The Western Conference-leading Dallas Mavericks try to match a franchise record with their 14th straight win as they visit the Denver Nuggets. Dallas, which won 14 straight to start the 2002-03 season, has overtaken San Antonio for the best record in the West. The Mavericks are one-half game ahead of the defending NBA champions and have pulled within 1 1/2 games of league-leading Detroit. The sizzling stretch for Dallas has featured strong play from Dirk Nowitzki, who is averaging 23.5 points during the winning streak. Nowitzki, selected to the All-Star team for the fifth straight year Thursday, is shooting over 50 percent during the stretch -- including 57 percent from the 3-point arc. However, the key to the streak for the Mavericks has been their defense. The Mavericks have held each of their last 13 opponents to fewer than 100 points, a franchise record, and limiting them to 86.5 points per game. The streak also coincides with the insertion of DeSagana Diop into the lineup Jan. 11 in place of Erick Dampier. Diop was given a starting role by coach Avery Johnson in order to provide Dallas with a better defensive presence inside. Nowitzki had 27 points on 11-of-16 shooting Thursday as Dallas routed Miami 112-76. The Mavericks shot over 56 percent and no player logged more than 31 minutes in order to rest for Friday's game. "Overall it was a good team effort and we were fortunate enough to be able to rest some guys in the fourth quarter," Johnson said. The Mavericks' reserves were a huge factor Thursday, scoring 49 points. Their bench has outscored its opponents' reserves by nearly 17 points per game during the winning streak. "We have tremendous talent coming in off that bench," point guard Jason Terry said. "Guys have accepted their roles and they're just coming out and playing hard and aggressive." Denver has lost six out of seven after a 110-107 loss Wednesday to Chicago. Carmelo Anthony scored 15 of his 31 points in the fourth quarter despite a sprained thumb suffered in the first half. "It feels really sore," Anthony said. "I can't even control anything right now." Anthony failed to make the All-Star team despite his team-leading 25.8 points per game. Two acquaintances of Nuggets forward Kenyon Martin, who missed Wednesday's game with a knee injury, were involved in a confrontation with a fan who heckled Martin during the contest. Martin denied speaking to the fan, saying he was concentrating on the game. "Fans say stuff all the time," Martin said. "I'm not going to acknowledge it. It doesn't matter." Dallas has won four straight against Denver, including both meetings this season.
Not to be pessimistic, but I only see one of the Mavericks' streaks coming out unscathed. I believe it will either be a shootout that the Mavericks win, say 109-105, or we will come out flat and lose. If that is the case, I'll say the score will be about 80-88 Nuggets. Now, making two contradicting predictions is kind of strange, but like I said, I have a feeling that only one streak will stay alive after tonight
The Mavs cut the 18 point Denver lead to 2 without Dirk on the floor and are now down 10 after Dirk got in. Devin's out today..That hurts as well.
Very bad game.. no one seemed like they wanted to play. Although I want to defend them since this is the second night of a back-to-back and they are on the road, they just didnt have the effort needed to win this game. Hopefully we can start a new streak against the Knicks
Nuggets 113 Mavs 104 Grades: Mile High Turnovers It was a ?good? loss. The Mavs were out of breath. It was the second night of a back-to-back. The Mavs were still celebrating their Miami victory. The Nuggets were the ?wounded tiger? with Marcus Camby out hurt. Dallas product, Kenyon Martin, had something to prove. The Mavs really missed a healthy Devin Harris. A loss was bound to happen sooner or later, what did you think, the Mavs were going to finish 72-10? What killed the Mavs was 24 turnovers, most of them passes that junior high players would have intercepted. FSN SW: B; Good camera work, just too bad that the commercials had to cover up the footage. +24 Laura Green : A+; Not only is Laura providing incredible insight from the sidelines and Avery?s timeouts but she?s good looking too! +36 Johnson: B, Avery faced a lot of issues getting the Mavs going in this game and he hit the bench hard and early to try to right the ship. Unfortunately, he never got through to most of his starters. Avery? biggest problem was keeping his players attention to continue their winning streak. Every game they won it got harder. Perhaps the best thing about this loss will be that he can gain their attention again for another long win streak. Howard: D; Josh had as many turnovers as rebounds (4) and only scored 9 points (4-9 FG, 0-1 trey, 1- FT). +7 Nowitzki: D; Dirk led the Mavs, errr?.Dirk was the second leading scorer for the Mavs, err?.Dirk was the third leading scorer for the Mavs with 19 points (6-13 FG, 1-4 treys, 6-7 FT). Wait! Dirk did lead the Mavs with 6 turnovers! +18 Diop: C-; DeSagana had 2 points (2-2 FT) and 2 rebounds, but unfortunately 2 turnovers as well. +3 Terry: C; Jason scored 16 points (7-15 FG, 2-7 treys, 0-0 FT) and had a Mavs? high 10 assists but Jason was also a part of the problem with his junior high school lofting passes. +21 Griffin: B; Adrian was the only starter without a turnover. Hmmmmmmmmm. +5 Van Horn: B; Keith led the Mavs with 21 points (9-15 FG, 3-5 treys), 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal and Zero turnovers. +25 Stackhouse: B-; Jerry backed up Keith with 20 points (8-17 FG, 2-5 treys, 2-2 FT) along with 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Nevertheless, the key stat was Jerry only going to the line once in a game that the Nuggets nearly doubled the Mavs trips to the line. +17 Daniels: C; Marquis had 6 points (2-3 FG, 2-2 FT) and 2 steals against 2 turnovers. +6 Armstrong : C-; Darrel got 11 minutes of playing time tonight, but his biggest stat was 3 turnovers. -1 Dampier: B; Erick pitched in 7 points (3-3 FG, 1-2 FT) and 5 rebounds to go with 2 blocked shots in 17 minutes. Zero turnovers. +14 M?Benga: DNP-CD. Powell: DNP-CD. Harris: DNP-Inactive, resting his quadriceps. Podkolzin: DNP-Inactive, Pavel had surgery to repair his right foot and ankle. Marshall : Marshall : DNP-Inactive, Rawle has been sent to the Fort Worth Flyers (NBDL) to get playing time. Typical Chef Ed Type
