Carlisle said Mavs should play from in front

DALLAS -- Rick Carlisle has a full-proof way of keeping his Dallas Mavericks squad away from late-game tight situations.

"The thing that we can do to help ourselves in those (tight fourth-quarter) situations is try to be playing from in front more,'' Carlisle said. "That's something that we've always done well here in the previous four years, and that puts you in a stronger position.

"That's going to be a goal of ours. And hey, we've got to work the process and play possession to possession, and the games are going to be closer and they're going to be tough.''

Game 3 of the Mavs' best-of-seven first-round playoff series with Oklahoma City is Thursday at 8:30 p.m. at American Airlines Center. The Thunder lead the series, 2-0.

-- Dwain Price

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