Wizards-Mavericks Preview

By MATT BECKER
Posted Oct 26 2009 10:40AM

Not very often can a team finish with one of the worst records in the league one season and feel like it can compete for a championship the next.

The Washington Wizards believe they have what it takes to pull it off, although they'll start the season without one of their top players.

With Gilbert Arenas healthy for the first time in two seasons, the Wizards hope to overcome an injury to Antawn Jamison in Tuesday night's season opener against a retooled Dallas Mavericks team that addressed problems of depth, versatility and strength.

Washington finished 19-63 in 2008-09 - worst in the East - and tied the 2000-01 team for the most losses in franchise history. While very little went right for the Wizards, they have reason to believe things will improve.

Washington couldn't stay healthy last season. Arenas and Brendan Haywood combined to play in just eight games, and DeShawn Stevenson missed 50 games with back problems.

The Wizards made four straight trips to the playoffs before last season's debacle, and new coach Flip Saunders believes if the core of Arenas, Jamison and Caron Butler can avoid injury, Washington will be back in the postseason.

"If we stay healthy," Saunders said, "we should be able to compete in the East for an elite spot."

Washington isn't going to start the season at full strength, though.

Jamison is expected to miss the Wizards' first eight to 13 games after partially dislocated his shoulder trying to block a shot in an exhibition game against Cleveland on Oct. 14. The two-time All-Star forward led the team in scoring at 22.2 points per game while missing only one contest last season.

"It continues to happen,'' Butler said. "We're going to remain optimistic and remain positive and see what happens.''

While Jamison's injury is a blow to the team, Washington is excited about starting the season with a healthy Arenas.

Arenas has undergone three surgeries on his left knee over the past two seasons, limiting him to just 15 games. In his last relatively healthy-free season in 2006-07, Arenas averaged 28.4 points, third-best in the league.

The three-time All-Star worked this summer with renowned trainer Tim Grover, dropping weight and gaining strength, and has shown flashes of his old explosiveness in exhibition games.

"He's trying to get his rhythm," Saunders said. "He's starting to feel more comfortable every time he steps on the floor."

Arenas won't have to carry the offense, though, since Butler has established himself as a capable scorer.

Butler's scoring has improved each of the past five seasons to a career-high of 20.8 per game in 2008-09, when he also averaged 6.2 rebounds and 4.3 assists.

Dallas finished 50-32 last season to reach the playoffs for a ninth straight time and looked strong in upsetting San Antonio in five games in the first round. The Mavericks ran into trouble in the West semifinals, though, getting knocked around by a far more physical Denver team and was eliminated in five games.

Dallas spent the offseason trying to build a team that can compete with the other West powers, and owner Mark Cuban feels like they've acquired the missing pieces.

The Mavericks retained their core of Dirk Nowitzki, Josh Howard, Jason Terry and Erick Dampier - all starters on the clubs that went to the NBA finals in '06 and won 67 games the next season - plus Jason Kidd. But they altered the dynamic of their lineup by trading for Shawn Marion to try to solve matchup problems and also added veteran post players Drew Gooden and Tim Thomas.

"What's not to like?'' Cuban said. "We've got a lot of guys that everybody knows can play. We've got some young guys that everybody knows can play. We've got some veterans that are here to win. I think that makes all the difference. You can see there's a lot more trust as opposed to uncertainty.''

Nowitzki is still the leader, and he enters this year in great shape after losing about 17 pounds since last season ended.

"I think we added some really nice pieces,'' said Nowitzki, who averaged 25.9 points and 8.4 rebounds in 2008-09. "I think we're all going to fit in well and mesh pretty well together. ... It should be fun.''

Nowitzki averaged 28.5 points on 52.2 percent shooting in helping Dallas win both games over the Wizards last season.

The Mavericks have won six of seven over Washington in Dallas, and were tough to beat at the American Airlines Center for much of last season.

After losing their first four at home, the Mavericks won 32 of their final 37 regular-season games in Dallas.

Copyright 2009 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited

Wizards hold off Mavs to make Saunders a winner in debut

By Dave Ivey, for NBA.com
Posted Wednesday October 28, 2009 12:44AM

DALLAS (NBA.com exclusive) -- Dallas head coach Rick Carlisle's wish for a strong defensive effort from his team didn't come true on his 50th birthday Tuesday night.

In a season-opening contest filled with new faces in new places, a superstar returning from injury and All-Stars missing from both lineups, Washington piled up 35 points during a pivotal second quarter and held on for a 102-91 victory in a nice debut for coach Flip Saunders.

Washington, whose 6-35 road record last season was tied for worst in the league, shot 46.4 percent, turned the ball over just nine times and out-rebounded the Mavericks by a 46-42 margin. Dallas shot 39.5 percent, including 22.2 percent (4-for-18) from 3-point distance.

"Missed threes weren't the problem," Carlisle said. "The problem, I felt, was our second-quarter defense. When they got 35 points in that quarter and we had probably five or six situations when we gambled for steals and missed and gave them either easy buckets or and-ones, that gives a team a lot of confidence and it deflated us to a certain degree."

Carlisle refused to blame the shaky defense on unfamiliarity or a lack of chemistry from having four newcomers in the rotation in Shawn Marion, Drew Gooden, Quinton Ross and Kris Humphries.

"I'm not going to make that excuse," he said. "Defense is effort. It's the knowledge of the system and this is not a complex system. I never use that as an excuse."

The Mavericks didn't have enough offensive firepower to overcome the defensive lapses. Dirk Nowitzki had a game-high 34 points for his 26th consecutive regular-season game with 20-plus (the longest active streak in the NBA). Marion added 16 points, with most coming either very early or too late. J.J. Barea scored 11 of his 13 points in the second quarter.

"We're a team that scores," Carlisle said. "When we score and we shoot well, everything else falls into place. The real challenge for us is to become a team that can be persistent enough on defense and hold ourselves in games when we're not shooting great."

Gilbert Arenas, limited to 15 games in the past two seasons with a left knee injury, shook off the rust with 29 points on 10-for-21 shooting and nine assists. Newcomer Randy Foye added 19 points off the bench and Caron Butler added 16 points and eight boards.

"No one cared who got the credit," said Washington center Brendan Haywood. "We played the right way. We swung the ball, and when you don't play selfishly, good things are going to happen."

Jason Terry, the Mavericks' reigning NBA Sixth Man Award winner, has some early competition for the 2009-10 trophy from the Wizards' Andray Blatche. Blatche scored 10 of his 20 in that pivotal second quarter and added seven rebounds and two blocks off the bench. Terry was just 4 of 15, including 1 of 6 beyond the arc.

"Blatche was as good as he could be," said Saunders, who improved to 11-2 in his career in season openers. Only San Antonio's Gregg Popovich (11-1) can top that.

"Blatche is a talented guy," Carlisle said. "He can make shots. In talking about their team, we didn't want to let him get going. When he hits his first shot he's always tough."

It was an off night for one of the newest Mavericks, and also the oldest. Gooden had two points and two turnovers and made 1 of 6 shots in his Dallas debut. Veteran point guard Jason Kidd, 36, missed all three 3-point attempts and finished with four points, six assists and six rebounds.

Dallas was without former All-Star Josh Howard, who is recovering from left ankle surgery. Washington had a sidelined All-Star, too, in former Maverick Antawn Jamison (right shoulder).

The Mavericks, who stumbled to a 2-7 start last season, are in danger of starting their 30th anniversary season in similarly sluggish fashion with road games this weekend against the defending champion Lakers and the Clippers. Losing by double-digits to a Washington team that went 19-63 last season wasn't the start, or the birthday present, Carlisle wanted.

"It's just disappointing," he said. "This is one of those nights where we're not shooting it well and you've got to hang in the game with your defense and we just weren't able to do it."

• Wizards: Crittenton, Davis, Jamison
• Mavericks: Howard, Thomas, Williams

• Wizards: --
• Mavericks: --

• Lead Changes: 4
• Times Tied: 8

• Arena: American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX
• Officials: #10 Ron Garretson, #38 Michael Smith, #66 Haywoode Workman
• Attendance: 19871
• Duration: 2:18

Washington Wizards (11-21)		Dallas Mavericks (23-12)
Start of 1st Quarter
(12:00) Jump Ball Dampier vs Haywood (Ross gains possession)
	11:41	Nowitzki Jump Shot: Missed
Miller Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	11:40
	11:29	Kidd Foul : Shooting (1 PF)
Arenas Free Throw 1 of 2 (1 PTS)	11:29 [WAS 1-0]
Arenas Free Throw 2 of 2 (2 PTS)	11:29 [WAS 2-0]
	11:04 [DAL 2-2]	Ross Step Back Jump shot: Made (2 PTS)
Butler Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO) Steal:Marion (1 ST)	10:42
Oberto Foul : Personal (1 PF)	10:36
	10:31	Nowitzki Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO) Steal:Miller (1 ST)
Oberto Foul : Offensive (2 PF)	10:27
Oberto Turnover : Foul (1 TO)	10:27
Oberto Substitution replaced by Blatche	10:27
	10:17 [DAL 4-2]	Nowitzki Jump Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Kidd (1 AST)
Arenas 3pt Shot: Missed	09:53
	09:52	Dampier Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
	09:43	Nowitzki Floating Jump shot: Missed
Butler Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	09:42
Butler Pullup Jump shot: Made (2 PTS)	09:35 [WAS 4-4]
Haywood Foul : Defense 3 Second (0 PF)	09:21
	09:21 [DAL 5-4]	Nowitzki Free Throw Technical (3 PTS)
	09:16	Nowitzki Jump Shot: Missed Block: Blatche (1 BLK)
Miller Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)	09:15
	08:55	Dampier Foul : Shooting (1 PF)
Haywood Free Throw 1 of 2 (1 PTS)	08:55 [WAS 5-5]
Haywood Free Throw 2 of 2 Missed	08:55
	08:55	Marion Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
	08:37 [DAL 7-5]	Marion Turnaround Jump Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Nowitzki (1 AST)
Miller 3pt Shot: Missed	08:18
	08:16	Nowitzki Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
	08:00 [DAL 9-5]	Kidd Layup Shot: Made (2 PTS)
Haywood Layup Shot: Missed Block: Dampier (1 BLK)	07:40
	07:38	Dampier Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)
	07:31	Nowitzki 3pt Shot: Missed
Miller Rebound (Off:0 Def:3)	07:30
Blatche Jump Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Arenas (1 AST)	07:21 [WAS 7-9]
	07:04 [DAL 11-7]	Marion Turnaround Jump Shot: Made (4 PTS) Assist: Kidd (2 AST)
	06:45	Marion Foul : Personal (1 PF)
Arenas 3pt Shot: Missed	06:40
Haywood Rebound (Off:1 Def:0)	06:39
Haywood Layup Shot: Missed Block: Nowitzki (1 BLK)	06:37
	06:36	Kidd Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
Blatche Foul : Shooting (1 PF)	06:22
	06:22 [DAL 12-7]	Nowitzki Free Throw 1 of 2 (4 PTS)
Team Timeout : Regular	06:22
	06:22 [DAL 13-7]	Nowitzki Free Throw 2 of 2 (5 PTS)
Butler Turnover : Bad Pass (2 TO) Steal:Kidd (1 ST)	06:04
	05:46	Nowitzki Driving Hook Shot: Missed
Miller Rebound (Off:0 Def:4)	05:45
Marion Violation:Kicked Ball	05:38
Haywood Running Dunk Shot: Made (3 PTS) Assist: Arenas (2 AST)	05:23 [WAS 9-13]
	04:59 [DAL 15-9]	Marion Turnaround Fade Away shot: Made (6 PTS) Assist: Kidd (3 AST)
	04:50	Ross Foul : Personal (1 PF)
	04:50	Ross Substitution replaced by Terry
Haywood Slam Dunk Shot: Made (5 PTS) Assist: Arenas (3 AST)	04:38 [WAS 11-15]
Miller Foul : Personal (1 PF)	04:27
	04:27	Nowitzki Substitution replaced by Gooden
Butler Foul : Personal (1 PF)	04:18
	04:10	Terry Jump Shot: Missed
Team Rebound	04:10
Haywood Running Dunk Shot: Made (7 PTS) Assist: Arenas (4 AST)	04:02 [WAS 13-15]
	03:37	Gooden Turnaround Fade Away shot: Missed Block: Blatche (2 BLK)
Miller Rebound (Off:0 Def:5)	03:36
Arenas Jump Shot: Made (4 PTS) Assist: Miller (1 AST)	03:26 [WAS 15-15]
	03:22	Team Timeout : Regular
Miller Substitution replaced by Stevenson	03:22
	03:07	Gooden Jump Shot: Missed
Stevenson Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	03:06
Haywood Layup Shot: Missed	02:50
Blatche Rebound (Off:1 Def:0)	02:49
Butler 3pt Shot: Missed	02:43
	02:42	Kidd Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)
	02:27	Kidd 3pt Shot: Missed
Stevenson Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)	02:26
Arenas Floating Jump shot: Missed	02:15
	02:14	Gooden Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
Haywood Foul : Shooting (1 PF)	02:02
	02:02 [DAL 16-15]	Dampier Free Throw 1 of 2 (1 PTS)
	02:02	Kidd Substitution replaced by Barea
	02:02 [DAL 17-15]	Dampier Free Throw 2 of 2 (2 PTS)
Haywood Hook Shot: Missed	01:48
Blatche Rebound (Off:2 Def:0)	01:47
Blatche Putback Dunk Shot: Made (4 PTS)	01:47 [WAS 17-17]
	01:31	Dampier Turnover : Out of Bounds Lost Ball Turnover (1 TO)
	01:31	Dampier Substitution replaced by Nowitzki
	01:15	Marion Foul : Personal (2 PF)
Butler Free Throw 1 of 2 (3 PTS)	01:15 [WAS 18-17]
	01:15	Marion Substitution replaced by Ross
Haywood Substitution replaced by McGuire	01:15
Butler Free Throw 2 of 2 (4 PTS)	01:15 [WAS 19-17]
McGuire Foul : Shooting (1 PF)	00:56.1
	00:56.1 [DAL 18-19]	Nowitzki Free Throw 1 of 2 (6 PTS)
	00:56.1 [DAL 19-19]	Nowitzki Free Throw 2 of 2 (7 PTS)
Arenas Driving Layup Shot: Made (6 PTS)	00:40.8 [WAS 21-19]
McGuire Foul : Personal (2 PF)	00:33.1
	00:33.1 [DAL 20-21]	Nowitzki Free Throw 1 of 2 (8 PTS)
	00:33.1 [DAL 21-21]	Nowitzki Free Throw 2 of 2 (9 PTS)
Arenas Driving Jump shot: Missed Block: Ross (1 BLK)	00:17.9
	00:14.9	Nowitzki Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)
	00:01.0	Ross 3pt Shot: Missed
	00:00.3	Terry Rebound (Off:1 Def:0)
End of 1st Quarter
Washington Wizards (11-21)		Dallas Mavericks (23-12)
Start of 2nd QuarterBack to Top
Butler Step Back Jump shot: Made (6 PTS)	11:41 [WAS 23-21]
Blatche Foul : Shooting (2 PF)	11:22
	11:22	Terry Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed
	11:22	Team Rebound
Arenas Substitution replaced by Foye	11:22
	11:22 [DAL 22-23]	Terry Free Throw 2 of 2 (1 PTS)
Butler Jump Shot: Missed	11:06
	11:05	Barea Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
	10:59 [DAL 24-23]	Barea Driving Layup Shot: Made (2 PTS)
Foye Foul : Shooting (1 PF)	10:59
	10:59 [DAL 25-23]	Barea Free Throw 1 of 1 (3 PTS)
Oberto Turnaround Bank shot: Made (2 PTS)	10:42 [WAS 25-25]
	10:42	Ross Foul : Shooting (2 PF)
Oberto Free Throw 1 of 1 (3 PTS)	10:42 [WAS 26-25]
	10:28	Barea Jump Shot: Missed
Butler Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)	10:27
Blatche Layup Shot: Made (6 PTS) Assist: Butler (1 AST)	10:21 [WAS 28-25]
	10:21	Gooden Foul : Shooting (1 PF)
	10:21	Gooden Substitution replaced by Humphries
Blatche Free Throw 1 of 1 (7 PTS)	10:21 [WAS 29-25]
	10:09 [DAL 27-29]	Terry Driving Jump shot: Made (3 PTS)
Blatche Driving Layup Shot: Made (9 PTS) Assist: Stevenson (1 AST)	09:53 [WAS 31-27]
	09:53	Nowitzki Foul : Shooting (1 PF)
Blatche Free Throw 1 of 1 (10 PTS)	09:53 [WAS 32-27]
Oberto Foul : Personal (3 PF)	09:36
Oberto Substitution replaced by Haywood	09:36
	09:28 [DAL 29-32]	Nowitzki Jump Shot: Made (11 PTS) Assist: Humphries (1 AST)
Blatche Jump Shot: Missed	09:17
	09:16	Barea Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)
	09:02 [DAL 31-32]	Barea Driving Finger Roll Layup Shot: Made (5 PTS)
Team Timeout : Regular	08:57
Foye Jump Shot: Made (2 PTS)	08:40 [WAS 34-31]
	08:26	Terry Driving Layup Shot: Missed
Blatche Rebound (Off:2 Def:1)	08:24
Butler Pullup Bank shot: Made (8 PTS)	08:18 [WAS 36-31]
	08:00 [DAL 33-36]	Terry Jump Shot: Made (5 PTS) Assist: Barea (1 AST)
Stevenson Foul : Shooting (1 PF)	08:00
	08:00	Nowitzki Substitution replaced by Dampier
Butler Substitution replaced by Miller	08:00
	08:00	Ross Substitution replaced by Kidd
	08:00	Terry Free Throw 1 of 1 Missed
Haywood Rebound (Off:1 Def:1)	07:59
Foye Jump Shot: Missed	07:41
	07:40	Kidd Rebound (Off:0 Def:3)
	07:36	Barea Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO)
Miller 3pt Shot: Made (3 PTS) Assist: Foye (1 AST)	07:24 [WAS 39-33]
	06:59 [DAL 36-39]	Barea 3pt Shot: Made (8 PTS)
Foye Jump Shot: Missed	06:43
	06:42	Barea Rebound (Off:0 Def:3)
	06:38 [DAL 38-39]	Dampier Running Slam Dunk Shot: Made (4 PTS) Assist: Barea (2 AST)
Blatche Jump Shot: Made (12 PTS) Assist: Stevenson (2 AST)	06:17 [WAS 41-38]
Foye Foul : Personal (2 PF)	06:06
Stevenson Substitution replaced by Arenas	06:06
	06:06	Humphries Substitution replaced by Gooden
	06:06 [DAL 39-41]	Barea Free Throw 1 of 2 (9 PTS)
	06:06 [DAL 40-41]	Barea Free Throw 2 of 2 (10 PTS)
Foye Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO) Steal:Gooden (1 ST)	05:53
	05:43	Gooden Turnover : Traveling (1 TO)
Timeout : Official	05:43
	05:43	Terry Substitution replaced by Marion
Blatche Driving Layup Shot: Missed	05:32
Blatche Rebound (Off:3 Def:1)	05:31
	05:30	Gooden Foul : Shooting (2 PF)
Blatche Free Throw 1 of 2 (13 PTS)	05:30 [WAS 42-40]
Blatche Free Throw 2 of 2 (14 PTS)	05:30 [WAS 43-40]
Arenas Foul : Personal (1 PF)	05:21
	05:21 [DAL 41-43]	Barea Free Throw 1 of 2 (11 PTS)
	05:21	Barea Free Throw 2 of 2 Missed
Haywood Rebound (Off:1 Def:2)	05:20
	05:12	Dampier Foul : Personal (2 PF)
Arenas Free Throw 1 of 2 (7 PTS)	05:12 [WAS 44-41]
	05:12	Gooden Substitution replaced by Terry
	05:12	Dampier Substitution replaced by Nowitzki
Arenas Free Throw 2 of 2 (8 PTS)	05:12 [WAS 45-41]
	04:59 [DAL 43-45]	Nowitzki Jump Shot: Made (13 PTS) Assist: Kidd (4 AST)
	04:48	Nowitzki Foul : Shooting (2 PF)
Arenas Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed	04:48
Team Rebound	04:48
Arenas Free Throw 2 of 2 (9 PTS)	04:48 [WAS 46-43]
	04:35	Nowitzki 3pt Shot: Missed
Miller Rebound (Off:0 Def:6)	04:34
Arenas Floating Jump shot: Missed Block: Marion (1 BLK)	04:18
Team Rebound	04:18
Foye Driving Layup Shot: Made (4 PTS) Assist: Miller (2 AST)	04:15 [WAS 48-43]
	03:59	Marion Layup Shot: Missed
Blatche Rebound (Off:3 Def:2)	03:58
Arenas Jump Shot: Made (11 PTS)	03:41 [WAS 50-43]
	03:26	Nowitzki 3pt Shot: Missed
	03:26	Marion Rebound (Off:1 Def:1)
	03:16	Terry 3pt Shot: Missed
Arenas Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	03:15
Arenas Jump Shot: Made (13 PTS)	03:08 [WAS 52-43]
	03:07	Team Timeout : Regular
	03:07	Barea Substitution replaced by Dampier
Blatche Substitution replaced by Butler	03:07
Miller Foul : Personal (2 PF)	02:53
	02:53	Nowitzki Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed
	02:53	Team Rebound
	02:53 [DAL 44-52]	Nowitzki Free Throw 2 of 2 (14 PTS)
	02:44	Dampier Foul : Personal (3 PF)
Arenas Free Throw 1 of 2 (14 PTS)	02:44 [WAS 53-44]
	02:44	Dampier Substitution replaced by Gooden
Arenas Free Throw 2 of 2 (15 PTS)	02:44 [WAS 54-44]
	02:25	Nowitzki Turnaround Fade Away shot: Missed
Butler Rebound (Off:0 Def:3)	02:24
Foye Step Back Jump shot: Made (6 PTS)	02:11 [WAS 56-44]
	01:50	Gooden Step Back Jump shot: Missed
	01:49	Nowitzki Rebound (Off:1 Def:2)
Miller Foul : Shooting (3 PF)	01:47
	01:47 [DAL 45-56]	Nowitzki Free Throw 1 of 2 (15 PTS)
Miller Substitution replaced by McGuire	01:47
	01:47 [DAL 46-56]	Nowitzki Free Throw 2 of 2 (16 PTS)
Arenas 3pt Shot: Missed	01:34
	01:33	Terry Rebound (Off:1 Def:1)
	01:23	Nowitzki Jump Shot: Missed
	01:22	Gooden Rebound (Off:1 Def:1)
	01:19 [DAL 48-56]	Gooden Jump Hook Shot: Made (2 PTS)
Butler Layup Shot: Missed Block: Gooden (1 BLK)	00:51.9
	00:51.5	Nowitzki Rebound (Off:1 Def:3)
Butler Foul : Loose Ball (2 PF)	00:51.5
	00:51.5 [DAL 49-56]	Nowitzki Free Throw 1 of 2 (17 PTS)
Foye Substitution replaced by Stevenson	00:51.5
	00:51.5 [DAL 50-56]	Nowitzki Free Throw 2 of 2 (18 PTS)
	00:41.9	Kidd Foul : Personal (2 PF)
Stevenson Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed	00:41.9
Team Rebound	00:41.9
McGuire Substitution replaced by McGee	00:41.9
Stevenson Free Throw 2 of 2 Missed	00:41.9
	00:39.9	Nowitzki Rebound (Off:1 Def:4)
	00:31.9	Marion Turnaround Jump Shot: Missed
Haywood Rebound (Off:1 Def:3)	00:24.9
Arenas Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO) Steal:Gooden (2 ST)	00:05.9
	00:00.3	Gooden Turnover : Bad Pass (2 TO) Steal:Stevenson (1 ST)
Instant Replay - Overturn Ruling	00:00.0
End of 2nd Quarter
Washington Wizards (11-21)		Dallas Mavericks (23-12)
Start of 3rd QuarterBack to Top
Haywood Jump Shot: Missed	11:40
	11:39	Nowitzki Rebound (Off:1 Def:5)
	11:24	Marion Jump Shot: Missed
Butler Rebound (Off:0 Def:4)	11:22
Butler Driving Finger Roll Layup Shot: Made (10 PTS)	11:15 [WAS 58-50]
	10:55 [DAL 53-58]	Terry 3pt Shot: Made (8 PTS)
Haywood Layup Shot: Missed	10:36
	10:36	Nowitzki Rebound (Off:1 Def:6)
Miller Foul : Loose Ball (4 PF)	10:36
Miller Substitution replaced by Foye	10:36
	10:24	Terry Jump Shot: Missed
	10:22	Dampier Rebound (Off:1 Def:2)
	10:22 [DAL 55-58]	Dampier Putback Dunk Shot: Made (6 PTS)
Arenas 3pt Shot: Made (18 PTS)	10:11 [WAS 61-55]
	09:55	Nowitzki Turnover : Bad Pass (2 TO) Steal:Foye (1 ST)
Butler Jump Shot: Missed Block: Marion (2 BLK)	09:42
	09:40	Kidd Rebound (Off:0 Def:4)
	09:34	Terry 3pt Shot: Missed
Haywood Rebound (Off:1 Def:4)	09:33
Butler Running Slam Dunk Shot: Made (12 PTS) Assist: Arenas (5 AST)	09:29 [WAS 63-55]
	09:06	Marion 3pt Shot: Missed
Oberto Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	09:05
Butler Jump Shot: Missed	08:53
	08:52	Marion Rebound (Off:1 Def:2)
	08:47 [DAL 57-63]	Kidd Driving Layup Shot: Made (4 PTS)
Arenas Jump Shot: Missed	08:27
Oberto Rebound (Off:1 Def:1)	08:26
Oberto Turnover : Lost Ball (2 TO) Steal:Kidd (2 ST)	08:23
	08:18	Terry Jump Shot: Missed Block: Butler (1 BLK)
Haywood Rebound (Off:1 Def:5)	08:15
Foye Pullup Jump shot: Made (8 PTS)	08:10 [WAS 65-57]
Oberto Foul : Shooting (4 PF)	07:55
	07:55 [DAL 58-65]	Dampier Free Throw 1 of 2 (7 PTS)
Oberto Substitution replaced by Blatche	07:55
	07:55	Dampier Free Throw 2 of 2 Missed
Haywood Rebound (Off:1 Def:6)	07:54
	07:39	Marion Foul : Personal (3 PF)
Arenas Turnover : Lost Ball (2 TO) Steal:Terry (1 ST)	07:36
Foye Foul : Loose Ball (3 PF)	07:36
	07:22	Nowitzki Jump Shot: Missed
Blatche Rebound (Off:3 Def:3)	07:21
Blatche Jump Shot: Made (16 PTS) Assist: Arenas (6 AST)	07:10 [WAS 67-58]
	06:48	Terry Jump Shot: Missed
	06:48	Dampier Rebound (Off:2 Def:2)
Haywood Foul : Loose Ball (2 PF)	06:48
	06:39 [DAL 60-67]	Nowitzki Driving Bank Hook Shot: Made (20 PTS) Assist: Terry (1 AST)
	06:19	Team Timeout : Regular
Foye Jump Shot: Missed	06:12
	06:10	Marion Rebound (Off:1 Def:3)
	06:05	Marion Running Dunk Shot: Missed
Foye Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	06:04
Foye Turnover : Out of Bounds Lost Ball Turnover (2 TO)	06:02
	05:51 [DAL 62-67]	Nowitzki Jump Shot: Made (22 PTS) Assist: Terry (2 AST)
Blatche Pullup Jump shot: Made (18 PTS)	05:24 [WAS 69-62]
	05:13	Nowitzki Jump Shot: Missed
	05:13	Dampier Rebound (Off:3 Def:2)
Blatche Foul : Personal (3 PF)	05:13
	05:13	Dampier Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed
	05:13	Team Rebound
	05:13	Kidd Substitution replaced by Barea
	05:13 [DAL 63-69]	Dampier Free Throw 2 of 2 (8 PTS)
Foye 3pt Shot: Missed	04:49
	04:48	Barea Rebound (Off:0 Def:4)
	04:35 [DAL 65-69]	Barea Driving Jump shot: Made (13 PTS)
Arenas Foul : Offensive (2 PF)	04:19
Arenas Turnover : Foul (3 TO)	04:19
	04:08	Barea Turnover : Bad Pass (2 TO) Steal:Blatche (1 ST)
Foye 3pt Shot: Made (11 PTS) Assist: Arenas (7 AST)	03:57 [WAS 72-65]
	03:36 [DAL 67-72]	Terry Driving Layup Shot: Made (10 PTS)
Arenas Driving Bank shot: Made (20 PTS)	03:21 [WAS 74-67]
	03:21	Barea Foul : Shooting (1 PF)
Haywood Substitution replaced by Stevenson	03:21
	03:21	Marion Substitution replaced by Ross
Arenas Free Throw 1 of 1 (21 PTS)	03:21 [WAS 75-67]
	03:00	Nowitzki Jump Shot: Missed
Stevenson Rebound (Off:0 Def:3)	02:59
Arenas Jump Shot: Missed	02:50
	02:49	Team Rebound
Team Timeout : Regular	02:49
Foye Substitution replaced by Haywood	02:49
	02:35 [DAL 69-75]	Nowitzki Jump Shot: Made (24 PTS) Assist: Terry (3 AST)
Butler Jump Shot: Missed	02:15
	02:14	Barea Rebound (Off:0 Def:5)
	02:03 [DAL 71-75]	Nowitzki Jump Shot: Made (26 PTS) Assist: Barea (3 AST)
Butler Driving Jump shot: Missed	01:40
	01:38	Nowitzki Rebound (Off:1 Def:7)
	01:31	Barea 3pt Shot: Missed
Stevenson Rebound (Off:0 Def:4)	01:29
Arenas Pullup Jump shot: Made (23 PTS)	01:17 [WAS 77-71]
	00:54.9	Terry 3pt Shot: Missed
Butler Rebound (Off:0 Def:5)	00:53.9
Butler Driving Jump shot: Missed Block: Nowitzki (2 BLK)	00:48.8
Team Rebound	00:48.1
	00:48.1	Dampier Substitution replaced by Gooden
Arenas Jump Shot: Missed	00:43.9
	00:42.8	Terry Rebound (Off:1 Def:2)
	00:36.9 [DAL 74-77]	Nowitzki 3pt Shot: Made (29 PTS) Assist: Terry (4 AST)
	00:21.8	Ross Foul : Personal (3 PF)
	00:21.8	Nowitzki Substitution replaced by Humphries
Arenas Jump Shot: Missed	00:08.9
	00:06.9	Terry Rebound (Off:1 Def:3)
	00:02.9	Terry 3pt Shot: Missed
Haywood Rebound (Off:1 Def:7)	00:01.7
Butler 3pt Shot: Missed	00:00.4
Team Rebound	00:00.0
End of 3rd Quarter
Washington Wizards (11-21)		Dallas Mavericks (23-12)
Start of 4th QuarterBack to Top
	11:51 [DAL 76-77]	Marion Running Layup Shot: Made (8 PTS) Assist: Kidd (5 AST)
Blatche Jump Shot: Made (20 PTS) Assist: Stevenson (3 AST)	11:25 [WAS 79-76]
	11:06	Barea Turnover : Bad Pass (3 TO) Steal:Foye (2 ST)
	10:51	Ross Foul : Shooting (4 PF)
Butler Free Throw 1 of 2 (13 PTS)	10:51 [WAS 80-76]
Butler Free Throw 2 of 2 (14 PTS)	10:51 [WAS 81-76]
	10:27	Kidd 3pt Shot: Missed
	10:26	Marion Rebound (Off:2 Def:3)
	10:26	Team Turnover : Shot Clock Turnover
Blatche Turnaround Jump Shot: Missed Block: Marion (3 BLK)	10:07
	10:06	Kidd Rebound (Off:0 Def:5)
Stevenson Foul : Shooting (2 PF)	10:06
	10:06	Marion Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed
	10:06	Team Rebound
	10:06 [DAL 77-81]	Marion Free Throw 2 of 2 (9 PTS)
Foye Jump Shot: Made (13 PTS)	09:55 [WAS 83-77]
	09:35	Barea Floating Jump shot: Missed
Butler Rebound (Off:0 Def:6)	09:34
Stevenson 3pt Shot: Missed	09:21
Stevenson Rebound (Off:1 Def:4)	09:20
Blatche Driving Reverse Layup Shot: Missed Block: Gooden (2 BLK)	09:04
Team Rebound	09:04
	09:04	Marion Substitution replaced by Nowitzki
	09:04	Ross Substitution replaced by Terry
Foye 3pt Shot: Missed	08:57
	08:56	Gooden Rebound (Off:1 Def:2)
	08:46	Kidd 3pt Shot: Missed
Oberto Rebound (Off:1 Def:2)	08:45
Timeout : Official	08:31
	08:31	Barea Substitution replaced by Marion
Butler Driving Layup Shot: Missed	08:26
	08:25	Nowitzki Rebound (Off:1 Def:8)
	08:06	Marion Jump Shot: Missed Block: Butler (2 BLK)
	08:03	Marion Rebound (Off:3 Def:3)
	08:01	Gooden Jump Shot: Missed
Butler Rebound (Off:0 Def:7)	07:59
Stevenson Jump Shot: Missed	07:37
Team Rebound	07:36
Team Turnover : Shot Clock Turnover	07:36
Butler Substitution replaced by Arenas	07:36
Stevenson Substitution replaced by Miller	07:36
	07:19	Nowitzki Jump Shot: Missed
	07:18	Gooden Rebound (Off:2 Def:2)
	07:18	Gooden Tip Shot: Missed
Miller Rebound (Off:0 Def:7)	07:17
Oberto Turnaround Hook Shot: Made (5 PTS) Assist: Arenas (8 AST)	06:59 [WAS 85-77]
	06:57	Team Timeout : Regular
	06:57	Gooden Substitution replaced by Dampier
Blatche Substitution replaced by Haywood	06:57
	06:39	Kidd Jump Shot: Missed
Haywood Rebound (Off:1 Def:8)	06:37
Arenas Driving Layup Shot: Made (25 PTS) Assist: Oberto (1 AST)	06:22 [WAS 87-77]
Arenas Foul : Personal (3 PF)	06:12
	06:06 [DAL 80-87]	Nowitzki 3pt Shot: Made (32 PTS) Assist: Kidd (6 AST)
Foye Jump Shot: Made (15 PTS) Assist: Arenas (9 AST)	05:49 [WAS 89-80]
	05:26	Nowitzki Jump Shot: Missed
Arenas Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)	05:24
Jump Ball Marion vs Haywood (Arenas gains possession)	05:14
Miller Driving Jump shot: Missed	05:03
	05:01	Dampier Rebound (Off:3 Def:3)
	04:50 [DAL 82-89]	Nowitzki Step Back Jump shot: Made (34 PTS)
Miller 3pt Shot: Made (6 PTS) Assist: Oberto (2 AST)	04:28 [WAS 92-82]
Foye Foul : Shooting (4 PF)	04:12
	04:12 [DAL 83-92]	Terry Free Throw 1 of 2 (11 PTS)
	04:12 [DAL 84-92]	Terry Free Throw 2 of 2 (12 PTS)
Arenas Floating Jump shot: Made (27 PTS)	04:00 [WAS 94-84]
Oberto Foul : Personal (5 PF)	03:51
Oberto Substitution replaced by Blatche	03:51
	03:51	Marion Substitution replaced by Barea
	03:44	Nowitzki Turnover : Bad Pass (3 TO) Steal:Miller (2 ST)
Haywood Jump Shot: Missed	03:26
Foye Rebound (Off:1 Def:1)	03:25
Foye Tip Shot: Missed	03:25
Foye Rebound (Off:2 Def:1)	03:23
Blatche Jump Shot: Missed	03:06
	03:05	Barea Rebound (Off:0 Def:6)
	02:56	Terry Jump Shot: Missed
Haywood Rebound (Off:1 Def:9)	02:55
Team Timeout : Regular	02:48
	02:48	Dampier Substitution replaced by Marion
Miller Substitution replaced by Butler	02:48
	02:42	Terry Foul : Personal (1 PF)
Blatche Jump Shot: Missed	02:27
	02:26	Kidd Rebound (Off:0 Def:6)
Haywood Foul : Shooting (3 PF)	02:15
	02:15 [DAL 85-94]	Marion Free Throw 1 of 2 (10 PTS)
	02:15 [DAL 86-94]	Marion Free Throw 2 of 2 (11 PTS)
Foye Jump Shot: Made (17 PTS) Assist: Blatche (1 AST)	01:57 [WAS 96-86]
	01:50 [DAL 88-96]	Marion Layup Shot: Made (13 PTS) Assist: Barea (4 AST)
Butler Foul : Shooting (3 PF)	01:50
	01:50 [DAL 89-96]	Marion Free Throw 1 of 1 (14 PTS)
Arenas Driving Finger Roll Layup Shot: Made (29 PTS)	01:37 [WAS 98-89]
	01:28	Barea Layup Shot: Missed
Blatche Rebound (Off:3 Def:4)	01:26
Arenas Jump Shot: Missed	01:13
Butler Rebound (Off:1 Def:7)	01:12
Butler Tip Shot: Missed	01:12
	01:10	Team Rebound
	01:10	Team Timeout : Short
Haywood Substitution replaced by Oberto	01:10
Blatche Substitution replaced by Miller	01:10
	01:01	Nowitzki Driving Layup Shot: Missed
Miller Rebound (Off:0 Def:8)	00:59.5
Butler Floating Jump shot: Made (16 PTS)	00:37.9 [WAS 100-89]
	00:31.9	Terry 3pt Shot: Missed
	00:30.9	Marion Rebound (Off:4 Def:3)
	00:30.2 [DAL 91-100]	Marion Jump Shot: Made (16 PTS)
	00:25.1	Terry Foul : Personal (2 PF)
	00:02.8	Barea Foul : Personal (2 PF)
Foye Free Throw 1 of 2 (18 PTS)	00:02.8 [WAS 101-91]
Foye Free Throw 2 of 2 (19 PTS)	00:02.8 [WAS 102-91]
End of 4th Quarter

broadcast information
country		channel			time
usa		--	CSN-W	Local	Final
		--	FSSW-DAL	Local	Final