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).

Mavericks at Kings: Game 18 Preview

Dallas Mavericks (10-7) at Sacramento Kings (6-12)
Mon. Nov. 30, 9:00 at Sleep Train Arena
TV: FSSW, NBALP
Line: Pick 'em

2014-15 Matchups
Nov. 11 at Dallas
Mavs 106 Kings 98
Jan. 13 at Sacramento
Mavs 108 Kings 104
Feb. 5 at Sacramento
Mavs 101 Kings 78

All-Time Series
Mavs 89 Kings 62

Team Stats
Mavs
Off. Rating: 103.0 (20th)
Def. Rating: 102.0 (10th)
Point Differential: +1.0
Kings
Offense: 104.5 (11th)
Defense: 108.7 (27th)
Point Differential: -4.2


Projected Starters
Mavs
PG: Deron Williams
SG: Wesley Matthews
SF: Chandler Parsons
PF: Dirk Nowitzki
C: Zaza Pachulia
Kings
PG: Rajon Rondo
SG: Ben McLemore
SF: Rudy Gay
PF: Omri Casspi
C: DeMarcus Cousins or Kosta Koufos

Team Leaders
Mavs
PPG: Nowitzki, 17 1
RPG: Pachulia, 9.5
APG: Williams, 5.6
PER: Nowitzki, 22.2
Kings
PPG: Cousins, 27.9
RPG: Cousins, 11.2
APG: Rondo, 11.0
PER: Cousins, 27.1

Of Note

• The Mavs are looking to break a three game road losing streak. They started the season 5-2 on the road prior to the streak.
• DeMarcus Cousins is listed as questionable after missing the last three games with a lower backs strain.
• The Mavericks have dominated the series against the Kings winning 6 in a row, 11 out of 12 and 21 out of 23.
• Rajon Rondo is leading the league, averaging 11.0 assists per game but is shooting only 37.5% from the free throw line.
• Dirk has grabbed 31 rebounds over the last three games with 29 of those rebounds coming on the defensive end.

Kobe Bryant Career Stats vs. the Mavericks

In honor of his pending retirement lets look back at Kobe's career against the Mavs.

Regular Season
Games: 60
Points Per Game: 24.0
Rebounds Per Game: 6.1
Assists Per Game: 4.5
Steals Per Game: 1.4
Blocks Per Game: 0.5
Turnovers Per Game: 3.3
Minutes Per Game: 37.0
Field Goal Percentage: 44.7%
3 Point Percentage: 30.8%
Free Throw Percentage: 83.4%

Playoffs
Games: 4 (0-4 record)
Points Per Game: 23.3
Rebounds Per Game: 3.0
Assists Per Game: 2.5
Steals Per Game: 1.8
Blocks Per Game: 0.3
Turnovers Per Game: 2.8
Minutes Per Game: 37.1
Field Goal Percentage: 45.8%
3 Point Percentage: 22.7%
Free Throw Percentage: 80.0%

Career Highs
Points: 62 (in 3 quarters), 12-20-05
Rebounds: 14, 4-18-00
Assists: 11, 3-17-02 and 4-2-13
Steals: 5, 5-4-11 (playoffs)
Blocks: 2, 5 times
Turnovers: 8, 4-17-05
Minutes: 51, 3-2-08
Field Goals Made: 18, 12-20-05
3 Pointers Made: 5, 4-17-05
Free Throws Made: 22, 12-20-05

The Mavericks only have one game remaining this year against Kobe and the Lakers, January 26 in Los Angeles.

Mavericks 92 Nuggets 81: Game 17 Recap

The Lead
Thanks to a record breaking third quarter defense, the Mavs end their three game losing streak.

Box Score

Leaders
Mavs
Points: Williams, 22
Rebounds: Pachulia, 12
Assists: Williams, Matthews, 4
+-: Pachulia, +20
Nuggets
Points: Arthur, 16
Rebounds: Gallinari, 9
Assists: Mudiay, Barton, 4
+-: Faried, +4

Game Ball
Deron Williams
22 points, 4 assists, 4 rebounds, 4-8 3PT

X-Factor
Raymond Felton
12 points, 2 steals, 5-10 FG

Play of the Game
Early in the fourth quarter after Raymond Felton and Devin Harris had shots at the rim blocked, Wesley Matthews kicked out the rebound to Dirk, who hit a three to put the Mavs up by a game high 20 points.

Stat of the Game
The Mavs held the Nuggets, to a team franchise opponent low of 5 points in the third quarter. Denver didn't score until there was 3:05 left in the period by which point the Mavs had gone on a 16-0 run.

Of Note

• The Mavs have won 5 straight games at home after losing their first two games of the season at the AAC.
• Zaza Pachulia recorded his 10th double-double of the year and fifth in six games with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Pachulia was coming off a disappointing effort in San Antonio where he only had 4 points and 0 rebounds.
• The Nuggets started two local products. Emanuel Mudiay in his first pro game in Dallas had 12 points on 5-15 shooting while South Oak Cliff's Darrell Arthur had a team high 16 points.  
• Denver shot 2-19 from the field and had 7 turnovers in the third quarter.
• J.J. Barea missed the first of at least three games he is expected to miss with a sprained right ankle.

Quote of Note
 “You know, we talked in the locker room that defensively we gave up 52 points against a team that played last night. They were shooting 50 percent on two-point field goals and 50 percent from three, and it didn’t help us at all. We had to lock in defensively, and that’s what we did. We came out aggressively. We were trapping, making them skip the ball from side to side, and a lot of teams don’t want to do that. And I think we did a really good job. We were really active, and hands were moving. It was beautiful to see the lineup working that hard defensively.”
Zaza Pachulia

Tweet of the Night

not a controversial take: zaza has been as effective as deandre and tyson.

— Mavs Moneyball (@mavsmoneyball) November 29, 2015

Next Up
The Mavericks (10-7) had out back on the road for a date Monday night with old "friend" Rajon Rondo and the Sacramento Kings (6-12).

Mavericks at Grizzlies: Game 15 Preview

Dallas Mavericks (9-5) at Memphis Grizzlies (7-7)
Tues. Nov. 24, 7:00 at the FedEx Forum
TV: FSSW, NBALP
Line: Grizzlies by 3


2014-15 Matchups
Dec. 9 at Memphis
Grizzlies 114 Mavs 105
Jan. 19 at Memphis
Mavs 103 Grizzlies 95
Jan. 27 at Dallas
Grizzlies 109 Mavs 90
Mar. 20 at Dallas
Grizzlies 112 Mavs 101 

All-Time Series
Mavs 56 Grizzlies 22


Team Stats
Mavs
Off. Rating: 104.6 (13th)
Def. Rating: 102.8 (13th)
Point Differential: +1.8
Thunder
Offense: 100.7 (27th)
Defense: 106.4 (21st)
Point Differential: -5.3

Projected Starters
Mavs
PG: Deron Williams
SG: Wesley Matthews
SF: Chandler Parsons
PF: Dirk Nowitzki
C: Zaza Pachulia
Grizzlies
PG: Mike Conley
SG: Tony Allen
SF: Jeff Green
PF: Zach Randolph or JaMychal Green
C: Marc Gasol

Team Leaders
Mavs
PPG: Nowitzki, 18.0
RPG: Pachulia, 10.0
APG: Williams, 5.6
PER: Nowitzki, 22.9
Grizzlies
PPG: Gasol, 15.7
RPG: Randolph, 8.7
APG: Conley, 6.6
PER: Conley, 18.9

Of Note

• In his last three games, Deron Williams is averaging 19.7 points, 6.7 assists and 5.0 rebounds. He also shot 50% from the field in those games as well hitting 8-13 threes.
• Zach Randolph is listed as questionable with a knee injury. Former Mav Brandan Wright is also questionable due to a knee injury. 
• Sunday's loss 117-114 loss to the Thunder was only the second time all season the Mavs lost while scoring 100 points or more. They were previously 7-1 when reaching the century mark.
• The Mavericks 71.8% win percentage all-time against the Grizzlies is their second best against any franchise behind New Orleans. The series hasn't been as one-sided lately with Memphis taking 4 out of the last 5 meetings.
• JaVale Mcgee scored 8 points and grabbed 6 rebounds in 11 minutes in his first action of the season on Sunday. McGee had only played in 28 games during the last two seasons because of various leg injuries.

Mavericks at Thunder: Game 14 Preview

Dallas Mavericks (9-4) at Oklahoma City Thunder (7-6)
Sun. Nov. 22, 6:00 at Chesapeake Energy Arena
TV: FSSW, NBALP
Line: no line


2014-15 Matchups
Dec. 28 at Dallas
Mavs 112 Thunder 107
Feb. 19 at OKC
Thunder 104 Mavs 89
Mar. 16 at Dallas
Mavs 119 Thunder 115
Apr. 1 at OKC
Mavs 135 Thunder 131

All-Time Series
Sonics/Thunder 73 Mavs 70

Team Stats
Mavs
Off. Rating: 103.8 (13th)
Def. Rating: 101.6 (12th)
Point Differential: +2.1
Thunder
Offense: 109.5 (2nd)
Defense: 104.9 (18th)
Point Differential: +4.7

Projected Starters
Mavs
PG: Deron Williams
SG: Wesley Matthews
SF: Chandler Parsons
PF: Dirk Nowitzki
C: Zaza Pachulia
Thunder
PG: Russell Westbrook
SG: Andre Robertson
SF: Kevin Durant or Dion Waiters
PF: Serge Ibaka
C: Steven Adams

Team Leaders

Mavs
PPG: Nowitzki, 18.6
RPG: Pachulia, 10.0
APG: Williams, 5.6
PER: Nowitzki, 23.8
Thunder
PPG: Westbrook, 28.5
RPG: Kanter, 8.8
APG: Westbrook, 10.2
PER: Westbrook, 32.3

Of Note

• Kevin Durant is questionable for the Thunder with a strained hamstring. The team is 2-3 in the five games he has missed.
• The Mavericks are looking for their first seven game winning streak since winning eight in a row in February and March 2011. They also had winning streaks of 12 and 10 during that championship 10-11 season.
• In the Mavs three wins over OKC last season, Chandler Parsons averaged 26.3 points on 67% shooting.
• Dallas has won 5 out its last 6 contests with the Thunder, scoring at least 109 points in all of the wins. Before that they had lost 11 in a row to Oklahoma City including being swept in the 2012 playoffs.
• Justin Anderson and Salah Mejri are expected back with the team after playing for the D-League Texas Legends Saturday night. Both fared well with Anderson scoring 27 points and Mejri collecting 6 points, 12 rebounds and 6 blocks.

Mavericks 102 Jazz 93: Game 13 Recap

The Lead
Williams, Pachulia key Mavericks sixth straight win, thanks to a monster run in the middle quarters.

Box Score

Leaders
Mavs
Points: Williams, 23
Rebounds: Pachulia, 12
Assists: Williams, 8
+-: Nowitzki, Williams, +15
Jazz
Points: Hayward, 22
Rebounds: Gobert, 12
Assists: Hayward, Hood, 4
+-: Burke, +7

Game Ball
Deron Williams
23 points, 8 assists, 6 rebounds, 7-13 FG

X-Factor
Zaza Pachulia
15 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists, 6-11 FG

Play of the Game
Shaking off a rough shooting night, Wesley Matthews drove to the hole and put home a tough hoop while being fouled for a 3 point play that put the Mavs up 9 with 1:30 to go.

Stat of the Game
The Mavericks shot 31-55 on two pointers against one of the top interior defenses in the league. They ended up outscoring the Jazz in the paint 44-40.

Of Note

• The Mavs current six game winning streak equals their longest streak since 2011. They also won six in a row twice last season.
• Dirk who was 3-3 on threes tonight has made 13 out of his last 20 from long distance. His season percentage on threes is now 53.3%.
• Deron Williams 23 points is the most he has scored in 8 career games against his former team.
• Only the Warriors, Spurs and Cavaliers now have better records the Mavericks.
• After being behind 32-26 early in the second quarter, the Mavs went on a 43-17 run to take a 20 point lead in the third quarter. Utah would get no closer than 5 points the remainder of the game. 
• Justin Anderson and Saleh Mejri were assigned to the D-League Texas Legends after the game.
• The Mavs wore their green 80's throwback uniforms for the first of six times this season.

Quote of Note
"This is a great group of guys. ... We all just enjoy each other, we all like each other and love playing for each other."
Deron Williams

Tweet of the Night

This Deron Williams experience has been quite enjoyable. It just feels right.

— Bob Sturm (@SportsSturm) November 21, 2015

Next Up
The Mavericks (9-4) go back on the road, to face Russell Westbrook and the Oklahoma City Thunder (7-6) at 6:00 on Sunday.

Mavericks vs. Jazz: Game 13 Preview

Dallas Mavericks (8-4) vs. Utah Jazz (6-5)
Fri. Nov. 20, 7:30 at the AAC
TV: FSSW, NBALP
Line: Mavs by 2

2014-15 Matchups
Oct. 30 at Dallas
Mavs 120 Jazz 102
Nov. 7 at Utah
Mavs 105 Jazz 82
Feb. 11 at Dallas
Mavs 87 Jazz 82
Apr. 13 at Utah
Jazz 109 Mavs 92

All-Time Series

Jazz 90 Mavs 69


Team Stats
Mavs
Off. Rating: 102.9 (20th)
Def. Rating: 101.3 (10th)
Point Differential: +1.5
Jazz
Offense: 102.9 (19th)
Defense: 98.9 (4rd)
Point Differential: +3.8

Projected Starters
Mavs
PG: Deron Williams
SG: Wesley Matthews
SF: Chandler Parsons
PF: Dirk Nowitzki
C: Zaza Pachulia
Jazz
PG: Raul Neto
SG: Rodney Hood
SF: Gordon Hayward
PF: Derrick Favors
C: Rudy Gobert

Team Leaders

Mavs
PPG: Nowitzki, 18.5
RPG: Pachulia, 9.8
APG: Williams, 5.4
PER: Nowitzki, 23.3
Jazz
PPG: Favors, 16.0
RPG: Gobert, 11.0
APG: Hood, 3.0
PER: Favors, 25.9

Of Note

• A win would give the Mavs a 6 game winning streak to equal their longest streak of last year which they did twice. They haven't won more than 6 in a row since winning 10 in a row in Feb. 2011.
• This is the Mavericks only home game in a 7 game stretch.
• Dallas has dominated Utah at home recently winning 9 in a row, 14 out of 15 and 21 out of 23.
• Since the Mavericks and Jazz only meet three times this could be a pivotal game for potential playoff tiebreaker purposes.
• Four members of the Mavs have played for the Jazz during the career, most notably Deron Williams but also Wesley Matthews, Devin Harris and Jeremy Evans.
• The Mavs will wear  green throwback uniforms from the 80's for the first of six games this year.

Mavericks 106 Celtics 102: Game 12 Recap

The Lead
After falling behind by 18 points early, the Mavs storm to take their fifth game in a row to complete a perfect road trip.

Box Score

Leaders
Mavs
Points: Nowitzki, 23
Rebounds: Pachulia, 12
Assists: Williams, 6
+-: Nowitzki, +18
Celtics
Points: Thomas, 19
Rebounds: Sullinger, 12
Assists: Thomas, 6
+-: Olynyk, +13

Game Ball
Dirk Nowitzki
23 points, 7 rebounds, 9-14 FG

X-Factor
Deron Williams
16 points, 6 assists, 0 turnovers

Play of the Game
After missing two free throws with 16.5 seconds left that kept the Mavs lead at 2, Raymond Felton pokes the ball away from Isaiah Thomas to force a gigantic turnover. Deron Williams would then hit two free throws to secure the victory.

Stat of the Game
After giving up an 18-2 lead in the first quarter that put them down 18, the Mavericks turn the table in the fourth quarter with a 14-2 run that turns a 89-82 deficit with 7:58 left to a 96-91 with 3:42 to go.

Of Note

• The win was the Mavericks' fifth in a row and completed a 3-0 road trip. They are also now 4-0 in their new skyline jerseys.
• Deron Williams (11) and Wesley Matthews (10) combined for 21 points in the fourth quarter.
• Since losing the franchise's first 15 games in Boston, the Mavs have gone 14-6 in Beantown.
• In the battle of the only two players left from the Rondo trade last year, Dwight Powell had 6 points and 6 rebounds in 23 minutes for the Mavs, while Jae Crowder had 14 points and 6 rebounds in 35 minutes for the Celtics.
• Chandler Parsons played a season high 21 minutes, scoring 8 points on 4-6 shooting but missing all 4 of his free throws.
• The Mavericks shot 51.4% against the league's #4 field goal defense, the best anyone has shot against Boston this season.
• Dirk passed Dominique Wilkins for 13th on the NBA's career field goals made list with 9,963 made baskets.

Quote of Note
"That was coldblooded. ... I said, 'Don't give me my own move."
Dirk on Kelly Olynyk shooting and missing a one-legged-fadeaway while Dirk was guarding him.

Tweet of the Night

These Mavs are resilient and Dirk looks like he can do this forever.

— Paul Flannery (@Pflanns) November 19, 2015

Next Up
The Mavericks (8-4), briefly return home on Friday for a key game against the Jazz (6-5)