Bulls 100 Mavericks 91: Game 60 Review

Headline
Bulls defense stifles the Mavs in the 4th quarter.

Leaders
Mavs
Points: Ellis, 20
Rebounds: Dalembert, 10
Assists: Ellis, 5
+-: Dalembert, +9
Bulls
Points: Gibson, 20
Rebounds: Gibson, 15
Assists: Dunleavy, Noah, 4
+-: Gibson, +18

Game Ball
Taj Gibson
20 pts., 15 rbs., 7-15 FG, 6-7 FT

X-Factor
Joakim Noah
10 pts., 9 rbs., 4 ast., usual excellent defense

Goat
Mavs Bench
Shoot only 8-27 from the field

Play of the Game
Mike Dunleavy's three that put the Bulls ahead to stay with 4:53 to go, after the Mavs had briefly retaken the lead.

Stat of the Game
Bulls hold the Mavericks to 37 second half points including only 15 in the 4th quarter.

Additional Notes
With the loss and a Golden St. win the Mavs drop back into 7th place in the West by a half-game.
Vince Carter scored 14 points in the first half, but only one after halftime.
Bulls have now won 8 out their last 9 and are tied with Toronto for third in the East.

Quote of Note
 "They did some good things defensively and in the second half there were a lot of opportunities for good shots and we just missed."
Rick Carlisle

Next Up
The Mavericks (36-24) travel south to face their nemesis, the San Antonio Spurs (42-16), Sunday at 6:00.

Mavericks vs. Bulls: Game 60 Preview

Dallas Mavericks (36-23) at Chicago Bulls (31-26)
Feb. 28, 7:30 at the AAC
TV: FSSW, NBALP
Line: Mavs by 4 1/2

2013-14 Matchups

Dec. 28 at Chicago
Mavs 105 Bulls 83

All-Time Series
Mavs 33 Bulls 32

Team Rankings
Mavs
Offense: 4th (110.9)
Defense: 23rd (108.2)
Bulls
Offense: 28th (101.1)
Defense: 2nd (100.4)

Projected Starters
Mavs
PG: Jose Calderon
SG: Monta Ellis
SF: Shawn Marion
PF: Dirk Nowitzki
C: Samuel Dalembert
Bulls
PG: Kirk Hinrich
SG: Jimmy Butler
SF: Mike Dunleavy
PF: Carlos Boozer
C: Joakim Noah

Team Leaders
Mavs
PPG: Nowitzki, 21.6
RPG: Marion, 6.8
APG: Ellis, 5.8
PER: Nowitzki, 24.6
Bulls
PPG: Boozer, 14.7
RPG: Noah, 11.5
APG: Augustin, 5.5
PER: Noah, 19.9


Notes
Both teams are riding hot streaks. The Mavs have won 10 out of 12, while the Bulls have won 7 out of 8. Both teams suffered losses to Miami during their runs. Vince Carter has scored at least 17 points in the last three games while hitting a combined 11 threes. Since Jan. 1 Joakim Noah is averaging 13.6 PPG, 13.2 RPG and 5.9 APG. The Mavericks sent Shane Larkin, Jae Crowder and Bernard James down to the Texas Legends of the D-League to play in that team's Thursday night's game. They will be back up and available for Friday's game.

Mavericks 108 Pelicans 89: Game 59 Review

Headline
Mavs continue to take care off business, take care of injury riddled Pelicans.

Leaders

Mavs
Points: Ellis, 23
Rebounds: Marion, Wright, 8
Assists: Ellis, 7
+-: Wright, +23

Pelicans
Points: Gordon, 19
Rebounds: Davis, 9
Assists: Evans, 7
+-: Davis, +4

Game Ball
Monta Ellis
23 pts., 7 ast. 4 stl.

X-Factor
Brandan Wright
8 pts., 8 rbs., 3 stl., 3 blk.

Goat
Tyreke Evans
4 pts., 2-9 FG

Play of the Game
Brandan Wright goes all out to save the ball from going out of bounds after a missed shot,  and then finds Shawn Marion for a layup that puts the Mavs up 20 with 7 minutes to go.

Stat of the Game
Mavericks force 19 Pelicans turnovers, 15 of which were steals.

Additional Notes
Dirk went to the locker room in the first minute of the game with a hurt left shoulder, but returned minutes later and showed no ill effects scoring 18 points on 7-13 shooting.
Pelicans All-Star Anthony Davis wasn't so fortunate as he hurt his left shoulder in the 2nd quarter and did not return to the game.
The Mavs swept the season series over New Orleans 4-0.
After trailing 27-20 at the end of the first quarter, Dallas outscored the Pelicans 88-62 in the remaining three periods.

Quote of Note
“The shoulder popped a little bit. I’ve had it ever since Karl Malone hacked me in ’99. The shoulder sometimes just comes in and out a little bit, but it tingles for just a couple of minutes. I walked it off in the tunnel and was able to finish the game. “But it happened a good 20 times already over my career, so it’s going to keep happening here and there.”
Dirk on his injury scare.

Next Up
The Mavericks (36-23) remain at home to face the feisty Chicago Bulls (31-26), Friday at 7:30.

Mavericks vs. Pelicans: Game 59 Preview

Dallas Mavericks (35-23) at New Orleans Pelicans (23-33)
Feb. 26, 7:05 at the AAC
TV: FSSW, ESPN
Line: Mavs by 7 1/2

2013-14 Matchups
Dec. 4 at New Orleans
Mavs 100 Pelicans 97
Jan. 10 at New Orleans
Mavs 107 Pelicans 90
Jan. 11 at Dallas
Mavs 110 Pelicans 107

All-Time Series
Mavs 47 Hornets-Pelicans 23

Team Rankings
Mavs
Offense:4th (110.8)
Defense: 23rd (108.4)
Pelicans
Offense: 11th (107.1)
Defense: 27th (109.2)

Projected Starters
Mavs
PG: Jose Calderon
SG: Monta Ellis
SF: Shawn Marion
PF: Dirk Nowitzki
C: Samuel Dalembert
Pelicans
PG: Brian Roberts
SG: Eric Gordon
SF: Al-Farouq Aminu
PF:Anthony Davis
C: Greg Stiemsma

Team Leaders
Mavs
PPG: Nowitzki, 21.7
RPG: Marion, 6.8
APG: Ellis, 5.8
PER: Nowitzki, 24.6
Pelicans
PPG: Davis, 20.5
RPG: Davis, 10.2
APG: Holiday, 7.9
PER: Davis, 26.4

Notes
During the Mavs 3-0 road trip they averaged 115.7 points per game. The Pelicans have lost 4 in a row and 6 out of 7, and will likely lose a lottery pick to Philadelphia due to their trade for the injured Jrue Holiday. Dallas has taken 6 games in a row from New Orleans. The Mavericks have also won 21 out of the last 23 games the two teams have played in Dallas. Last night was Dirk's 13th game-winning shot in the last 10 seconds of a game since 05-06. He is tied with Carmelo Anthony as the NBA leader in that span.

Mavericks 110 Knicks 108: Game 58 Review

Headline
Dirk's buzzer-beater spoils Melo's big night, gives Mavs a perfect road trip.

Leaders
Mavs
Points: Carter, 23
Rebounds: Dalembert, 10
Assists: Harris, 8
+-: Dalembert, +7
Knicks
Points: Anthony, 44
Rebounds: Chandler, 12
Assists: Felton, Smith, 7
+-: Aldrich, +12

Game Ball
Jose Calderon
20 pts., 6 ast., 0 TO, 5-8 3PT

X-Factor
Vince Carter
23 pts., 7-12 3PT

Goat
Amare Stoudemire
9 pts., 2 rbs., -8

Play of the Game
Dirk's buzzer beater over Carmelo Anthony that bounced off the rim and glass and then in the basket.

Stat of the Game
Teams combine to go 29-69 on threes. Mavs go 15-36, while Knicks go 14-33.

Additional Notes
The win puts the Mavs a half game ahead of Phoenix for 7th in the West.
Dallas finishes 10-5 on the road against the East for the season.
Knicks are 1-3 when Anthony scores 44+ points this year.

Quote of Note
''Basically it hit the board, every part of the rim, hit Jerry West over there, came back over and it was definitely an ugly, ugly shot.''
Dirk on his game winner.

Next Up
The Mavericks (35-23) reutrn home to face Anthony Davis and the New Orleans Pelicans (23-33), Wednesday at 7:00.

Mavericks at Knicks: Game 58 Preview

Dallas Mavericks (34-23) at New York Knicks (21-35)
Feb. 24, 6:30 at Madison Square Garden
TV: FSSW, NBATV
Line: Mavs by 4

2013-14 Matchups
Jan. 5 at Dallas
Knicks 92 Mavs 80

All-Time Series
Mavs 33 Knicks 32

Team Rankings
Mavs
Offense: 110.6 (4th)
Defense: 108.2 (23rd)
Knicks
Offense: 106.6 (12th)
Defense: 108.7 (26th)

Projected Starters
Mavs
PG: Jose Calderon
SG: Monta Ellis
SF: Shawn Marion
PF: Dirk Nowitzki
C: Samuel Dalembert
Knicks
PG: Raymond Felton
SG: Pablo Prigioni
SF: J.R. Smith
PF: Carmelo Anthony
C:  Tyson  Chandler
Team Leaders

Mavs
PPG: Nowitzki, 21.8
RPG: Marion, 6.8
APG: Ellis, 5.8
PER: Nowitzki, 24.7
Knicks
PPG: Anthony, 27.9
RPG: Chandler, 9.3
APG: Felton, 6.0
PER: Anthony, 25.1

Notes
Dirk has 7 career 30+ point games at MSG, the most he has in any Eastern Conference arena. Samuel Dalembert has at least 6 rebounds in the last 9 games after failing to record 6 rebounds in any of the four games prior. After a 10-6 January the Knicks have only been 2-8 in February.  Carmelo Anthony has recorded at least 35 points in 4 of his last 5 games, averaging 35.8 points per game in that span.

Mavericks 113 Pistons 102: Game 57 Review

Headline
Another strong offensive outing gives the Mavs a sweep of road back-to-back.

Leaders

Mavs
Points: Nowitzki, 24
Rebounds: Marion, Dalembert, 11
Assists: Ellis, 13
+-: Dalembert, +14
Pistons
Points: Smith, 32
Rebounds: Monroe, 17
Assists: Bynum, 8
+-: Stuckey, +1

Game Ball
Monta Ellis
12 pts. (10 in 4th), 13 ast., 5-9 FG

X-Factor
Samuel Dalembert
12 pts., 11 rbs., 3 blk.

Goat
Brandon Jennings
2 pts., 1-7 FG

Play of the Game
Dirk's three with 8:37 to go that put Dallas up 7 after Detroit had gotten within 4.

Stat of the Game
Mavericks outrebound a strong rebounding Pistons team 50-39.

Additional Notes
The win put the Mavs 11 games over .500 for the first time all season.
Wayne Ellington scored 7 points in 16 mintues, taking Jae Crowder's rotation spot. It was the first game Crowder didn't play in all year.
The Mavs held Andre Drummond to 12 points and only 9 rebounds in their two wins over the Pistons.

Quote of Note
“That’s exactly what we envisioned when we put this team together. He’s always attacking and that’s what we needed.”
Dirk on Monta

Next Up
The Mavericks (34-23) try to go 3-0 on their road trip when they face the struggling New York Knicks (21-35), Monday at 6:30.