No Parker, No Problem; Shorthanded Spurs Defeat Mavs

Lead: The final score was 109-100, a nine-point loss for the Dallas Mavericks at home to the cross-Texas rival San Antonio Spurs.

Recap:

It really was not quite as close as the score may suggest. The Mavs got off to a very slow start as they allowed the Spurs to start the game off with a 7-0 run. After falling back by seven, the Mavs went on a little 5-0 run of their own, but the Spurs responded with a 8-0 run over the next minute in which Danny Green hit back-to-back threes. After the first quarter, the Mavs were down by eight, 30-22, and Dirk Nowitzki was scoreless through the period.

In the second, the Mavs started playing with playoff intensity. Nowitzki responded in true veteran fashion to his first quarter slump by scoring a quick two buckets in the first minute of the second period. Monta Ellis got in his groove and Brandan Wright provided a spark with some momentum-shifting dunks. After a back-and-forth quarter, the Mavs captured momentum going into the half, leading by two points after Sam Dalembert thunderously blocked Tim Duncan’s last shot attempt before the half.

To start the third quarter, the Mavs defense had not quite come out of the locker room from halftime. The Spurs went on a 24-11 run, aided in large part by Patty Mills, who was filled in admirably for an injured Tony Parker. Mills had 11 of those 24 points, including three 3-pointers. Mills finished the game connecting on 6 shots from downtown.

The Mavs entered the final period trailing by 11. Unlike earlier in the game when they were down by 11 and responded, the Mavs crumbled. They fell behind by as much as 14 near the start of the 4^th quarter, and didn’t close the gap to single digits until five minutes left in the game. With a 1:17 remaining in the game, Jose Calderon gave Mavs fans a glimmer of hope with a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to six. Right after that shot though, Kawhi Leonard provided the dagger with a 3-point shot.

Looking forward:

With the win, the Spurs remain atop the Western Conference by 3.5 games with the best record in the NBA at 61-18.

With the loss, Mavs fall to the 8^th seed as the Suns leap to the 7^th spot. Mavs host the Suns on Saturday in a game that is as crucial as it can get. It will determine tiebreakers and playoff seeding. Following the Suns game, the Mavs travel to Memphis, who currently sit one game out of the playoff picture.

Carlisle’s Corner:

Prior to the game, Carisle talked a little about Dirk saying, “He’s a once-in-a-generation player.” He also said Dirk, Vince Carter, and Shawn Marion all provide much needed leadership on the floor and later added that Monta Ellis is in the same category and the team would be “nowhere near the playoffs” without him.

In response to a question about Spurs head coach Gergg Popovich, Carlisle said he is “the greatest coach there’s ever been in any sport.”

Locker room Noise:

After the game, Dirk says the team didn’t do enough on the boards as well as lacking closing on three-point attempt.

Dirk, Devin Harris, and Shawn Marion all emphasized the point that they are not even thinking about playing their playoff opponent and are solely focused on winning the remaining games.

Stat Alert: Vince Carter finished the night with six points and is seven points shy of being 25^th all time in scoring.