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.