in first round sweep of Minnesota.

6. 2010
Lost WCQF (2-4), 26.7 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 3.0 APG, .547/.571/.952, 28.3 PER
The Spurs couldn't stop him but the Mavs fell anyway as none of his teammates could pick up their games.

7. 2008
Lost WCQF (1-4), 26.8 PPG, 12.0 RPG, 4.0 APG, .473/.333/.808, 26.3 PER
Played at a high level as the rest of team and his coach fell apart around him. Also that Chris Paul guy was pretty good.

8. 2004
Lost WCQF (1-4), 26.6 PPG, 11.8 RPG, 1.4 APG, .450/.467/.857, 27.5 PER
Led the Playoffs in PER as the Mavs fell to the Kings, ending the Big 3 era in Dallas.

9. 2001
Lost WCSF (4-6), 23.4 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 1.4 APG, .423/.283/.883, 22.3 PER
In his first playoff run came back after losing a tooth to help aviod a sweep by the Spurs and then dropped 42 and 18 in Game 5.

10. 2005
Lost WCSF (6-7), 23.7 PPG, 10.1 RPG, 3.3 APG, .402/.333/.829, 20.1 PER
Led the Mavs to a series comeback after dropping first two at home to Houston, culminating with a 40 point game 7 win.The season would end in the next round as old friend Steve Nash came back to haunt the Mavs.

11. 2012
Lost WCQF (0-4), 26.8 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 1.8 APG, .442/.167/.905, 22.5 PER
The team couldn't continue its playoff magic as they dropped 3 games that went down to wire, but Dirk's usual strong playoff form continued  regardless.

12. 2007
Lost WCQF (2-4), 19.7 PPG, 11.3 RPG, 2.3 APG, .383/.211/.840, 20.9 PER
Plenty has been said about the disappointing result, but if in your worst playoff series you nearly averaged 20 points and over 11 rebounds you've had one hell of a career.

Spurs 90 Mavericks 85: WCQF Game 1 Review

CLOSE BUT NOT CLOSED
Slow start and poor finish doom Mavs chance for Game 1 upset.

Leaders

Mavs
Points: Harris, 19
Rebounds: Nowitzki, Dalembert, 8
Assists: Harris, 5
+-: Crowder, +16
Spurs
Points: Duncan, 27
Rebounds: Splitter, 11
Assists: Parker, 6
+-: Duncan, +24

Game Ball
Tim Duncan
27 pts., 7 rbs., 12-20 FG

X-Factor
Devin Harris
19 pts., 5 ast., 8-16 FG

Goat
Mavericks starting 5 that only scored 39 points on 16-50 shooting.

Play of the Game
Tony Parker's spin-cycle layup that put the Spurs ahead to stay with 3:25 to go.

Stat of the Game
Spurs win despite shooting only 3-17 on threes, all by Manu Ginobili.

Mavs Grades
Nowitzki: C-
Marion: C
Dalembert: C
Ellis: D+
Calderon: D+
Harris: A
Carter: C+
Wright: B
Crowder: A-
Blair: D

Additional Notes
This was the Mavs' tenth straight loss to the Spurs and their fifth straight playoff loss since the 2011 championship clincher.
Dirk's 11 points were his lowest in a playoff game since Game 4 of the 2006 WCF. He scored 50 in the next game.
The Spurs' big 3 of Parker, Duncan and Ginobili combined for 65 of the team's 90 points.
The Mavs went scorless of 5:40 after taking a 10 point lead with 7:45 to go. The Spurs went on a 15-0 run in the span.

Quote of Note
''They're not necessarily unbelievably athletic and long, but they are very smart. What they want to do defensively is take you out of your comfort zone.''
Dirk on the Spurs' defense

Next Up
The Mavs will have two days off to lick their wounds before Game 2 happens Wednesday at 7:00.

First Round Playoff Predictions

West

Spurs over Mavs in 5
Series Preview



Thunder over Grizzlies in 6
Grizzlies are playing great, but Durant and a healthy Westbrook are too much to handle.

Clippers over Warriors in 6
Paul and Curry are the main attractions but losing Bogut hurts Golden St. going against Griffin and Jordan.

Rockets over Blazers in 6
Portland hasn't been the same team in the second half of the season and should have there hands fulls with Harden and Howard.


East

Pacers over Hawks in 5
Indiana should be able to right the ship against below .500 Atlanta.

Heat over Bobcats in 5
Al Jefferson will give them trouble but the Heat are hard to stop when they actually care.

Nets over Raptors in 7
Series is basically a toss up but I'll give a slight edge to the Nets' expierence.

Bulls over Wizards in 7
Bulls defense will be just good enough to overcome John Wall and company.

Mavericks vs. Spurs: Playoff Preview

8. Dallas Mavericks (49-33) vs. 1. San Antonio Spurs (62-20)
Western Conference Quarterfinals

Schedule
Game 1 - Sun. April 20,  at San Antonio, 12 p.m., TNT, Ch. 21
Game 2 - Wed. April 23,  at San Antonio, 7 p.m., NBA TV, Ch. 21
Game 3 - Sat. April 26, at Dallas, 3:30 p.m., TNT, Ch. 21
Game 4 - Mon. April 28, at Dallas, 8:30 p.m., TNT, Ch. 21
Game 5 * Wed. April 30,  at San Antonio, TBD, Ch. 21
Game 6 * Fri. May 2, at Dallas, TBD, Ch. 21
Game 7 * Sun. May 4, at San Antonio, TBD, Ch. 21
* = if necessary

2013-14 Matchups
Dec. 26 at Dallas
Spurs 116 Mavs 107
Jan. 8 at San Antonio
Spurs 112 Mavs 90
Mar. 2 at San Antonio
Spurs 112 Mavs 106
Apr. 10 at Dallas
Spurs 109 Mavs 100

All-Time Regular Season Series
Spurs 96 Mavs 64

All-Time Playoff Results
2001 West Semifinals
Spurs 4 Mavs 1
2003 West Finals
Spurs 4 Mavs 2
2006 West Semifinals
Mavs 4 Spurs 3
2009 West Quaterfinals
Mavs 4 Spurs 1
2010 West Quarterfinals
Spurs 4 Mavs 2

Team Rankings
Mavs
Offense: 3rd (111.2)
Defense: 22nd (108.7)
Spurs
Offense: 7th (110.5)
Defense: 3rd (102.4)

Projected Starters
Mavs
PG: Jose Calderon
SG: Monta Ellis
SF: Shawn Marion
PF: Dirk Nowitzki
C: Samuel Dalembert
Spurs
PG: Tony Parker
SG: Danny Green
SF: Kawhi Leonard
PF: Tim Duncan
C: Tiago Splitter

Team Leaders
Mavs
PPG: Nowitzki, 21.7
RPG: Dalembert, 6.8
APG: Ellis, 5.7
PER: Nowitzki, 23.6
Spurs
PPG: Parker, 16.7
RPG: Duncan, 9.7
APG: Parker, 5.7
PER: Duncan, 21.3

Notes
The Spurs are the Mavs most frequent playoff opponent.  This is the sixth time the two teams have met in the postseason since 2001. Of course Dirk Nowitzki and Tim Duncan have played in all of those series. The lower seed has won each of the last three matchups between the teams. The Mavericks 49 wins are the third most all-time for an 8 seed in the playoffs. Only the 2008 Nuggets and 2010 Thunder, who won 50 games apiece have won more. The Spurs have the longest active playoff streak by far at 17 years. Surprisingly Atlanta is second with 7 years in a row. Only four current Mavs played in the team's last playoff series two years ago: Dirk, Shawn Marion, Vince Carter and Brandan Wright. Dirk's playoff averages of 25.9 points and 10.3 rebounds per game easily exceed his regular season averages of 22.5 points and 8.1 rebounds.


Prediction: Spurs in 5
Mavs have the ability to be keep it competitive enough to win a game or maybe two, but the Spurs are just too good and can score seemingly at will against the Dallas defense.

Grizzlies 106 Mavericks 105 (OT): Game 82 Review

Headline
EIGHT WILL HAVE TO BE ENOUGH
Mavs drop a heartbreaker, playoff matchup with the Spurs await.

Leaders

Mavs
Points: Nowitzki, 30
Rebounds: Blair, 7
Assists: Harris, 10
+-: Crowder, +16
Grizzlies
Points: Randolph, 27
Rebounds: Randolph, 14
Assists: Gasol, 9
+-: Gasol, +12

Game Ball
Dirk Nowitzki
30 pts., 5 rbs., 4 blk., 12-22 FG

X-Factor
Devin Harris
10 pts., 10 ast., 4-8 FG

Goat
Samuel Dalembert
2 pts., 3 rbs., 5 fouls

Play of the Game
Devin Harris takes a charge on Mike Conley with 20 seconds left that sets up Monta Ellis' game tying three that sent the game to overtime.

Stat of the Game
Both teams do well on the offensive boards. The Mavs get 15 offensive rebounds while the Grizzlies get 20.

Mavs Grades
Nowitzki: A
Marion: B-
Dalembert: D-
Ellis: B
Calderon: C+
Carter: C-
Harris: A-
Wright: B
Blair: B
Crowder: B-

Additional Notes
The Mavericks finish the regular season at 49-33. They are the 8th seed in the West and will face the top seeded Spurs in the first round of the playoffs.
Dallas finished 1-5 in overtime games and 11-11 in games decided by 3 points or less.
Dirk just missed out on a 50-40-90 season. He shot 49.7% from the field, 39.8% on threes and 89.9% from the line.
With losses by Toronto and Chicago, the Mavs finish with one the 10 best records in the league, and therefore will send their top 20 protected first round pick to Oklahoma City as part of the Lamar Odom trade.

Quote of Note
"The way he’d been shooting it, I really thought it was going to go in," Carlisle said. "He played with such courage in the fourth quarter. I doubt we’d be in the position we were in with a chance to win it if it hadn’t [been] for him. He’s just got to keep hoisting those up, because he’s going to make more than he misses."
Rick Carlisle on Monta's potential game-winning shot in overtime.

Next Up
The Mavericks (49-33) begin their playoff run in the Alamo City against the top seeded Spurs (62-20), Sunday at noon.

Mavericks at Grizzlies: Game 82 Preview

Dallas Mavericks (49-32) vs. Memphis Grizzlies (49-32)
Apr. 15, 7:00 at the FedEx Forum
TV: Ch. 21, ESPN
Line: Grizzlies by 3

2013-14 Matchups
Nov. 2 at Dallas
Mavs 111 Grizzlies 99
Dec. 18 at Dallas
Mavs 105 Grizzlies 91
Feb. 5 at Memphis
Mavs 110 Grizzlies 96

All-Time Series
Mavs 55 Grizzlies 18

Team Ranks
Mavs
Offense: 3rd (111.2)
Defense: 22nd (108.6)
Grizzlies
Offense: 15th (106.2)
Defense: 7th (104.5)

Projected Starters
Mavs
PG: Jose Calderon
SG: Monta Ellis
SF: Shawn Marion
PF: Dirk Nowitzki
C: Samuel Dalembert
Grizzlies
PG: Mike Conley
SG: Courtney Lee
SF: Tayshuan Prince
PF: Zach Randolph
C: Marc Gasol

Team Leaders
Mavs
PPG: Nowitzki, 21.6
RPG: Dalembert, 6.8
APG: Ellis, 5.8
PER: Nowitzki, 23.6
Grizzlies
PPG: Randolph, 17.2
RPG: Randolph, 10.0
APG: Conley, 6.0
PER: Conley, 20.0

Notes
The winner of the game will get the 7th seed in the West playoffs and probably play Oklahoma City. The loser gets the 8th seed and will face San Antonio. With a win the Mavericks will at least 50 games for the 12 time in 14 years. In their last game in Memphis the Mavs broke a five game losing streak on the road to the Grizzlies. They failed to score 90 in those 5 losses but scored 110 in their win on Feb. 5th. Monta Ellis will be the only Mav to play in all 82 games. Jose Calderon and Vince Carter will play in 81 and Dirk Nowitzki and Samuel Dalembert will play in 80.

Grading the 2013-14 Mavericks: Final Exam

Dirk Nowitzki- A : Healthy and among the league's elite players again at age 35. Made his 12th all-star game while coming close to another 50/40/90 season.

Monta Ellis- A- : Has given the Mavs a rim attacker like never seen before and has rebounded his reputation in the process. Unlike any other 2nd option the Mavs have had in the Dirk era.

Jose Calderon: B : Has provided the solid point guard play Dallas lacked last year along with elite shooting. Sure he struggles on defense but makes up for it with his savvy on the other end of the floor.

Shawn Marion: B : Still the team's best defender, he also made more threes by far than in any other year for the Mavs. Showing some signs of decline especially on offense.

Samuel Dalembert: B- : Came on strong late after an uneven start to provide the inside play the team desperately needed. Probably better suited for a backup role but considering his contract can't argue with the results.

Vince Carter: B- : Picked up game after lackadaisical start to provide a big scoring punch off the bench. Going from superstar to sixth man isn't easy but Vince has made the most of the transition.

Brandan Wright: B+: After missing time due to injury, improved the bench dramatically after his return while shooting an incredible percentage from the field. His lack of bulk still prevents bigger minutes but should continue to be a big part of the team's future.

Devin Harris: B- : Solidified the backup point guard spot after his return from injury while providing needed perimeter defense. A bargain at the veterans minimum, will be seeking a multi-year deal in the offseason.

DeJuan Blair: C+ : Play tailed off after a strong start, but was able to bring a lot of enegry when needed. He may lack size against just every other center in the league but won't be outworked.

Jae Crowder: C+ : Had his struggles on offense, but gave quality minutes on defense when called upon. Needs more consistency with his shot to increase his future value.

Wayne Ellington: C : Minutes were sporadic but he shot the ball the well after a rough start. Didn't do anything wrong, but it seems that Carlisle prefers Crowder's defense to Ellington's shooting.

Shane Larkin: C : His broken ankle over the summer and the return of Devin Harris held his season back, but had important contributions at times including in two key wins over Phoenix. Next year will be important for his development.

Gal Mekel: C- : Had his struggles when he played early in the season and hasn't played much at all since. Seems unlikely to crack rotation in the years in the come unless dramatic improvement is shown.

Bernard James: C- : Fourth string center was just an extra body for the most part. His advanced age will work against him as the Mavs might look to replace him with a younger project.

Ricky Ledo: Inc. : Spent most of his year in Frisco as was expected. How much he improves will determine how much he will spend with the big club next year.

Rick Carlisle: A: Gave one of the best coaching jobs of his career in getting the most of his roster, while navigating one of the toughest Western Conferences ever. Mavs are extremely luck to have such a superstar coach to work with has been a constantly changing cast of characters.

Ellis named Player of the Week

Mavericks guard Monta Ellis has been Western Conference Player of the Week for the games played from April 7 to April 13. In three games Monta averaged 25.7 points, 4.7 assists and 4 rebounds while leading the Mavs to a 2-1 record. He scored 37 points in Saturday's 101-98 win over Phoenix that clinched a playoff sport for Dallas.
It is the fourth Player of the Week award in Ellis' career. With Dirk Nowitzki winning Player of the Week last week, it marks the first time in franchise history the Mavericks have had back-to-back weeks where teammates received the award.

My 2013-14 NBA Awards

MVP

1. Kevin Durant
2. LeBron James
3. Blake Griffin
4. Chris Paul
5. Dirk Nowitzki

Rookie of the Year
1. Michael Carter-Williams
2. Victor Oladipo
3. Mason Plumlee

Defensive Player of the Year
1. Joakim Noah
2. Roy Hibbert
3. Andre Iguodala

Coach of the Year
1. Jeff Hornacek
2. Gregg Popovich
3. Tom Thibodeau

6th Man of  the Year
1. Taj Gibson
2. Markieff Morris
3. Jamal Crawford

Most Improved Player
1. Anthony Davis
2, Goran Dragic
3. Lance Stephenson

All-NBA

1st Team
F- Kevin Durant
F- LeBron James
C- Dwight Howard
G- Chris Paul
G- Stephen Curry
2nd Team
F- Blake Griffin
F- Dirk Nowitzki
C- Joakim Noah
G- James Harden
G- Goran Dragic
3rd Team
F- Kevin Love
F- LaMarcus Aldridge
C- Al Jefferson
G- Damian Lillard
G- Tony Parker

All-Rookie Team
1st Team
Michael Carter-Williams
Victor Oladipo
Mason Plumlee
Trey Burke
Gorgui Dieng
2nd Team
Kelly Olynyk
Steven Adams
Tim Hardaway Jr.
Pero Antic
Giannis Antekounmpo

All-Defensive Team
1st Team
F- Paul George
F- Serge Ibaka
C- Joakim Noah
G- Chris Paul
G- Andre Iguodala
2nd Team
F- Kawhi Leonard
F- Tim Duncan
C- Roy Hibbert
G- Patrick Beverley
G- Tony Allen

Mavericks 101 Suns 98: Game 81 Review

Headline
PLAYOFF BOUND
Ellis, Nowitzki lead Mavs comeback to clinch playoff return.

Leaders

Mavs
Points: Ellis, 37
Rebounds: Wright, 11
Assists: Harris, 6
+-: Harris, +13
Suns
Points: Bledsoe, 29
Rebounds: Green, 7
Assists: Bledsoe, 6
+-: Frye, +11

Game Ball
Monta Ellis
37 pts., 4 rbs., 5 ast., 15-23 FG

X-Factor
Brandan Wright
12 pts., 11 rbs., 3 blk., 5-8 FG

Goat
Gerald Green
9 pts., 2-9 FG, -11

Play of the Game
Brandan Wright's block of Eric Bledsoe's layup with the Mavs clinging to a 2 point lead with 13 seconds to go.

Stat of the Game
Monta Ellis (23) and Dirk Nowitzki (21) combine for 44 of the Mavericks' 55 second half points as Dallas overcame an 11 point hafltime deficit.

Mavs Grades
Nowitzki: A
Marion: B+
Dalembert: B
Ellis: A+
Calderon: C-
Wright: A
Harris: A-
Carter: C+
Larkin: A-

Additonal Notes
The Mavs clinched a playoff spot for the 13th time in 14 seasons. Only the Spurs have made the playoffs more in that timeframe.
Ellis' 37 points tied a season high. He also scored 37 on Nov. 20 against Houston.
Dallas finished the relgular season 26-15 at home.
Vince Carter passed Adrian Dantley for 25th on the NBA all-time scoring list. He currently has 23,181 career points.

Quote of Note
"He’s a rise-to-the-moment player. He’s been that really all year. He’s had a lot of huge games for us. He’s a great competitor."
Rick Carlisle on Monta.

Next Up
The Mavericks (49-32) close out the regular season in Memphis against the Grizzlies (47-32), who are fighting for their playoff lives. Any Memphis loss in their last 3 games clinches the 7 seed for the Mavs.

Mavericks vs. Suns: Game 81 Preview

Dallas Mavericks (48-32) vs. Phoenix Suns (47-32)
Sat. Apr. 12, 7:30 at the AAC
TV: Ch. 21, NBATV

2013-14 Matchups
Dec. 21 at Phoenix
Suns 123 Mavs 108
Jan. 17 at Phoenix
Mavs 110 Suns 107

All-Time Series
Suns 74 Mavs 65

Team Rankings
Mavs
Offense: 4th (111.2)
Defense: 22nd (108.7)
Suns
Offense: 8th (109.7)
Defense: 14th (106.7)

Projected Starters
Mavs
PG: Jose Calderon
SG: Monta Ellis
SF: Shawn Marion
PF: Dirk Nowitzki
C: Samuel Dalembert
Suns
PG: Eric Bledsoe
SG: Goran Dragic or Gerald Green
SF: P.J. Tucker
PF: Channing Frye
C: Miles Plumlee

Team Leaders
Mavs
PPG: Nowitzki, 21.6
RPG: Dalembert, 6.8
APG: Ellis, 5.8
PER: Nowitzki, 23.6
Suns
PPG: Dragic, 20.5
RPG: Plumlee, 8.0
APG: Dragic, 5.9
PER: Dragic, 21.7


Notes
It's a win and in you're in game for the Mavericks as they will clinch a playoff berth with a win. The Mavs are in 7th place again, a half game up on both Phoenix and Memphis. All three teams have 32 losses. The season series and a potential playoff tiebreaker goes to the winner of tonight's game. Goran Dragic status in in question after he missed Friday night's loss to San Antonio due to a sprained ankle. This is the Suns only visit all season to Dallas.

Spurs 109 Mavericks 100: Game 80 Review

Headline
SWEPT AWAY
Mavs fall yet again to the Spurs, as San Antonio lets the threes rain.

Leaders

Mavs
Points: Ellis, 24
Rebounds: Dalembert, 11
Assists: Ellis, Harris, 4
+-: Harris, +22
Spurs
Points: Mills, 26
Rebounds: Leonard, 16
Assists: Ginobili, 7
+-: Splitter, +39

Game Ball
Kawhi Leonard
16 pts., 16 rbs., 5 ast.

X-Factor
Patty Mills
26 pts., 6 ast., 6-11 3PT

Play of the Game
Kawhi Leonard's corner three with 56 seconds to go that sealed the win for the Spurs after the Mavs had cut the lead to 6.

Stat of the Game
Spurs shoot 16-34 on threes, while holding the Mavs to 5-12.

Mavs Grades
Nowitzki: B
Marion: B-
Dalembert: C
Calderon: C-
Ellis: B
Harris: C+
Carter: C-
Wright: C+
Crowder: C-
Blair: B

Additonal Notes
The Mavs were swept by the Spurs 4-0 for the second straight season. They have lost 9 straight against San Antonio.
The Spurs are the only West team the Mavs failed to beat this year.
The Mavericks magic number to clinch a playoff spot remains at two. They can clinch with a win over either Phoenix or Memphis in their last two games.

Quote of Note
"They just have our number."
Shawn Marion on the Spurs

Next Up
It's all on the line when the Mavericks (48-32) host the Phoenix Suns (47-31), Saturday at 7:30.

Mavericks vs. Spurs: Game 80 Preview

Dallas Mavericks (48-31) vs. San Antonio Spurs (60-18)
Apr. 10, 7:00 at the AAC
TV: TNT
Line: Mavs by 2

2013-14 Matchups
Dec. 26 at Dallas
Spurs 116 Mavs 107
Jan. 8 at San Antonio
Spurs 112 Mavs 90
Mar. 2 at San Antonio
Spurs 112 Mavs 106

All-Time Series
Spurs 95 Mavs 64


Team Rankings
Mavs
Offense: 4th (111.3)
Defense: 22nd (108.5)
Spurs
Offense: 6th (110.6)
Defense: 3rd (102.0)

Projected Starters
Mavs
PG: Jose Calderon
SG: Monta Ellis
SF: Shawn Marion
PF: Dirk Nowitzki
C: Samuel Dalembert
Spurs
PG: Cory Joseph
SG: Danny Green
SF: Kawhi Leonard
PF: Tim Duncan
C: Tiago Splitter

Team Leaders
Mavs
PPG: Nowitzki, 21.6
RPG: Dalembert, 6.8
APG: Ellis, 5.8
PER: Nowitzki, 23.7
Spurs
PPG: Parker, 16.8
RPG: Duncan, 9.7
APG: Parker, 5.8
PER: Duncan, 21.4

Notes
With Memphis and Phoenix both winning on Wednesday night, the Mavs magic number to clinch a playoff spot remains at two. Of course Dallas plays both teams to close the regular season. The Mavericks have lost 8 in a row to the Spurs and have allowed at least 112 points in all three of their losses this year to San Antonio. The Spurs are the only Western Conference team the Mavs have yet to beat this year. Tony Parker is out with a sprained back while Manu Ginobili's status is in question due to a bruised left calf. With a win the Mavs would equal their season best win streak of 5 straight victories. 

Mavs 95 Jazz 83: Game 79 Review

Headline
A PERFECT TENTH
Dirk passes the Big O for 10th on the NBA scoring list, as he leads the Mavs closer to a playoff berth.

Leaders

Mavs
Points: Nowitzki, 21
Rebounds: Nowitzki, Marion, Dalembert, 6
Assists: Harris, 6
+-: Carter, +16
Jazz
Points: Favors, 19
Rebounds: Kanter, 19
Assists: Hayward, Burke, 5
+-: Garrett, +2

Game Ball
Dirk Nowitzki
21 pts., 6 rbs., 3 ast., 9-11 FG, 2-3 3PT

X-Factor
Devin Harris
9 pts., 6 ast., 3-5 FG, 17 min.

Goat
Trey Burke
 4 pts., 2-8 FG

Play of the Game
Dirk's jumper on the opening possession of the 4th quarter on which he passed Oscar Robertson for 10th on the NBA's all-time scoring list. He finished the game with 26,714 career points.

Stat of the Game
The Mavs shot 16-17 from the field in the first quarter for 94%, a franchise record  for a single quarter. It was the best shooting quarter in the NBA since 2010.

Mavs Grades
Nowitzki: A+
Marion: B
Dalembert: B
Ellis: B-
Calderon: B-
Carter: B
Harris: B+
Crowder: C
Wright: C-
Blair: B-
Ellington: B

Additional Notes
The win puts the Mavs a game up on 8th place Phoenix and 2 games up on 9th place Memphis. Their magic number for clinching a playoff berth is now only 2.
Dirk shot 21-25 in two games in Utah this year. He was also 6-7 on threes.
The Mavs swept the season series over the Jazz and their road trip 4-0.
Utah barely had more defensive rebounds (24) than offensive rebounds (23).

Quote of Note
"Amazing. The top 10 is unreal. It’s been a crazy ride.”
Dirk on joining the exclusive list of the NBA's top 10 scorers.

Next Up
The Mavericks (48-31) return home to face their arch-nemesis, the San Antonio Spurs (60-18), Thursday at 7:00.

Mavericks at Jazz: Game 79 Preview

Dallas Mavericks (47-31) vs. Utah Jazz (24-53)
Apr. 8, 8:00 at Energy Solutions Arena
TV: Ch. 21, NBALP
Line: Mavs by 7 1/2

2013-14 Matchups
Nov. 22 at Dallas
Mavs 103 Jazz 93
Feb. 7 at Dallas
Mavs 103 Jazz 81
Mar. 12 at Utah
Mavs 108 Jazz 101

All-Time Series
Jazz 89 Mavs 65

Team Rankings
Mavs
Offense: 4th (111.2)
Defense: 23rd (108.6)
Jazz
Offense: 25th (103.2)
Defense: 29th (111.0)

Projected Starters
Mavs
PG: Jose Calderon
SG: Monta Ellis
SF: Shawn Marion
PF: Dirk Nowitzki
C: Samuel Dalembert
Jazz
PG: Trey Burke
SG: Gordon Hayward
SF: Richard Jefferson
PF: Marvin Williams
C: Derrick Favors

Team Leaders
Mavs
PPG: Nowitzki, 21.6
RPG: Dalembert, 6.8
APG: Ellis, 5.8
PER: Nowitzki, 23.5
Jazz
PPG: Hayward, 16.1
RPG: Favors, 8.8
APG: Burke, 5.5
PER: Favors, 18.6

Notes
The Mavericks magic number to clinch a playoff spot is 3. According to Basketball Reference's Playoff Probabilities Report they have a 85.4% chance to be in the postseason. The Mavs can sweep the season series over the Jazz for the 2nd time in 4 years with a win. Dirk Nowitzki ranks 5th in the league in ESPN's new real plus-minus stat. The only other Mav in the top 40 was Vince Carter at 36th.

Dirk Named Player of the Week

Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki has been named Western Conference Player of the Week for the week of March 31-April 6. Dirk led the Mavs to a 3-1 record while averaging 25.3 points and 8 rebounds per game. He also made 13 of his 23 three point attempts for the week. This is the 16th career Player of the Week award for Dirk and his first since December 2010.

Mavericks 93 Kings 91: Game 78 Review

Headline
47 THE HARD WAY
Mavs don't make it easy, but hold off Kings to remain perfect on road trip.

Leaders
Mavs
Points: Ellis, 23
Rebounds: Dalembert, 11
Assists: Harris, 7
+-: Carter, +13
Kings
Points: Gay, 32
Rebounds: Cousins, 10
Assists: McCallum, 9
+-: Thompson, +8

Game Ball
Vince Carter
17 pts., 6-13 FG, 4-9 3PT

X-Factor
DeJuan Blair
6 pts., 9 rbs., 3-6 FG

Goat
The Kings rookie backcourt of Ray McCallum and Ben McLemore who were a combined 6-21 from the field and 1-9 on threes.

Play of the Game
Vince Carter's back to back transition threes that put the Mavs ahead to stay with less than 5 minutes to go.

Stat of the Game
The Mavs don't have an overall good shooting game (40.4%), but go 13-31 on threes. The Kings shot  47.4% but were 5-18 on threes.

Mavs Grades
Nowitzki: C
Marion: C+
Dalembert: B
Ellis: A-
Calderon: B+
Carter: A
Blair: A
Harris: B-
Crowder: C-
Wright: C-

Additonal Notes
The Mavs remain in 7th place in the West, a half game up on Phoenix who beat OKC, and 1 1/2 games up on 9th place Memphis who lost in San Antonio.
The Mavericks magic number to clinch a playoff spot is now 3.
Dallas was only 8-14 from the line including 3 misses in the closing seconds that kept Sacramento alive.
Rudy Gay and DeMarcus Cousins combined for 60 of the Kings 91 points and were their only players who scored in double figures.
Vince Carter passed Elgin Baylor for 26th place on the NBA's all-time scoring list with his go-ahead 3 with 4:54 to go.  He currently has 23,152 career points.

Quote of Note
“Vince is instant offense. Every good team needs punch off the bench. Your starters can only do so much in an 82-game schedule. You need the bench to come through a lot of nights, and he’s been consistent.”
Dirk on Vince

Next Up
The Mavericks (47-31) go for a perfect 4-0 road trip when they face the Utah Jazz (24-53), Tuesday at 8:00 in Salt Lake City.

Mavericks at Kings: Game 78 Preview

Dallas Mavericks (46-31) vs. Sacramento Kings (27-49)
Apr. 5, 5:00 at Sleep Train Arena
TV: FSSW, NBALP

2013-14 Matchups
Dec. 9 at Sacramento
Kings 112 Mavs 97
Jan. 31 at Dallas
Mavs 107 Kings 103
Mar. 29 at Dallas
Mavs 103 Kings 100

All-Time Series
Mavs 85 Kings 62

Team Rankings
Mavs
Offense: 4th (111.2)
Defense: 23rd (108.6)
Kings
Offense: 18th (105.8)
Defense: 22nd (108.6)

 Projected Starters
Mavs
PG: Jose Calderon
SG: Monta Ellis
SF: Shawn Marion
PF: Dirk Nowitzki
C: Samuel Dalemert
Kings
PG: Ray McCallum
SG: Ben McLemore
SF: Rudy Gay
PF: Reggie Evans
C: Demarcus Cousins

Team Leaders
Mavs
PPG: Nowitzki, 21.7
RPG: Dalembert, 6.7
APG: Ellis, 5.8
PER: Nowitzki, 23.7
Kings
PPG: Cousins, 22.2
RPG: Cousins, 11.6
APG: Thomas, 6.4
PER: Cousins, 26.2

Notes
The Mavs are 24-1 against the teams with the 10 worst records in the league. There only loss was at Sacramento on December 9th.  Starting point guard Isaiah Thomas is out indefinitely for the Kings with a bruised right quadriceps. In six games since going 2-12 from the field in a loss to Brooklyn, Dirk Nowitzki is averaging 26.3 points while shooting 56.4% from the field and 45.2% on threes. Of the three teams competing for the final two West playoff spots, the Mavs have by far the easiest game. Memphis is at San Antonio, while Phoenix hosts Oklahoma City.

Mavericks 107 Lakers 95: Game 77 Review

Headline
LOS ANGELES KINGS
Mavs top Lakers to sweep trip to LA and remain 7th in the West.

Leaders
Mavs
Points: Nowitzki, 27
Rebounds: Dalembert, 14
Assists: Ellis, 9
+-: Nowitzki, +23
Lakers
Points: Meeks, 25
Rebounds: Johnson, 11
Assists: Marshall, 8
+-: Sacre, -3

Game Ball
Dirk Nowitzki
27 pts., 9 rbs., 5 ast., 11-14 FG

X-Factor
Brandan Wright
23 pts., 10-10 FG, 3-3 FT

Goat
Wesley Johnson
6 pts., 3-13 FG

Play of the Game
Dirk hits a jumper over good buddy Steve Nash to give the Mavs a four point lead to close out the third quarter.

Stat of the Game
Mavs centers Dalembert and Wright combine for 37 points and 19 rebounds on 16-19 shooting.

Mavs Grades
Nowitzki: A
Marion: A-
Dalembert: A
Ellis: C
Calderon: C+
Wright: A+
Harris: B
Crowder: C+
Carter: D
Ellington: C-

Additional Notes
With a third quarter free throw Dirk passed Dominique Wilkins for 11th place on the NBA career scoring list. He currently has 26,678 career points.
The Mavs swept the season series over the Lakers (3-0) for the first time in franchise history.
The win guarantees Dallas will finish with a winning road record. They are currently 21-17 away from home.
Brandan Wright is the first Maverick since 85-86 to go 10-10 or better from the field.
With Memphis and Phoenix both winning the Mavs mantain a half game lead on both teams for 7th place in the West.

Quote of Note
"You know, no one wants to miss shots. I want to make them all."
Brandan Wright on his perfect night.

Next Up
The Mavs (46-31) head north to face another one of the West's cellar-dwellers: the Sacramento Kings (27-49), Friday at 5:00 Central.

Mavericks 113 Clippers 107: Game 76 Review

Headline
THE LATE SHOW
Mavs actually hold onto lead against the Clippers as they get a huge win in their playoff push.

Leaders

Mavs
Points: Nowitzki, 26
Rebounds: Nowitzki, 11
Assists: Ellis, 9
+-: Harris, +17
Clippers
Points: Griffin, 25
Rebounds: Jordan, 15
Assists: Griffin, 11
+-: Collison, +5

Game Ball
Dirk Nowitzki
26 pts.,11 rbs., 10-18 FG, 4-7 3PT

X-Factor
Vince Carter
16 pts., 6-12 FG, 4-7 3PT

Goat
Matt Barnes
6 pts., 2-9 FG, 1-6 3PT

Play of the Game
Brandan Wright's poster dunk on Blake Griffin in the 2nd quarter.

Stat of the Game
Mavs hit 14-29 threes while Clippers go only 6-27.

Mavs Grades
Nowitzki: A
Marion: B
Dalembert: B+
Ellis: B
Calderon: A-
Carter: A-
Harris: B+
Wright: B+
Crowder: B
Blair: C

Additional Notes
The Mavs won their first game of the year over the Clippers, after blowing double-digit leads in the first 3 meetings. Tonight they let a 12 point lead get down to 2 in the closing minutes before holding on.
The win puts the Mavs put the Mavs a half game ahead of both Memphis and Phoenix, good for 7th place in the West.
Dirk had his third double-double in the last 5 games, half of his season total of 6.
The Mavs haven't been swept by the Clippers since the 93-94 season.

Quote of Note
"The win was nice. Not so much the last couple of minutes."
Dirk

Next Up
The Mavericks (45-31) stay at the Staples Center to face the depleted Lakers (25-50), later tonight at 9:30.

Mavericks vs. Warriors: Game 75 Preview

Dallas Mavericks (44-30) at Golden State Warriors (45-28)
Apr. 1, 7:30 at the AAC
TV: FSSW, NBALP
Line: Mavs by 4

2013-14 Matchups
Nov. 27 at Dallas
Mavericks 103 Warriors 99
Dec. 11 at Oakland
Warriors 95 Mavs 93
Mar. 11 at Oakland
Warriors 108 Mavs 85




All-Time Series
Mavericks 78 Warriors 61


Team Rankings
Mavs
Offense: 4th (110.9)
Defense: 22nd (108.4)
Warriors
Offense: 13th (106.8)
Defense: 4th (102.3)

Projected Starters
Mavs
PG: Jose Calderon
SG: Monta Ellis
SF: Shawn Marion
PF: Dirk Nowitzki
C: Samuel Dalembert
Warriors
PG: Stephen Curry
SG: Klay Thompson
SF: Andre Iguodala
PF: Marreese Speights
C: Jermaine O' Neal

Team Leaders
Mavs
PPG: Nowitzki, 21.4
RPG: Dalembert, 7
APG: Ellis, 5.7
PER: Nowitzki, 23.2
Warriors
PPG: Curry, 23.7
RPG: Bogut, 10.1
APG: Curry, 8.4
PER: Curry, 23.6

Notes
The Mavericks enter play in a 3 way tie for 7th in the West with Memphis and Phoenix at 44-30. A win would put them a half game behind  Golden State for 6th place. The Warriors will be without starters Andrew Bogut (hip pointer) and David Lee (strained right hamstring). The Mavs have won 10 out of their last 12 home games against the Warriors. Mavs GM Donnie Nelson says the team will pick up the 2nd year option in Samuel Dalembert's contract. In his last 7 games Dalembert is averaging 8.6 points, 10 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game.