Full-Court Press

Mavs bracing for the Nuggets, and the high altitude

DENVER -- If the Dallas Mavericks thought they had a tall order in trying to beat the Lakers in Los Angeles this past Tuesday, tonight's challenge at the Pepsi Center against the Denver Nuggets is even taller.

The Nuggets have the NBA's best home record at 33-3 and just simply make mincemeat of anyone who dare to walk into their building and even think they have a chance to win. Throw in that mile high altitude that the city of Denver is known for, and this is a recipe for disaster for any opponent.

"They're a very good team on the one hand here,'' coach Rick Carlisle said. "On the other hand we're a mile high here.

"Those are two of the reasons they've won 18 in a row here, so we respect that and we've got to handle it the right way.''

The Mavs won both of the games they played at the Pepsi Cenetr last year. This is their only appearance here this season tonight at 8 against a Nuggets squad that's 51-24 and seeded third in the Western Conference.

And make no dobut about it. The altitude will play a role in whether the Mavs can get out of here with a victory.

"It'll be a lie to say it's not a factor, but it can be managed,'' Carlisle said. "We have to understand the dynamics of it.

"We've got to rotate guys in a little quicker, and generally in the second half of games guys seem to adjust to it.''

Rookie Jae Crowder heard all the horro stories about the mile high altitude and tried to take matters into his own hands earlier Thursday morning.

"I came over here early and tried to run and tried to get tired early, so when that I run in the game it won't be too much of a factor,'' Crowder said. "But I'm aware of it.

"I got tired quick -- quicker than normal. It went well, but I just felt the tightness in my chest. But I've never played in an atmosphere like this before.''

Forward Dirk Nowitzki acknowledged that the high altitude doesn't particularly affect his game.

"I've actually had good games here, I don't mind it,'' Nowitzki said. "I think usually the burn in the first quarter is tough.

"The first timeout everybody comes huffing and puffing. But once you get over that first timeout it's a fun place to play, the atmosphere is always great here, they're behind their team 100 percent and we've had some battles in here.''

Carlisle likes the fact that the Mavs arrived in Denver very early Wednesday morning and got a chance to adjust to the high altitude. He also totally respects what the Nuggets have been able to achieve on their home court.

"What they've done here is they've built their team with a strength in numbers philosophy, which is very smart given their geography, the fact that they're in altitude,'' Carlisle said. "They hit you with numbers of guys -- that's one of the reasons they're very, very good.

"They've got it going, there's no doubt about that. They’re playing at a high level at home and on the road, and so we’re going to have to play our game extremely well.''

-- Dwain Price

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Lakers bop the Mavs, 101-81

LOS ANGELES -- If the Dallas Mavericks still plan on being one of the 16 participants in this year's playoffs, it appears as though they're going to have to do it the hard way.

Looking to inch closer to the Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Lakers in the race for the eighth and final Western Conference playoff spot, the Mavs dropped a 101-81 decison to the Lakers before a Tuesday night sellout crowd at the STAPLES Center on a night the Lakers retired Shaquille O'Neal's No. 34 jersey.

The loss, in the opener of a four-game road trip, dropped the Mavs to 36-38 with just eight games remaining in the season. It also left them two-and-a-half games behind the Lakers and Utah Jazz (both at 39-36) for the No. 8 playoff spot out West.

In addition, the Mavs lost the season series to the Lakers, 3-1.

The Mavs will next play at Denver on Thursday before finishing this road trip with games Friday in Sacramento and Sunday in Portland.

Kobe Bryant finished with a triple double (23 points, 11 rebounds, 11 assists) for the Lakers, Dwight Howard had 24 points and 12 rebounds, Earl Clark tallied 17 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, and Pau Gasol had 14 points and 10 boards.

Chris Kaman led the Mavs with 14 points, OJ Mayo tallied 12, and Dirk Nowitzki, Vince Carter and Darren Collison each popped in 11 points for the Mavs. But Nowitzki and Carter converted just 4-of-13 field goals apiece.

On Tuesday, the Mavs went down swinging as they sliced a 16-point deficit down to 63-58 when OJ Mayo capped an 11-0 run with a three-point basket with 3:05 remaining in the third quarter. But the Lakers -- behindl Clark -- tallied seven points in 41 quick seconds to pad their lead to 70-58. 

Clark scored after grabbing an offensive rebound, and was fouled by Elton Brand. Clark missed the free throw, but Pau Gasol snatched the offensive rebound and that led to a three-point basket by Clark. 

After Brand misfired on a 15-footer, Clark fed Antwan Jamison for a layup and a 70-58 lead for the Lakers with 2:24 to go in the third period.

The Lakers initially started separating themselves from the Mavs in the second quarter. Bryant and Howard each scored seven points in the first period as the Lakers led 24-21 after the first 12 minutes.

Now long afterwards, the Lakers went on a 13-2 run to assume a 48-33 lead. Shortly thereafter, Howard completed a three-point play and Bryant tossed in a jumper from the right corner and the Laker lead blossomed to 53-37 with 1:02 remaining in the first half.

The Lakers went on to lead at intermission, 55-40, behind 15 points from Bryant, 13 from Howard and 12 from Clark.

This was the 12th loss of the season by the Mavs by 20 points or more.

-- Dwain Price

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@dwainprice

 

 

Lakers bop the Mavs, 101-81

LOS ANGELES -- If the Dallas Mavericks still plan on being one of the 16 participants in this year's playoffs, it appears as though they're going to have to do it the hard way.

Looking to inch closer to the Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Lakers in the race for the eighth and final Western Conference playoff spot, the Mavs dropped a 101-81 decision to the Lakers before a Tuesday night sellout crowd at the Staples Center on a night the Lakers retired Shaquille O'Neal's No. 34 jersey.

The loss, in the opener of a four-game road trip, dropped the Mavs to 36-38 with just eight games remaining in the season. It also left them two-and-a-half games behind the Lakers and the Utah Jazz (both at 39-36) for the No. 8 playoff spot out West. The Jazz won the season series against the Lakers to hold the tiebreaker.

In addition, the Mavs lost the season series to the Lakers, 3-1.

The Mavs will next play at Denver on Thursday before finishing this road trip with games Friday in Sacramento and Sunday in Portland.

Kobe Bryant finished with a triple double (23 points, 11 rebounds, 11 assists) for the Lakers, Dwight Howard had 24 points and 12 rebounds, Earl Clark tallied 17 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, and Pau Gasol had 14 points and 10 boards.

Chris Kaman led the Mavs with 14 points, OJ Mayo tallied 12, and Dirk Nowitzki, Vince Carter and Darren Collison each popped in 11 points for the Mavs. But Nowitzki and Carter converted just 4-of-13 field goals apiece.

On Tuesday, the Mavs went down swinging as they sliced a 16-point deficit down to 63-58 when OJ Mayo capped an 11-0 run with a three-point basket with 3:05 remaining in the third quarter. But the Lakers -- behindl Clark -- tallied seven points in 41 quick seconds to pad their lead to 70-58. 

Clark scored after grabbing an offensive rebound, and was fouled by Elton Brand. Clark missed the free throw, but Pau Gasol snatched the offensive rebound and that led to a three-point basket by Clark. 

After Brand misfired on a 15-footer, Clark fed Antwan Jamison for a layup and a 70-58 lead for the Lakers with 2:24 to go in the third period.

The Lakers initially started separating themselves from the Mavs in the second quarter. Bryant and Howard each scored seven points in the first period as the Lakers led 24-21 after the first 12 minutes.

Now long afterwards, the Lakers went on a 13-2 run to assume a 48-33 lead. Shortly thereafter, Howard completed a three-point play and Bryant tossed in a jumper from the right corner and the Laker lead blossomed to 53-37 with 1:02 remaining in the first half.

The Lakers went on to lead at intermission, 55-40, behind 15 points from Bryant, 13 from Howard and 12 from Clark.

This was the 12th loss of the season by the Mavs by 20 points or more.

-- Dwain Price

Follow me on Twitter

@dwainprice

 

 

Carlisle offers condolences after referee dies

LOS ANGELES – Dallas Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle offered his condolences after former NBA referee Greg Willard died Monday night at the age of 54 because of pancreatic cancer.

“We’ve all known about Greg Willard’s situation for many months,’’ Carlisle said after Tuesday’s shoot around at Loyola Marymount University. “We followed the situation closely and we’re all very sadden that he’s passed.

“The hope is that this will bring more attention to one of the most aggressive and under-screened diseases that we have.’’

Earlier this season, Carlisle passed out purple arm bands to the media and other folks with the words “Fight Pancreatic Cancer,’’ and the website www.pancan.org writer on it. As the president of the coach’s association, Carlisle would like more attention paid to pancreatic research.

“I’m a big advocate of pancreatic cancer research,’’ he said. “Greg was one of the top referees, he was a good person and highly respected, and he’s a crusader on this mission.

“The hope is that more and more people will take note of how important it is.’’

-- Dwain Price

Follow me on Twitter

@dwainprice

Carlisle offers condolences after referee dies

LOS ANGELES – Dallas Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle offered his condolences after former NBA referee Greg Willard died Monday night at the age of 54 because of pancreatic cancer.

“We’ve all known about Greg Willard’s situation for many months,’’ Carlisle said after Tuesday’s shoot around at Loyola Marymount University. “We followed the situation closely and we’re all very sadden that he’s passed.

“The hope is that this will bring more attention to one of the most aggressive and under-screened diseases that we have.’’

Earlier this season, Carlisle passed out purple arm bands to the media and other folks with the words “Fight Pancreatic Cancer,’’ and the website www.pancan.org writer on it. As the president of the coach’s association, Carlisle would like more attention paid to pancreatic research.

“I’m a big advocate of pancreatic cancer research,’’ he said. “Greg was one of the top referees, he was a good person and highly respected, and he’s a crusader on this mission.

“The hope is that more and more people will take note of how important it is.’’

-- Dwain Price

Follow me on Twitter

@dwainprice

Mavs stun the Bulls, 100-98

DALLAS -- Years from now, they may call Saturday's Dallas Mavericks-Chicago Bulls game The Miracle at American Airlines Center.

Looking like all was lost, the Mavs ended the game on a 15-1 run and wound up stunning the Bulls, 100-98.

Chicago led 97-85 with 4:08 left and appeared well on its way to claiming a victory. But Dirk Nowitzki buried a three-pointer with 2.9 seconds left and the Mavs finished this six-game home stand with a 4-2 record.

Nate Robinson, who made a career-high tying previous seven three-pointers, missed a long two-pointer at the buzzer in front of the Mavs'bench, and the sellout crowd of 20,502 started jumping for joy.

Nowitzki finished with a season-high 35 points, Vince Carter scored 17, and Brandan Wright had 17 points and 13 rebounds.

After the horrible events of Thursday night when they lost to Indiana by 25 points, the last thing the Mavs wanted to do was leave town for a four-game road trip with a two-game losing streak packed in their luggage.

The victory gave the Mavs an extra boost of energy as they open a four-game road trip Tuesday in Los Angeles Lakers.

That road trip also includes games against Denver, Sacramento and Portland before the Mavs return home to host the Phoenix Suns on Apr. 10.

The Mavs now trail the Utah Jazz by just one game for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. The Lakers (37-36) also have the same record as the Jazz, but Utah owns the tiebreaker over the Lakers, which is why the Jazz would get the No. 8 seed over the Lakers if the season ended today.

Against the Bulls, Dirk Nowitzki got the the Mavs off to a good start by scoring eight points in the first quarter, which ended with Dallas clinging to a slim 24-23 lead. The Mavs then went on a Nowitzki-led 13-3 run to bolt ahead, 41-34, with 6:13 left in the second period following a three-pointer by Vince Carter.

But, led by Carlos Boozer, the Bulls countered with a 14-4 rally and took a 48-45 cushion with 3:01 remaining before intermission. Shortly thereafter, Nowitzki hit consecutive baskets -- the latter one giving with 20 points on 8-of-8 shooting -- that kept the Mavs close to the visitors.

Still, another bucket by Boozer and a three-pointer by Nate Robinson helped stake the Bulls to a 56-53 lead at the half.

This was the Bulls' first game since Wednesday when they made major headlines for snapping the Miami Heat's 27-game winning streak.

Luol Deng, Carlose Boozer and Robinson each scored 25 points for the Bulls.

-- Dwain Price

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Dirk Nowitzki has 20 points at halftime as Bulls lead Mavs in matinee

Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki, in a display of vintage Dirk, has scored 20 points in the first half, but the Chicago Bulls lead the matinee game in Dallas 56-53 at halftime.

Nowitzki is  8 of 8 shooting, 2 of 2 on 3-pointers as Chicago and Dallas have gone all offense in the first 24 minutes at American Airlines Center.

Each team is blazing from the field, the Bulls at 58.5 percent and the Mavericks at 57.9.

Bulls power forward Carlos Boozer is almost matching Nowitzki. Boozer has 18 points on 8 of 12 shooting and has the YouTube "shot" of the day.

After his drive to the basket late in the first half resulted in a basket and a foul against Dallas, Boozer turned quickly and threw an underhanded punch in the air to celebrate, only to have his fist hit referee Danny Crawford somewhere in the torso, and possibly in the "Kansas" region.

Crawford was smiiing, somehow, and finished walking to the scorers table to make the foul call after Boozer quickly asked if Crawford was all right.

-- Vince Langford

 

Mayo will play against the Bulls

DALLAS -- Although an MRI showed that he has a mild sprain of the AC joint on his left shoulder, Dallas Mavericks guard OJ Mayo will play in today's game against the Chicago Bulls.

Mayo suffered the injury during Tuesday's game against the Los Angeles Clippers, then played in Thursday's game against the Indiana Pacers.

"He's going to be in some pain, but it's what he can tolerate,'' coach Rick Carlisle said. "He’s been on the toughest guys we’ve had here in a long time.''

Mayo has played in all 72 games for the Mavs this season.

-- Dwain Price

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@dwainprice

Bulls play the same style as the Pacers

DALLAS -– The Chicago Bulls play the same rock ‘em, sock ‘em style of basketball as the Indiana Pacers.

And that’s not a good sign for the Dallas Mavericks. Unless the Mavs do something about it and change their disposition.

The Pacers physically manhandled the Mavs, 103-78, this past Thursday, by outscoring them 62-37 in the second half and aggressively pounding them on the boards. In order for the Mavs to prevent the Bulls from doing the same thing, they’ve got to be in attack mode for 48 minutes.

“We’ve got to be the aggressors,’’ forward Shawn Marion said. “We can’t let them dictate what they want to do.

“We’ve got to take that away from them to a certain degree. So that means we’ve got to make sure when we get the rebounds that we push it on them.’’

-- Dwain Price

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@dwainprice

Carlisle said NBA has greater parity

DALLAS – It didn’t surprise Dallas Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle that Chicago was able to snap the Miami Heat’s 27-game winning streak this past Wednesday, even though the Bulls were without injured players Derrick Rose, Yoakim Noah, Marco Belinelli and Richard Hamilton.  

“It’s the story of the league this year,’’ Carlisle said. “There’s greater parity.

“A lot of this is about the disposition you bring to the game, the energy and activity you bring to it. Teams with balance and enthusiasm can win games, and we’re one of those teams, too.’’

-- Dwain Price

Folow me on Twitter

@dwainprice