Mavericks, Spurs hope to pick up where they left off
When they square off against the San Antonio Spurs at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the AT&T Center, the Dallas Mavericks would like nothing better than to pick up where they left off in their last game.
So would the Spurs.
The Mavericks rallied from a 14-point, second-quarter deficit Tuesday night at home to defeat the Spurs 101-94 behind 38 points from Monta Ellis that equaled his season high.
Some 24 hours later, the Spurs took their frustrations out on Oklahoma City en route to a 130-91 pounding of the Thunder.
As a result, both teams enter Friday’s game riding a wave of momentum.
Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle is hoping his team gets off to a better start and can avoid the letdown that led to the Spurs leading the Mavericks 36-22 midway through the second quarter Tuesday.
“The last two and a half quarters our level of aggression was where it needed to be,” Carlisle said. “The first quarter and a half we were doing some good things, but we had breakdowns and we had too many empty offensive possessions. We’ve got to build on the last two and a half quarters.”
The Mavericks are mindful that Friday’s game could have playoff implications. The Spurs (45-26) are seeded sixth in the Western Conference standings, a half game ahead of the Mavericks (45-27) in seventh.
Dallas has a 2-1 edge on San Antonio in the season series, and a Mavericks victory would clinch a tiebreaker for Dallas should the teams end the season tied. In the meantime, that aggressive, up-tempo style the Mavericks employed on Tuesday is what Carlisle would like to see again from his team.
“Pace is important, aggression is important, ball movement and extra passes are important, and then playing through the clock defensively is a must with these guys because coming into that game [Tuesday] they had hit three consecutive teams with over 48 points per game in the last eight seconds of the [shot] clock, and we did a really good job on it in our game,” Carlisle said. “It’s an every-possession mentality you’ve got to have with them.
“But it’s tougher going down there — no question about it. We’ve just got to raise our game up.”
In addition to raising their game, Carlisle also expects the Spurs to have a counter for Ellis, who is averaging 34 points in the three games against San Antonio this season. That includes scoring 38 points in each of the Mavericks’ two victories.
“He’s had big games, which means they’re going to key in on him more,”’ Carlisle said. “When that happens he’s going to have to be ready to make plays and get other guys involved, and we’re going to have to strike a balance.
“It’s very difficult to depend on your shooting guard to score 34 points a game against the world champs. It’s really an unfair proposition for him.”
Forward Dirk Nowitzki acknowledged that the Mavericks must play harder for longer periods of time to pull out another victory .
“We’ve just got to pick up and make it harder on them, make them take some tough shots,” Nowitzki said. “But they’ll make some, especially at home. They’re really, really good and we’ve got to be ready for a battle.”
Briefly
▪ Nowitzki said personnel at the hospital where his wife and newborn son, Max, are staying extended a bed to 9 feet to accommodate him. Nowitzki’s wife, Jessica, gave birth Monday.
▪ Forward Richard Jefferson is listed as questionable as he continues to battle back spasms.
▪ Guard J.J. Barea made the trip to San Antonio, but he will miss his third consecutive game with a sprained left ankle.
Dwain Price, 817-390-7760
This story was originally published March 26, 2015 at 9:03 PM with the headline "Mavericks, Spurs hope to pick up where they left off."