(Photo by Ronald Martinez / Getty Images North America)

By Bryan Gutierrez, Mavs.com
Stats pile up for Dirk Nowitzki against Celtics

DALLAS — Quite a few accomplishments happened in Dirk Nowitzki’s 1,022^nd regular season game. While Nowitzki moved up the all-time scoring list and joined a unique group of power forwards, he did something on Monday night against the Boston Celtics that he had only done six other times in his career, record a double-double by the end of the first half.  With 21 points and 10 rebounds in the first half, it marked the first time since November 11, 2005 for Dirk to accomplish the feat. The breakdown of the seven games where Nowitzki has recorded a double-double by the end of the first half:

January 17, 2003: at Phoenix against the Suns – 14 points and 10 rebounds
October 28, 2003: at Los Angeles against the Lakers – 14 points and 12 rebounds
December 27, 2003: against the Memphis Grizzles – 13 points and 10 rebounds
March 30, 2004: against the Cleveland Cavaliers – 25 points and 10 rebounds
December 11, 2004: at Houston against the Rockets – 17 points and 11 rebounds
November 11, 2005: at Charlotte against the Bobcats – 13 points and 10 rebounds
February 20, 2012: against the Boston Celtics – 21 points and 10 rebounds

-credit to Mark Followill, play-by-play announcer for Dallas Mavericks television broadcasts

In terms of additional milestones for Nowitzki, it started on the defensive end of the floor. With a block on Avery Bradley at the 9:30 mark of the first quarter, he recorded his 1,000^th career block. Nowitzki, who has made 1,221 three-pointers in his career, became one of only three players in NBA history with at least 1,000 three-pointers and 1,000 blocks, joining Clifford Robinson (1,253 threes and 1,390 blocks) and Rasheed Wallace (1,064 threes and 1,445 blocks).

Nowitzki became the 80^th player in NBA history to record 1,000 blocks. His teammate, Brendan Haywood, was the last player to join the 1,000-block club (against Minnesota on January 1, 2012).

(Photo by Ronald Martinez / Getty Images North America)

The milestones weren’t finished for the night for Dirk as he also moved past former Celtic Robert Parish (23,334) and into 20^th place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. Elgin Baylor and Adrian Dantley were legends that Nowitzki zoomed right by earlier in the season. Kevin Garnett and Charles Barkley are next on the list. “It doesn’t mean that much to me right now,” Nowitzki said on his milestones. “It’s going to be great when my career is over. Now, I just want to keep on working. I feel better. I’ve got to keep going.”

Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle has consistently stood up for the power forward in regards to his standing as one of the best players the league has ever seen. Carlisle definitely saw the latest name Nowitzki moved ahead of on the scoring list, a former teammate for Carlisle, as further validation for the 2011 Finals MVP’s body of work. “For those people that didn’t think he was a top 20 all-time player, I think this is good evidence of that,” Carlisle said after the game against the Celtics.

Nowitzki will continue to climb the list and pass historic players. The thought of Dirk moving into the top 10 is not out of the realm of possibilities. Nowitzki has come a long way as a player and just within the span of the first half of this season. The decision to give him time off to work on his ailing knee was clearly the right move to make. The rest and rehabilitation has done wonders for the 11-time All-Star. “Ever since I took that week off, I think it’s been steady progress of me feeling better and moving better,” Nowitzki said. “I’ve just got to keep attacking for this team and keep moving in the right direction.” It’s safe to say that he is definitely moving in the right direction.

It sounds like Charles Barkley’s claim that father time had caught up to Nowitzki was erroneous. He’s averaged 25.4 points and 8.0 rebounds while shooting 55.5 percent from the floor over his last 10 games. “I’m getting warmed up,” Nowitzki joked about his form heading into the All-Star break. Monday night was an avalanche of statistical achievements for Nowitzki. As the Mavericks have the All-Star break on the horizon, it appears that Dirk Nowitzki is ready to show that he will do whatever it takes to help his team defend their championship crown.

Stay connected with Dallas Mavericks reporter Bryan Gutierrez by following him on Twitter.

Note: Single-game tickets are on sale and available at the American Airlines Center North Box Office, online at mavs.com, via phone by calling 214-747-MAVS or 1-800-4NBA-TIX and all Ticketmaster outlets (Fiesta Grocery Stores, Wal-Mart, Simon Mall in Garland and the Shops at Willow Bend in Plano).

Dr. Pepper Family Nights are here! Plans include four Mavs tickets and four McDonald’s extra value meals, starting at $49. Visit mavs.com or call 214-747-MAVS for a schedule of games and to purchase tickets.

(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)

Limping in on a three-game losing streak, the Celtics entered the American Airlines Center down three of their main contributors. While point guard Rajon Rondo served the first contest of a two-game suspension, big men Kevin Garnett (personal reasons) and Brandon Bass (sore left knee) were also ruled out of Monday night’s showdown. Meanwhile, the Mavericks looked to bounce back from Sunday’s 104-97 loss in New York after having their season-high six-game win streak snapped.

With that said, Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle stressed to his players the importance of not overlooking the shorthanded Celtics even with the Los Angeles Lakers looming on Wednesday in the final game before the All-Star break.

“Nothing is ever for sure in this league,” Carlisle simply told his players before the nationally-televised matchup.

The coach and his team then tried to get back in the win column in front of their hometown fans by sweeping the two-game season series after a 90-85 win in Boston back on Jan. 11. And on a historic night for both Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd, the Mavericks (21-12) had no problem sprinting to a runaway 89-73 victory.

“I mean, they obviously had some guys out and that’s always dangerous,” Nowitzki said after the win. “You always talk about those being the setup kind of games that’s easy to lose, when they’ve got a couple guys out and you don’t approach the game the right way mentally. But we talked about it before the game, especially after coming off a loss, and we definitely took this one the right way.”

With Nowitzki becoming the third player — joining Clifford Robinson and Rasheed Wallace — in NBA history to record 1,000 blocked shots and 1,000 made 3-pointers in his illustrious career after a rejection on Celtics guard Avery Bradley, it would be the start of a historic opening quarter for the 11-time All-Star. Nowitzki then moved ahead of Celtics great Robert Parish (23,334 points) for 20th on the all-time scoring list with an and-1 jumper over Chris Wilcox.

“It’s nice, obviously, but it doesn’t mean that much to me right now,” Nowitzki said. “As I always keep saying, it’s gonna be great when my career is over, looking back at all the stuff that I did. But, for now, I’m just gonna keep on working.”

“For those people that didn’t think he was a top 20 all-time player, I think this is good evidence of that,” Carlisle added.

And after Nowitzki reached both career milestones, the Mavs entered the second stanza with a 20-15 lead.

Still playing without reserve guards Delonte West (fractured right ring finger) and Rodrigue Beaubois (personal reasons), the Mavs got a lift from the backup backcourt of Dominique Jones and Jason Terry in the second quarter. Running the point, Jones found Terry with a penetrating drive and kick for a three to put the Mavs up 25-17 with 9:48 left in the half. Then it was Kidd’s time for history, collecting a steal to move ahead of Michael Jordan (2,514) for second on the league’s all-time list.

Kidd now sits only behind John Stockton’s 3,265 career steals.

“Mike is everybody’s idol and he played both ends of the court. So, just being able to pass him in something is an honor in itself,” Kidd said modestly. “When you talk about defense, he played both sides of the ball. So, Stockton and Jordan are the two best at what they do. When you talk about guards, those two are the best all time.”

But it was Nowitzki that exploded for 10 straight Dallas points and a double-double in the first half, leading his team to a lead as large as 14 and a 44-34 halftime advantage.

Nowitzki’s 21-point, 10-rebound first half was all the Mavs needed for the double-digit lead at the midway mark. Meanwhile, the Mavericks’ 40.9 percent shooting just bettered the Celtics’ 40.5 percent from the field through two quarters in the battle of the two best field goal defenses in the league.

Nowitzki didn’t slow down in the third period, scorching the net with a three to put the Mavs up 18, 54-36, with 8:45 left in the quarter. He then deferred to his supporting cast as the lead ballooned to as much as 24, before the Mavs headed to the final period with a 70-53 margin in their favor.

The Celtics (15-16) continued to fire in the fourth, however, as sharpshooters Paul Pierce and Ray Allen began to heat up. But Dallas quickly responded with back-to-back scores by Jones and new addition Lamar Odom to put their team up 80-59 with 8:47 remaining. Celtics coach Doc Rivers soon pulled his starters before Carlisle followed suit as both teams’ reserves finished the game.

“I thought coming off of yesterday the guys were really up for this,” Carlisle concluded. “Sometimes you can have a letdown when a team’s missing a couple of star players. I thought we did a good job not allowing that to happen and then just playing with consistency from start to finish.”

Leading his team to the victory was Nowitzki, who registered a game-high 26 points on 10-of-24 from the field to go along with a season-high 16 rebounds.

“Ever since I took that week off, it’s been steady progress of me feeling better and moving better,” Nowitzki said. “So, I’ve just got to keep attacking for this team and keep things going in the right direction.”

Off the bench, Terry added 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting while Shawn Marion made it three Mavs in double figures with 11 points. Kidd, meanwhile, filled up the stat sheet with six points, eight assists, two rebounds and three steals.

“Just at the right place at the right time, understanding guys’ tendencies, watching film early on in my career and just being lucky enough to get in the way of some passes,” Kidd said when putting his night and career in perspective.

Pierce led three Celtics in double figures with 20 points on 7-of-13 shooting and Allen added 15 points on 6-for-15. But the Mavericks finished the night outshooting the visitors, 40.4 percent to 39.2 percent, in addition to a 51-44 rebounding edge. The Mavs finished with a 32-18 advantage in points in the paint as well and feasted off the Celtics’ 17 turnovers, scoring 25 points at the other end compared to Boston’s 13 points off only 10 Maverick giveaways.

“Our identity this year is that we’re a defensive team,” Carlisle added. “You look at our stats and you look at our record, you look at when we’ve struggled and when we play well. Our defense and rebounding is defining who we are. We have great respect for Boston, so it’s nice to be in that company, but we still have a ways to go.”

The Mavs return to action at the American Airlines Center Wednesday night when they host the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers lead the season series 1-0 after a 73-70 win over the Mavs on Jan. 16 in L.A. The game will air nationally on ESPN and locally on Fox Sports Southwest at 8:30 p.m. CT. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by calling (214) 747-MAVS.

“We’ve got one more game against the Lakers, who are playing well. So, we’ve got to end the first half on the right note by getting the win,” Kidd said while looking forward.

Single-game tickets are on sale and available at the American Airlines Center North Box Office, online at mavs.com, via phone by calling 214-747-MAVS or 1-800-4NBA-TIX and all Ticketmaster outlets (Fiesta Grocery Stores, Wal-Mart, Simon Mall in Garland and the Shops at Willow Bend in Plano).

Dr. Pepper Family Nights are here! Plans include four Mavs tickets and four McDonald’s extra value meals, starting at $49. Visit mavs.com or call 214-747-MAVS for a schedule of games and to purchase tickets.

(Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)

Meanwhile, Mavericks guard Jason Terry made his return to the hardwood in time to help his team try to extend a six-game winning streak of their own. And with his mild right quad strain and personal issues behind him, Terry came back from his two-game hiatus ready to contend with “Linsanity” in Madison Square Garden.

“I think it’s a lot of hype right now,” Terry said of the sensation surrounding Lin before the game. “Is he going to be a good player in the future? If he continues to work he will. Given the opportunity, he’s taken advantage of it. But everybody is making a lot out of the seven games he’s played. I’ve been in the league 13 years, so seven games don’t necessarily make a career. He does have a great buzz right now, but we’ll see when he faces the champs.”

Sunday, Terry saw first-hand that Lin is much more than all hype. And with their sensational guard leading the way, the Knicks ended Dallas’ win streak by handing the Mavericks (20-12) a 104-97 defeat.

“It definitely surprised me, but he’s a tough kid and tonight he showed it,” Terry said of Lin after the game.

“I really like him,” 11-time All-Star Dirk Nowitzki added on Lin’s sudden stardom. “It’s a great example of if you work hard and you get your opportunity, make the best out of it. That’s inspirational.”

Operating as a facilitator early, Lin kept the Knicks (16-16) evenly knotted with the Mavericks midway through the opening quarter with his play-making ability. At the same time, forward Shawn Marion aggressively looked for his own shot even after a 3-for-13 night in Philadelphia. But with Terry returning to hit a 3-pointer on his first shot before also getting called for two quick fouls and a flagrant-1 for pushing Lin, Knicks newcomer J.R. Smith was free to shoot at will, powering his team to a 17-0 run (19-2 to close the period) with three 3-pointers by the former Nugget and another by Lin.

Lin’s runner with 1.4 seconds on the clock then gave the Knicks a 32-20 advantage at the end of one quarter of play.

“He played terrific,” Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said of Lin. “He was good in the pick-and-roll and more than anything he lined us up one-on-one. He threw in two or three shots at the end of the shot clock and one or two of them were threes. You have to give him credit, he’s playing great.”

The Mavericks would rally, however, opening the second stanza on a 14-2 spurt to tie the game at 34-all. But the Mavs couldn’t contain Lin once again even with Marion’s lockdown defense. And although Nowitzki led all scorers with 14 points at the midway mark, Lin’s 12 points and six assists powered the Knicks to a 48-45 halftime lead.

Behind Nowitzki’s 5-of-10 shooting, the Mavericks outshot their opponent through two quarters, 45.9 percent to 43.5 percent. But despite an 11-4 advantage in fast-break points, the Mavs faced a 24-18 disadvantage in points in the paint and 11-6 deficit in second-chance points after getting outrebounded, 20-17.

A vintage jumper by Nowitzki got the Mavs on the board first to open the third period. Point guard Jason Kidd then lent his go-to scorer a helping hand, drilling a shot to put the Mavs up 54-53. Nowitzki the reassumed the scoring duties, swishing in a three plus the foul for a four-point play in the midst of a 15-5 run.

“In the third quarter, we were going and the game was in our hands to finish off. We didn’t do it, and tip your hat to them, they kept playing,” Kidd said.

With a stingy defense suffocating Lin, the Mavs turned stops into scores at the other end. But after the Mavs upped their lead to as much as 12, the Knicks came storming back with both Nowitzki and Kidd on the bench behind their point guard, cutting the Dallas lead to 75-72 entering the fourth.

“That really got the crowd back into the game,” Nowitzki said of the Knicks’ run. “We did a really good job of keeping them out and having control of the game until that last stretch in the third quarter.”

“I thought the two things that did us in were the 17-0 run in the first quarter after the flagrant foul, when we went from up five to down 12, and the run that they made at the end of the third. They’re going to hit threes. They’re a good shooting team. They cause problems to facilitate threes. But those two runs and our turnovers did us in,” Carlisle added.

That lead was quickly erased as former Maverick Steve Novak hit a three to tie the game in the early seconds of the final period. The sharpshooter then gave the Knicks a brief lead before second-year guard Dominique Jones put the Mavs back ahead with his first career three. Still, Novak continued to torch the Dallas defense, connecting on another three to put the Knicks up 81-80 and forcing a timeout by the Mavs with 8:35 remaining.

“Novak played his game. He had open shots and scrambled around defensively. He’s helped change the complexion of their team because he’s such a threat from the 3-point line. We know all too well what he’s capable of and he’s a very good piece for what they’re doing,” Carlisle said of his former player.

After a Kidd turnover, a third triple would find all net from Novak to put the Knicks up by four. It was just a prelude of more to come, however, after back-to-back threes by Novak and Lin put the Mavs in a 90-81 hole with 6:49 left. The Mavs stood strong, though, with Kidd first connecting on a three of his own before turning a steal — which tied him with Michael Jordan for second on the all-time list — into a transition feed to Nowitzki to bring their team to within four, 92-88.

A much-needed three by Terry trimmed the deficit to two, but it was quickly answered by Lin’s shot from behind the arc to extend the Knicks’ lead. Marion then kept Dallas’ heart beating with a score after Amar’e Stoudemire’s runner over Nowitzki was ruled after the shot clock buzzer. Still, after Terry misfired from deep, Smith’s transition score made it 102-97 in the Knicks’ favor with only 28.5 seconds left. Misses by Kidd and Nowitzki in the final seconds then secured the victory for the Knicks as Chandler closed the game with a breakaway dunk.

Despite a season-high 34 points from Nowitzki on 11-of-20 shooting, the Mavericks tasted defeat for the first time in seven games. Marion added 14 points in the first unit and Terry returned to the lineup to score 13 points off the bench.

Lin led the Knicks with 28 points on 11-of-20 from the field and 3-of-6 from behind the arc to accompany 14 assists, overcoming seven turnovers in the process. In all, six Knicks scored in double figures with Chandler collecting a double-double against his former team with 14 points and 10 rebounds.

“It was weird,” Nowitzki said after facing his former teammate for the first time since the two led the Mavs to the title. “We went to dinner last night. It was great seeing him. Obviously we miss him; just a great guy, great locker room guy and just a warrior. He helped us win a championship and he’s gonna be family for the rest of our lives. It was definitely great seeing him and he’s a competitor. I wish him luck and it’s gonna be great when he comes back to Dallas and receives his ring. He’s gonna get a great welcome back from the fans, ’cause he definitely deserves it. He’s a big part of why we won last year.”

With both teams hitting 12 shots from 3-point range, the Knicks finished the night outshooting the Mavs, 46.5 percent to 44.4 percent, although Dallas ended the night with a 41-40 rebounding edge. Both teams also committed 19 turnovers on the night with Dallas scoring 19 points off New York’s giveaways and the Knicks registering 24 points at the other end. New York also finished with a 44-36 edge in points in the paint and 25-17 advantage in second-chance points

The Mavericks will now head back to Dallas for their final two games entering the All-Star break, facing the Boston Celtics Monday on the second night of a back-to-back before Wednesday night’s showdown with the Los Angeles Lakers.

“We would have loved to have ran the table heading until the All-Star break, but it’s a tough loss. The good thing about the NBA is there’s always the next night. Boston is playing tonight as well, so they’re gonna be on a back-to-back, which is good. So, in the NBA you’ve got to forget, you’ve got to have a short memory and come back tomorrow and leave it all out there,” Nowitzki said while looking ahead.

Note: The Mavs return to the American Airlines Center Monday night when they host the Boston Celtics. Dallas leads the season series 1-0 after a 90-85 win in Boston on Jan. 11. That game will air nationally on TNT at 7 p.m. CT. Fans are encouraged to arrive early due to the early tipoff. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by calling (214) 747-MAVS.

Single-game tickets are on sale and available at the American Airlines Center North Box Office, online at mavs.com, via phone by calling 214-747-MAVS or 1-800-4NBA-TIX and all Ticketmaster outlets (Fiesta Grocery Stores, Wal-Mart, Simon Mall in Garland and the Shops at Willow Bend in Plano).

Dr. Pepper Family Nights are here! Plans include four Mavs tickets and four McDonald’s extra value meals, starting at $49. Visit mavs.com or call 214-747-MAVS for a schedule of games and to purchase tickets.

(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)

After fracturing his right ring finger in the first half of Wednesday night’s 102-84 win over the Denver Nuggets, West underwent successful surgery to stabilize the finger. With a second procedure still to come to remove the stabilizing pins before he can return to basketball activity, no timetable is set for West’s return.

“The surgery went well and he’ll be out a number of weeks. We’re not exactly sure how long,” Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said before Friday night’s showdown in Philly. “But in the meantime, we’re gonna have to scramble a little bit.”

The coach must have forgot that he still has All-Star forward Dirk Nowitzki on his team. And with Nowitzki coming to the rescue after his team faced a double-digit deficit in the first half, scoring 24 of his game-high 28 points in the second half, the Mavericks (20-11) continued their winning streak to six straight after a victory.

“We kind of take everybody’s best hit,” Nowitzki said after the come-from-behind win, “and we still play well. And, obviously, we had some personal tragedies in the last couple days, so hopefully we can get some of our guys back.”

“If we keep getting the ball to Dirk, it doesn’t matter how bad things are looking,” second-year guard Dominique Jones added. “He’s gonna make some things happen.”

With West on the mend and both Jason Terry and Rodrigue Beaubois away from the team due to personal reasons, the shorthanded Mavericks stepped into the Wells Fargo Center looking for a sixth straight victory. The squad also went in search of a win to begin a two-game road trip before tangling with ex-Maverick Tyson Chandler and the New York Knicks in a matinee matchup Sunday.

The Mavericks would begin the night with some early struggles, however, missing their first five shots from the field. Still, behind a quick start by center Brendan Haywood to balance out a 0-for-5 start by forward Shawn Marion, the Mavericks grabbed an early advantage. In place of their three missing guards, the Mavs got an early lift from Jones as well. But the Sixers would return fire with a balanced offensive attacking led by Andre Iguodala, battling back to take a 27-21 lead at the end of one quarter of play after hitting 12-of-22 from the field compared to Dallas’ 9-of-26 shooting in the period.

It wouldn’t take long into the second period for the Mavs to find themselves in a double-digit hole after Nikola Vucevic’s dunk forced Carlisle to call timeout with his team down 35-23 with 10:11 left in the half. Finding brief success with point guard Jason Kidd operating from the post, the Mavs remained in the game. Still, after trailing by as much as 15, the Mavs faced a 51-37 deficit at the halftime break.

The Mavs faced the disadvantage after holding a lead or being tied at the break in 15 straight games. And with Marion and Nowitzki a combined 3-of-18 from the field, the Mavericks were outshot through two quarters, 45.5 percent to 32.6 percent.

“I really tried to find my rhythm early and get some baskets and get going, but for some reason that wasn’t happening,” Nowitzki said of his four-point first half. “I felt like I had some good looks but everything was short. In the second half, I had the same mindset, just had a couple go in. And when a shooter sees a couple go in his confidence shows up.”

While Nowitzki began to come to life as the third quarter got underway Marion continued to struggle. After bringing his team back with his outside shooting, though, Nowitzki connected on a 3-pointer to give the Mavs the lead thanks to a 14-0 run. And after a 19-2 start to the quarter and 12 points by Nowitzki, the Mavs headed into the final period with a 61-59 edge despite a buzzer-beating jumper by Lou Williams.

With Marion shaking off his shooting struggles and leading the defensive charge, the Sixers (20-11) scored a season-low for any period with eight points in the third quarter.

“I’m a competitor and I don’t believe in playing one side of the floor,” Marion said after a 3-for-13 night. “I’ve always been like that my whole career and I pride myself on that. True basketball players are gonna find a way to help their team whether they’re able to score or not.”

“That third quarter, which has been a our worst quarter all season, turned out to be our best quarter at both ends tonight,” Kidd added.

With the teams evenly knotted, a spinning Lamar Odom scored and drew the foul before Kidd connected on a shot from behind the arc to give Dallas a 72-63 lead with 6:29 remaining after a 9-0 run.

“It was 63-63 and we were like, ‘Hey, who’s gonna make a stand?’ Dirk made some great plays down the stretch and everybody kind of touched the ball,” Kidd said of the performance in the fourth.

Marion then broke out of his slump, draining a runner to answer Thaddeus Young’s jumper. Fittingly, however, it was Nowitzki that provided the dagger, connecting on a fadeaway bank-in and then another vintage jumper to up the lead to 80-71 inside of the game’s final 3:00. And with his team up four and 35.8 seconds remaining, Nowitzki then put the Sixers to bed for the night with a perfect pair at the foul line.

Hitting 10-of-22 from the field and pulling down 12 rebounds on the night, Nowitzki recorded a double-double and matched the Sixers’ second-half scoring production. Jones added 12 points off the bench, falling one shy of his career-high while Carter pitched in 10 points in the starting unit.

Vucevic led four Sixers in double figures with 16 points off the Philly bench on 7-of-8 shooting. The Sixers also outscored the Mavs 36-28 in the paint and 18-12 in second-chance points as both teams finished with 12 fast-break points. But the Mavs finished the night outshooting the Sixers, 38.3 percent to 33.7 percent, in addition to a 51-48 rebounding advantage.

“I thought, defensively, we have been really solid over this six-game winning streak,” Nowitzki concluded. “I think we’re working. We knew that they were guard-oriented with [Jrue] Holiday and Lou Williams being their top scorers. So, we really tried to make it hard on them. We tried to keep them out of the paint and scramble from there. I thought we did a good job rebounding and then pushed the ball from there. I think that even last year, that’s when we’re at our best — when we get stops, when we rebound, push the ball and get stuff in transition.”

“Dirk is a great player, and he is obviously feeling better now. He has put together great games our last six games,” Carlisle added. “At this point, this is not a shock. The key to the game was our defense, and I also thought Dominique Jones filling in tonight for our three absent guards that have been regular guys for us was really important. The story of the game was our defense. We only allowed 24 points in the second half, which is a phenomenal job defensively. They missed some shots, but our guys were into it. Right now, that is our identity as a team. We are a defense-first team.”

Riding a six-game winning streak, the Mavs now return to action Sunday when they travel to meet Tyson Chandler and the New York Knicks to end a two-game road trip. The game will air nationally on ABC at noon CT.

Note: The Mavs return to the American Airlines Center next Monday night when they host the Boston Celtics. Dallas leads the season series 1-0 after a 90-85 win in Boston on Jan. 11. That game will air nationally on TNT at 7 p.m. CT. Fans are encouraged to arrive early due to the early tipoff. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by calling (214) 747-MAVS.

Single-game tickets are on sale and available at the American Airlines Center North Box Office, online at mavs.com, via phone by calling 214-747-MAVS or 1-800-4NBA-TIX and all Ticketmaster outlets (Fiesta Grocery Stores, Wal-Mart, Simon Mall in Garland and the Shops at Willow Bend in Plano).

Dr. Pepper Family Nights are here! Plans include four Mavs tickets and four McDonald’s extra value meals, starting at $49. Visit mavs.com or call 214-747-MAVS for a schedule of games and to purchase tickets.

(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)

Whether it’s meant guarding a 6-10 forward and two-time scoring champion in Kevin Durant or Denver Nuggets point guard Ty Lawson, Marion has taken on all challengers at the defensive end of the floor. The result has been more versatility for Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle and his team on defense, allowing the starting backcourt of Jason Kidd and Vince Carter to match up with players off the ball.

“It’s hard, it ain’t easy,” Marion said in regard to defending multiple positions. “I guess the mentality you’ve gotta have is you’ve gotta want to do it and take the challenge of doing it. You know, I like challenges and I pride myself on taking guys out of doing what they’re used to doing. And I just go out there and compete. You always have to give yourself something to keep that edge. Whatever it takes to get you going, to get that edge over another guy or to get your team going, that’s what you’ve got to do.”

Wednesday night, Marion’s defensive prowess was on full display when he scored 16 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and dished out a season-high six assists but more impressively held Lawson to just three points on 1-of-8 shooting. The four-time All-Star’s versatility may again be counted upon Friday night as the shorthanded Mavericks try to extend a five-game winning streak, taking the court at the Wells Fargo Center against the Philadelphia 76ers without three contributors in the backcourt.

The Mavs will again be without the services of guards Jason Terry and Rodrigue Beaubois as both are away from the team due to personal reasons. The reigning champs also await word on how long they’ll be without newcomer Delonte West, who fractured his right ring finger in the first half of a 102-84 victory over the Nuggets. And facing a Philly team that averages just 10.5 giveaways a game and is on pace to commit the fewest turnovers since the statistic began being recorded in 1977-78, Carlisle admits that his team will have a daunting task at hand if it is going to notch a sixth straight victory.

Still, with Marion leading the defensive charge, the coach fully expects for the Mavs not be slowed by their depleted roster.

“These guys are the lowest turnover team in the modern era, in terms of efficiency for 48 minutes night after night. They just don’t turn it over,” Carlisle explained. “They’ve got a plus-four differential of turnovers to not turning it over, which is phenomenal. So, they don’t beat themselves. They shoot the three well, they’ve got an inside game, they’ve got facilitators at the end of games with [Lou] Williams and [Andre] Iguodala that can make plays and they’re extremely well-coached.

“We’re just gonna have to adjust. Our game will be a different looking game, our rotation is gonna look different, but the foundation has got to be the same. It’s gotta be defense, rebounding and efficiency with the ball that gets us through and those are our three major points of emphasis heading into tonight.”

Note: Riding a five-game winning streak, the Mavs return to action Friday night when they travel to meet the Philadelphia 76ers to start a two-game road trip. The game will air locally on Fox Sports Southwest and nationally on ESPN at 7 p.m. CT.

The Mavs return to the American Airlines Center next Monday night when they host the Boston Celtics. Dallas leads the season series 1-0 after a 90-85 win in Boston on Jan. 11. That game will air nationally on TNT at 7 p.m. CT. Fans are encouraged to arrive early due to the early tipoff. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by calling (214) 747-MAVS.

Single-game tickets are on sale and available at the American Airlines Center North Box Office, online at mavs.com, via phone by calling 214-747-MAVS or 1-800-4NBA-TIX and all Ticketmaster outlets (Fiesta Grocery Stores, Wal-Mart, Simon Mall in Garland and the Shops at Willow Bend in Plano).

Dr. Pepper Family Nights are here! Plans include four Mavs tickets and four McDonald’s extra value meals, starting at $49. Visit mavs.com or call 214-747-MAVS for a schedule of games and to purchase tickets.

(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE/Getty Images)

By Bryan Gutierrez, Mavs.com
Where is the love for Shawn Marion and his defense?

DALLAS — As he in the midst of his 13th year in his NBA career, Shawn Marion has never made an NBA All-Defensive Team. Whether people are not acknowledging that he has been a defensive weapon going back to his days with the Phoenix Suns, Marion has not gotten the credit that he deserves. History shows that the forward will go down as one of the most underrated and unique defenders the league has ever seen. On April 13, 2011, Marion became only the fifth player in league history to compile 1,500 steals and 1,000 blocks. He joined Hameek Olajuwon, Karl Malone, Kevin Garnett and Julius Erving in the special club.

Despite that, Marion has not received any credit for what he’s done with the Mavericks. The franchise has not been known as one that thrives on defense, especially taking into account the defensive accolades that have been rewarded to players that have played for the organization. Last season, Tyson Chandler was name All-Defensive Second Team. It was the first time that Chandler had been named to the All-Defensive team. That marked only the third time the Dallas Mavericks had a player that had earned All-Defensive honors. You have to go back to the 1986-87 and 1989-90 season to find former Maverick guard Derek Harper being named All-Defensive Second Team.

Without taking the offensive end of the floor into account, Marion was easily one of the biggest contributors for the Mavericks during the championship run last season. Marion thrived in moments with his offense, but he had to defend Brandon Roy, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, Dwyane Wade and LeBron James during the 2011 Playoffs. He made things difficult for each and every one of those scoring machines. “The Matrix” has reloaded in 2012 as he has had multiple challenges thrown his way, answering the call every time.

The Mavericks had a matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers on Jan. 16. Shawn Marion had the challenge of guarding Kobe Bryant. Guarding Bryant is always an issue, but the swingman was on a major hot streak entering the game against the Mavericks. Bryant had four straight games with 40-plus point scoring performances. In the four games leading up to the game on Jan. 16, Bryant was averaging 43.0 points per game on 50.4 percent shooting (61-of-121) from the field. The Mavericks went on to suffer a tough 73-70 loss in Los Angeles, but Marion did everything he could to help the team get the victory. Marion handled the challenge as he held Bryant to only 14 points on 31.8 percent shooting (7-of-22) from the field.

Mavericks owner Mark Cuban took to Twitter (@mcuban) shortly after the game to stand up for the defensive-minded forward:

Tough loss. Will someone tell me why @matrix31 is not perennial all NBA defense 1^st team? He doesn’t get the respect he has earned.

While different members of the squad have stepped up over the first half of the season, a case can be made that Marion, with his defensive tenacity, has been the most consistent Maverick for the year. In a season where injuries have been an issue, Marion hasn’t missed a game. “He’s been very consistent,” Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said. “His versatility in terms of our matchups, what’s needed, it gives us a dimension that not a lot of teams have.” Mark Cuban is willing to suggest that Marion is one of the best defenders the league has. “It’s not a question if he’s first team,” Cuban said prior to the game against the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday evening. “The only question is, outside of the center position like a Dwight Howard, is he Defensive Player of the Year? I mean, it’s hard to overlook how Dwight Howard plays defensively, but beyond that, who’s better?

“Name one.”

The list is going to be an awfully short one, but the fact that Marion’s versatility can be shown on a nightly basis has to set him apart from the rest. Over the last set of games, Marion has had to go up against point guards (Ricky Rubio, Chris Paul, Ty Lawson) and has gone against a power forward (LaMarcus Aldrdidge). Players of that caliber are impossible to shut down, but Marion did everything he could to make those players work for whatever they got.

When it comes down to the fourth quarter, crunch time, Marion delivers. In fourth quarters leading up to the game on Feb. 13 against the Los Angeles Clippers, Marion had held his counterparts to a 10.75 PER (league average is 15) on 33.33 percent shooting, which ranked him ninth in opponents PER. He also ranked eighth in opponents shooting percentage among small forwards that at least played 100 minutes in fourth quarters this season (41 players).

When it comes to defense, Marion does a solid job of using his frame and footwork to keep the opposition in front of him. Leading into the game against the Clippers, he had forced the sixth longest average shot distance for shots inside the three-point line at 11.51 feet. Marion has held his assignment to 12.99 points per 100 possessions, which is the third lowest on this list. The forward holds his opponent to 6.50 Points per 100 off free throws and in the painted area, also ranking him third among the mentioned list of 41 players.

Adding all of those numbers up establish him as talented defender. If you take into account his lack of fouling, Marion truly becomes an elite defender. He had 2.60 fouls per 100 possessions, ranking fourth on the list of 41. To this point of the season, he has not allowed and and-one opportunity.

However you look at it, Marion is in a groove. “It feels good,” Marion said on his performance on the defensive end of the floor. “I’m doing what I can to help my team win games.” The game of basketball is built on your skill-set and your confidence level. Once you’re in a groove, things just come naturally. What comes naturally for him is doing things that don’t always appear on the box score. Based on his impact on the game, it’s becoming difficult for people to not take notice of what he’s doing on the floor. “I’m just playing my game,” Marion said. “I’m just doing what I do every game. Y’all are just not paying attention to me. I pride myself on being the best basketball player I can. Not position wise, but as a whole player. I do it all, and I pride myself with playing with my teammates.”

Looking specifically at the unique matchup Marion had against Chris Paul, arguably the best point guard in the entire league, Marion held up extremely well. Paul averaged a PER of 28.38, assisted on 42.86 percent of the Clippers field goals on a 2.50 assist-to-turnover ratio without Marion. He was held to a 22.15 PER, assisted on 35.29 percent of his team’s field goals on a 1.50 assist-to-turnover ratio when Marion defended him. Paul scored 42.00 Points per 100 possessions and 30.00 in the paint and off free throws without Marion guarding him. The numbers changed to 19.27 and 6.42, respectively, with Marion defending him.

Cuban took to twitter again after the game with the Clippers, continuing to help back up Marion’s case as an elite defender:

Great job @matrix31 guarding CP3 and 2 other positions all night. #AllNBADEFENSE

Dirk Nowitzki is used to seeing what Marion can do as Nowitzki had to try to work around Marion when he was still a member of the Suns. Nowitzki leaves nothing to doubt when it comes to where Marion stands with his defense. “He’s our best defender. We stick him on 1, 2, 3, 4,” Nowitzki said. “He’s been phenomenal for us every since he got here. He’s still fast on his feet, he’s long, he’s strong, he’s got great, great hands on the ball. We stick him usually on the best player and he’s done a phenomenal job.”

Marion’s flexibility allows the Mavericks to keep guards such as Jason Kidd and Vince Carter out on the floor. His ability to handle multiple challenges allows those players to stay on the court and handle different defensive responsibilities to preserve themselves for the offensive end of the floor. It’s huge to have that luxury to reduce the wear and tear on Carter and Kidd. When Carlisle was asked which players had the kind of versatility to defend point guards up to power forwards, he had a very simple answer. “Marion is the only guy who comes to mind,” Carlisle said. “This is one of the unique weapons we have on our team.”

Another advantage of sticking Marion on a quicker guard is that it takes away the pick and roll as a weapon for the opposition. The Mavericks can easily switch Marion off with the pick and roll, negating any kind of advantage the opposition could have. Another situation with Marion guarding smaller defenders is that he is able to get his on offense. The defense has been rolling for the Mavericks, allowing them to play in their flow offense. Marion runs right down the floor, now with a smaller guard having to defend him on due to the mismatch. “We recognize mismatches. We’re definitely starting to exploit on that,” Marion said. He’s a defensive-minded player, but he’s definitely open to the idea of taking advantage of those mismatches on offense. “I’ve got no choice,” Marion said with a laugh. “I like to score, too.”

Regardless of how things are going on the offensive end of the floor, Marion does what is necessary to keep things in check when it comes to defense. The challenge to go out and stop the best offensive threat on the opposing team is a challenge Marion wants and it’s one the Mavericks have given to him. “I’m a competitor,” Marion said. “I’m built a different way. I have this inner dog in me that I feel like a lot of people don’t have. I’m just going to bring it like that. That’s how I come.”

“Marion has been a great defensive player his whole career,” Carlisle said. “For whatever reason, he hasn’t gotten the notoriety a lot of guys get. At this point in his career, I don’t think he’s looking for notoriety. I think he’s trying to win. To me, that’s the biggest defining thing of the kind of player we want here.” The team’s goal is to do whatever is needed to try to keep teams at bay defensively. Shawn Marion has done his part, and has done it for a long time, yet he hasn’t gotten the respect or the accolades that he truly deserves.

Janosch Ferda contributed to this report.

Stay connected with Dallas Mavericks reporter Bryan Gutierrez by following him on Twitter.

Note: The Mavs return to the American Airlines Center next Monday night when they host the Boston Celtics. Dallas leads the season series 1-0 after a 90-85 win in Boston on Jan. 11. That game will air nationally on TNT at 7 p.m. CT. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by calling (214) 747-MAVS.

Single-game tickets are on sale and available at the American Airlines Center North Box Office, online at mavs.com, via phone by calling 214-747-MAVS or 1-800-4NBA-TIX and all Ticketmaster outlets (Fiesta Grocery Stores, Wal-Mart, Simon Mall in Garland and the Shops at Willow Bend in Plano).

Dr. Pepper Family Nights are here! Plans include four Mavs tickets and four McDonald’s extra value meals, starting at $49. Visit mavs.com or call 214-747-MAVS for a schedule of games and to purchase tickets.

(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)

Scratched from Wednesday night’s contest due to a mild right quad strain, Terry will also miss the team’s road showdown in Philadelphia Friday night due to personal reasons. And with the team also without third-year guard Rodrigue Beabous due to personal reasons, the Mavericks looked to take the season series with the Nuggets after both teams split the first two games with road wins by double figures.

The Mavericks would lose a third key contributor in the backcourt before the night was through. But while moving to 3-0 when at least six players score in double figures after going 16-1 last season in that position, the Mavericks (19-11) collected their fifth straight win overall with a dominant 102-84 victory.

“It’s an important win,” Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said. “We obviously have some upheaval now with the roster — guys with injuries and personal situations. It’s a bit of a scramble, but we’ve got a good scramble team. We’re gonna just have to piece it together here.”

“We’ve got a deep team here and now everybody’s got to step up and pull their weight,” forward Shawn Marion added on the team’s current injury situation.

Before looking to take the third matchup with the Nuggets, the defending champs presented ex-Maverick Corey Brewer with his championship ring. The team then hit the hardwood with Brewer in the Nuggets’ starting lineup, looking for a fifth straight victory. But without Terry coming off the bench, the Mavericks needed every bit of their 9-1 start by the first unit to open the game with an early advantage. Meanwhile, the Dallas defense forced the Nuggets (17-13) into a 1-of-9 start from the field while big man Lamar Odom came off the bench and provided a spark.

With Marion taking advantage of a favorable defensive matchup with Nuggets point guard Ty Lawson, leaking out after stops for easy scores in transition, the Mavs created some separation on the scoreboard with a lead as large as 12. And with leading scorer Dirk Nowitzki scoring eight points in the opening quarter, the Mavericks headed into the second stanza with a 27-17 lead after taking advantage of an injury-riddled Denver team without big men Nene (strained left calf) and Timofey Mozgov (ankle) on the second night of a back-to-back.

“We knew they got in late last night, so the way we started the game was getting out and running and getting some easy baskets,” point guard Jason Kidd explained.

Brewer’s high-energy play would change the momentum in the second period, however, as he and Rudy Fernandez brought the Nuggets back within an arm’s reach. Already down two men in the backcourt, the Mavs then lost reserve guard Delonte West due to a fractured right ring finger. Still, with back-to-back threes by Vince Carter and Brendan Wright’s above-the-rim finishes, the Mavs regained a double-digit advantage thanks to a 10-0 run.

And after holding the Nuggets to their lowest-scoring first half of the season, the Mavericks headed into the halftime break with a 51-39 margin.

Led by Odom’s 10 points on 5-of-8 from the field to offset Fernandez’s 14 points off the Denver bench, the Mavericks outshot the Nuggets through two quarters, 48.7 percent to 33.3 percent. The Mavs also held the early edge despite a 20-16 disadvantage in points in the paint and 10-2 deficit in second-chance points.

Taking the court in the second half without the services of West, the Mavericks continued to stay at a safe distance. With end-to-end play and persistence on the glass, Marion sparked a 13-1 run. Meanwhile, Kidd’s deadly outside shooting and Odom’s inside-outside game lifted the Mavs to a lead as large as 31 before taking an 83-54 advantage into the game’s last quarter after holding the Nuggets to their fewest points in a period this season.

“We wanted to be aggressive coming out in the third quarter and got good stops and made some shots. J-Kidd got hot and made some threes, so that was good,” Nowitzki said after the Mavericks grabbed the momentum in the third period.

In the game’s final period, Carlisle turned to his reserves while resting his starters with the big lead. And with no problem protecting the huge advantage, the Dallas bench put the finishing touches on the blowout win.

Marion finished the night with a double-double while registering 16 points, pulling down 10 rebounds and dishing out a season-high six assists. Carter added 15 points, Kidd recorded a season-high 13 points and Nowitzki pitched in 12 in the starting lineup, while Odom’s 14 points and Wright’s 10 came off the bench.

“We’re just playing the game and playing it the right way,” Marion said. “When it’s like that it’s exciting to watch and it’s fun to be a part of.”

“[Depth] is the strength of our team,” Odom added. “Tonight, it just so happened to be that the depth was in scoring. Everybody kind of felt comfortable and we’re deep in so many different ways.”

And with no Terry, no Beaubois and West sidelined due to injury, Carlisle also went to second-year guard Dominique Jones for a season-high number of minutes at just below 31 as the young pro scored four points and dished out six assists despite 0-for-6 shooting.

“D.J. played great tonight,” Kidd said of his mentee. “He hasn’t played in over a month, and four points in thirty minutes, I thought he did well. He was attacking the basket and making all the right plays.”

“I think this is a big opportunity for me to go out there, maintain and show that we can’t miss a beat,” Jones added. “So, my main thing is just looking at film, looking at different teams and different players and getting better at the things I can get better at so the team can be better.”

Off the Denver bench, Fernandez led five Nuggets in double figures with 14 points on 5-of-9 from the field. But the Mavericks outshot the Nuggets for the game, 46.3 percent to 35.7 percent, while holding Denver to its lowest field goal percentage of the season. The Mavs also overcame a 49-45 disadvantage in rebounding, a 46-30 separation in points in the paint and 19-8 deficit in second-chance points.

The Mavs, however, did score 21 points off the Nuggets’ 15 turnovers, giving up 16 points on their own 13 giveaways.

Riding a five-game winning streak, the Mavs return to action Friday night when they travel to meet the Philadelphia 76ers to start a two-game road trip. The game will air locally on Fox Sports Southwest and nationally on ESPN at 7 p.m. CT.

“Philadelphia is going to be a different kind of team than these guys are — same kind of quickness, but a little bit different style. Their home floor is a very tough place to play. We’re going to have to carry some momentum from tonight into Friday, but that’s going to be a tough game,” Carlisle concluded.

“We’ve got a lot of great opponents coming up, we’ve got four games on national TV, so it’s gonna be a fun four games,” Nowitzki added while looking ahead. “A lot of challenges and we’ve just got to play. But I like where the team is. Unfortunately, we’ve got some injuries and some personal issues, but hopefully we’ll be OK and fight through some of this stuff.”

Note: The Mavs return to the American Airlines Center next Monday night when they host the Boston Celtics. Dallas leads the season series 1-0 after a 90-85 win in Boston on Jan. 11. That game will air nationally on TNT at 7 p.m. CT. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by calling (214) 747-MAVS.

Single-game tickets are on sale and available at the American Airlines Center North Box Office, online at mavs.com, via phone by calling 214-747-MAVS or 1-800-4NBA-TIX and all Ticketmaster outlets (Fiesta Grocery Stores, Wal-Mart, Simon Mall in Garland and the Shops at Willow Bend in Plano).

Dr. Pepper Family Nights are here! Plans include four Mavs tickets and four McDonald’s extra value meals, starting at $49. Visit mavs.com or call 214-747-MAVS for a schedule of games and to purchase tickets.

(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE/Getty Images)

By Bryan Gutierrez, Mavs.com
Mavericks Outsider Report – Episode 48

Due to technology, Episode 47 was unfortunately lost, but Episode 48 of the Mavericks Outsider Report is here. As usual, we get you caught up an all things Dallas Mavericks. At the time of the podcast, the Mavericks found themselves on a three-game win streak, and we get the pleasure of recapping each win, including the 2OT madness against Portland. We get into the emergence of Brandan Wright as a big part of the Mavs’ three-headed center, break down Jason Terry’s recent struggles on the road, and run through our usual slate of NBA Nuggets.

We carry over a conversation from last week (which you most certainly missed), putting together a team of our favorite non-Mavericks that we like to root for, and devote a good half hour to breaking down the Mavericks upcoming run of five games in eight days against several quality opponents. Episode 48 for the Mavericks Outsider Report can be downloaded here. Download and enjoy!

Intro – Game Recap (@ Denver, @ Minnesota, Portland)
32:46 – Road Woes for JET / Center Rotation
47:54 – NBA Nuggets (Gallinari & Billups Injuries, LeBron & Perkins Beef, Bird on LeBron & Kobe, Jeremy Lin, All-Star Game Reserves)
1:05:50 – MOR Talks Favorite Non-Mavs
1:29:28 – Game Previews (Los Angeles Clippers, Denver, @ Philadelphia, @ New York, Boston)

Our next show broadcast is Tuesday, February 21, 2012. When you’re able to listen live, you can catch the show via Ustream. For future reference, you can catch the live stream here and you’ll be able to download the podcast, as always, if you’re unable to listen live at the link listened above or on iTunes. If you’re an iTunes fiend, be sure to subscribe and the episodes will be ready and waiting for you. Also, you can always email us your thoughts and questions at MavericksOutsiderReport@gmail.com

Stay connected with Dallas Mavericks reporter Bryan Gutierrez by following him on Twitter.

Note: Single-game tickets are on sale and available at the American Airlines Center North Box Office, online at mavs.com, via phone by calling 214-747-MAVS or 1-800-4NBA-TIX and all Ticketmaster outlets (Fiesta Grocery Stores, Wal-Mart, Simon Mall in Garland and the Shops at Willow Bend in Plano).

Dr. Pepper Family Nights are here! Plans include four Mavs tickets and four McDonald’s extra value meals, starting at $49. Visit mavs.com or call 214-747-MAVS for a schedule of games and to purchase tickets.

(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)

Looking to avenge a 91-89 road loss last month, the Mavericks took the court against All-Stars Blake Griffin, Chris Paul and the Clippers seeking retribution. But first the organization honored ex-Maverick Caron Butler by presenting the two-time All-Star with a championship ring, despite the fact that a midseason ruptured patellar tendon caused him to miss the team’s journey to the title.

“This will be great tonight to recognize his contributions to the club, not just last year but the last two years,” Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said before Butler’s return to Dallas. “And even though he didn’t play after Jan. 1, he was a daily source of inspiration for all our guys just to see how he was approaching it and just for trying to get back. I mean, it was a great thing to be around and remarkable to see.”

“I was very emotional,” Butler added after receiving his hardware. “I didn’t think I was going to be as emotional. Having Mark Cuban, Rick Carlisle, the whole standing ovation, it was just unbelievable. It was a great feeling and I almost cried. I had to put my head down a couple of times to try to gather myself.”

After Butler accepted his ring and the pregame emotions settled, he would go on to produce his best scoring night of the season. Still, it would be the Mavericks getting their revenge from the narrow loss in L.A. And with an impressive defensive stand down the stretch, the Mavericks (18-11) collected their fourth straight win with a 96-92 victory. It was also the Mavs’ 10th straight home win over the Clippers.

After going 1-of-12 from the field for just two points the first go-round, Butler looked for a better showing against his old team. Meanwhile, the Mavericks faced a different squad in the second showdown with Chauncey Billups, the shooter on the game-winning 3-pointer in the first meeting, out for the season due to a torn Achilles while Paul returned after missing that January showdown due to a left hamstring injury.

A thunderous slam by swingman Vince Carter got the Mavs off to a quick start. But back-to-back 3-pointers by Butler helped the former Mav exceed his scoring output from the first meeting early in the opening quarter. The swingman would later continue his assault from the outside with a third triple from behind the arc in the quarter.

“I was in a real good place and it felt good. I just really wanted to come back and step on this floor, one way or another, and just show the fans that I was back healthy. There was a lot of love out there, and I appreciate that because they got me through a trying time last year,” Butler said of his quick start.

Still, with center Brendan Haywood proving to be a force inside at both ends of the floor while scoring 10 points and grabbing six rebounds in the period, the Mavericks headed into the second stanza with a 27-19 lead.

“Again, a lot was made of missing Tyson Chandler and what that void would mean to us, but Brendan Haywood has done an outstanding job,” reserve guard Jason Terry said with high praise for his big man. “He was an integral part of our success last year and I think that has gone overlooked. I think he’s stepped up and we’ve done it by committee after him with out bigs.”

The second period would be a different story, however, as the Clippers (17-9) charged back within two behind the play of their bench. But the Mavs would respond with a spurt of their own after getting a boost from a technical foul call on Paul. And after surviving three fouls for leading scorer Dirk Nowitzki, Griffin’s highlight reel finishes and Paul’s engineering, the Mavs escaped the first half with a 55-47 advantage.

Going blank in the second quarter, Haywood was matched by forward Shawn Marion with 10 points to lead the Mavs into the break while Nowitzki battled foul trouble. Meanwhile, Butler’s 13 points and Griffin’s 12 through two quarters came on a combined 10-for-20 from the field, although the Mavericks’ 57.9 percent shooting bettered the Clippers’ 45 percent. And despite being outrebounded, 23-19, the Mavs held a 28-16 margin in points in the paint.

After foul trouble forced him to the bench in the first half, Nowitzki began the third quarter by putting the Mavericks up by 10. But as it did in the first half, Butler’s lights-out shooting kept the Clippers in the game as Marion concentrated on taking Paul out of the mix with lockdown defense.

“Marion guarding Paul was a big key to the game,” Carlisle explained. “His size becomes a factor, and it’s tough navigating all those screen-and-rolls, but he [Marion] did a great job when he was on him [Paul] tonight and that was a big part of the game as well.”

Still, the Clippers continued to charge back, using a 15-4 run to take the lead on the scoreboard as Butler continued to torch his former squad while passing his previous season-high of 22 points. Threes by newcomers Lamar Odom and Carter kept the Mavs in the game, however, before Odom’s one-handed lob pass to fellow reserve Brandan Wright brought the fans out of their seats. But it wouldn’t be enough to keep the Mavericks from facing a 76-74 deficit entering the game’s final quarter, as the reigning titleholders tried to end a 0-9 record when trailing after three.

After a sluggish start, Terry made his presence felt and put the Mavs back up with a three early in the fourth. But the intensity level would begin to mirror that of a playoff game as Paul led a 7-0 Clippers run to go back in front. A Nowitzki 3-pointer then stopped the bleeding and got the Mavs back within one before the 7-footer connected on 2-of-3 at the free throw line to regain the momentum after Kenyon Martin fouled the All-Star forward on a shot behind the arc.

Responding to L.A.’s run with seven unanswered points of their own, the Mavericks then forced Griffin to hit free throws with a “hack-a-Blake” strategy. Point guard Jason Kidd then found a cutting Terry to put the Mavs up 88-84 as the Mavs stood 2:02 from a fourth straight win.

After a stretch of nine stops in 10 defensive possessions, however, the Mavs couldn’t contain the Clippers’ athleticism as Griffin’s and-1 dunk and Martin’s transition score forced Carlisle to call a timeout with his team up just one, 90-89, with 1:00 still on the clock. Nowitzki came right back, though, draining a jumper before a defensive stop and then two more shots at the charity stripe to put the Mavericks up by five with 21.2 ticks still remaining.

The Mavs weren’t out of the woods safe just yet, however, as Paul swished a desperation 3-pointer and Carlisle called timeout with his team up just two with 11.9 seconds left. But the Mavs had to survive one more scare as Kidd’s inbound pass was intercepted leading to Butler’s miss from behind the arc with Delonte West grabbing the rebound and making two free throws to extend the lead with 2.9 seconds left. With the game all but decided, Paul’s desperation attempt at the buzzer would have done no good even if it had found the bottom of the net as the Dallas defense forced stops on 12 of the final 16 L.A. possessions.

“I’ll take us over anybody in a fourth-quarter type ballgame and I believe we’ll come out winning more times than not,” Terry empathically proclaimed.

“The Mavericks are a good team,” Griffin added, “especially at home. We didn’t execute down the stretch and that’s what did it.”

Despite going just 5-of-15 from the field and 11-of-15 at the foul line, Nowitzki finished with a team-high 22 points with 11 coming in the fourth.

“I had some shots I’ve got to make and I missed four free throws. Obviously, the early foul trouble didn’t help my rhythm much, but I had some looks I’ve just gotta make. I didn’t really have a great rhythm there, but we had enough stops and we got a little lucky at the end,” Nowitzki said of his night.

Marion added 16 points, while Haywood, Carter and Terry all finished with 10 points apiece.

In his return, Butler scored a season-high 23 points on 7-of-18 from the field. Griffin added 20 points and Paul registered 16 points and nine assists, committing five turnovers as well.

The Clippers finished the night outshooting the Mavs, 44.6 percent to 44.3 percent, in addition to a 50-36 rebounding advantage. But the Mavericks finished with a 40-34 advantage in points in the paint and a 22-16 edge in fast-break points. The Dallas defense also forced nine of the Clippers’ 21 turnovers in the fourth quarter, scoring 22 points off the miscues in the game compared to the 10 points they surrendered on their own 11 giveaways.

“A big challenge for us coming into the game — coming off of 43 turnovers in two games — was to get our turnovers down, and of course, we always want to force turnovers if we can. We did a good job in the scope of the entire game with only 11 and that was big. Defensively, I give the guys a lot of credit. This is one of the tougher teams to guard with Chris Paul and all the pick-and-rolls, Griffin and the highflyers, and Mo Williams and [Randy] Foye can shoot the ball. They’ve got a lot of answers out there. They made the big run, they got us down three or four points. We held it together, we kept our poise, and the guys just kept working. It was defense that got us over the hump,” Carlisle concluded.

The Mavs now return to action when they host the Denver Nuggets at the American Airlines Center Wednesday night. The two teams are tied at 1-1 in the season series with both winning on the other’s home floor. The game will air locally on Fox Sports Southwest at 7:30 p.m. CT. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by calling (214) 747-MAVS.

Single-game tickets are on sale and available at the American Airlines Center North Box Office, online at mavs.com, via phone by calling 214-747-MAVS or 1-800-4NBA-TIX and all Ticketmaster outlets (Fiesta Grocery Stores, Wal-Mart, Simon Mall in Garland and the Shops at Willow Bend in Plano).

Dr. Pepper Family Nights are here! Plans include four Mavs tickets and four McDonald’s extra value meals, starting at $49. Visit mavs.com or call 214-747-MAVS for a schedule of games and to purchase tickets.

(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE/Getty Images)

By Bryan Gutierrez, Mavs.com
Turnovers trending concern in tight games

DALLAS — The Mavericks have rebounded from their three-game losing streak by creating a three-game winning streak. The team has seen Jason Kidd return during the last two games of their winning streak. He brings the ability to bring composure and control, especially in situations where games are up for grabs. Dallas has been in their fair share of close games. The team has now played in eight games decided by three points or less (4-4 record), which is the most by any team in the NBA this season. “It would be better to win them by more and not get into [close games]. Sometimes that’s just how it goes,” Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said after the team’s 97-94 victory in double overtime against the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday night. “Do we learn things? Sure.”

These closely-contested games may be coming at a rapid rate for the team, but they are situations that are second nature for the team. “We’re used to close ballgames,” Jason Terry said. “Being a veteran team, we’ll do what we have to do to get a win.” These type of games can be beneficial to the team, just look at the championship run last season. The playoffs saw games down to the wire and excellent execution was necessary in order to survive. Clearly, the Mavericks were able to execute when the time was right. That’s what makes this situation a little out of the norm.

There is one statistic that can help pinpoint an issue for the Mavericks getting in these nail-biting games – turnovers. Dallas has 120 turnovers compared to 108 turnovers by their opponents in the eight games decided by three points or less. The 108 opponent turnovers are inflated due to the fact that Oklahoma City had 26 in their game on Dec. 29. They were the only opponent in those closely-contested games that had more than 15 turnovers.

Turnovers were a major issue in the Mavericks having to go to double overtime against the Trail Blazers. Dallas had a season-high 23 turnovers on Saturday night. Dallas was turnover-free after one quarter and then committed eight in each the second and third quarters. “What we’ve got to do is quit turning the ball over,” Carlisle said. “When you work to get leads, you can’t put yourself in harm’s way by making unforced errors.” The fact that a lot of the turnovers are unforced is perplexing. “We’re doing some things that are just uncharacteristically weird out there with the ball, and it’s not like us,” Carlisle said.

It has definitely been a Jekyll and Hyde situation in regards to the turnovers. After committing a then season-high 21 turnovers in the loss to Cleveland on Feb. 4, Dallas recorded only 13 giveaways in the win over Denver on Feb. 8. It marked the first time in the past four games that the Mavericks recorded fewer than 15 turnovers. The Mavericks are 11-2 when they commit less than 15 turnovers in a game this season compared to 5-9 when they record 15-or-more. With the season-high 23 turnovers against Portland, Dallas got their first win of the season when they had at least 20 turnovers.

You can’t necessarily pinpoint the turnovers on a specific person as players have come in and out of the lineup. With the Mavericks having a full and healthy roster over the last two games, the turnover results have still been up and down. There is one thing that bodes well for the team – history. “This historically has been a low turnover team,” Carlisle explained. “It was before I got here and it probably will be whenever I leave, whenever that is. I think each game is going to be a different game. You can’t assume anything based on three games or thirty games. The next one is going to be the next one.

“It’s unlike us,” Carlisle concluded. “Maybe it’s a function of the crowdedness of the games of the season, but we’ll do better.” Statistic abnormalities will remain prevalent over the course of the compact season. As Carlisle noted, the team has been statistically sound in the turnover department, so you would expect the roller coaster will end and they will trend in the right direction as the season wears on. With that in mind, noting how they fare from here on out in games that come down to the wire will be something that is worth monitoring.

Stay connected with Dallas Mavericks reporter Bryan Gutierrez by following him on Twitter.

Note: Single-game tickets are on sale and available at the American Airlines Center North Box Office, online at mavs.com, via phone by calling 214-747-MAVS or 1-800-4NBA-TIX and all Ticketmaster outlets (Fiesta Grocery Stores, Wal-Mart, Simon Mall in Garland and the Shops at Willow Bend in Plano).

Dr. Pepper Family Nights are here! Plans include four Mavs tickets and four McDonald’s extra value meals, starting at $49. Visit mavs.com or call 214-747-MAVS for a schedule of games and to purchase tickets.