Mavericks-Wizards Preview

By JORDAN GARRETSON
Posted Dec 31 2012 8:43PM

The Dallas Mavericks already got their marquee player back from injury, while the Washington Wizards continue to anxiously await the return of theirs. But both teams continue to struggle heading into Tuesday night's game at Washington.

The Mavericks (12-19) had lost two straight when Dirk Nowitzki made his season debut Dec. 23 against San Antonio, but Dallas has lost all four games since its star forward returned. Nowitzki, who averaged 21.6 points per game in 2011-12 without missing a game, missed the first 27 contests this season after undergoing knee surgery.

The 11-time All-Star is clearly not in top form yet, shooting a career-low 32.4 percent from the field. He hasn't scored more than nine points while playing an average of 21.8 minutes as he tries to improve his conditioning.

Sunday was another struggle, with Nowitzki scoring eight on 3-for-9 shooting in a 111-86 home loss to the Spurs, the Mavericks' sixth straight defeat to mark their longest losing streak since January 6-17, 2011.

Dallas hasn't dropped seven in a row since Feb. 9-19, 1999.

"Obviously Dirk is not ready," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "He's not Dirk Nowitzki, basically one of the greatest players that's ever played, so it's going to take time for him. Everybody's just trying to figure out their place and work around and get back into a rotation. It's very, very difficult when you have a guy like that out and then he comes back."

O.J. Mayo picked up the primary scoring load while Nowitzki was out, averaging a career-best 19.8 ppg. But he's struggled since Nowitzki returned, averaging 8.5 points on 33.3 percent shooting, making his teammate's slow return to form even more noticeable.

Coach Rick Carlisle has regularly shuffled his lineup to try to find answers, but no combinations have kept Dallas from falling seven games under .500 for the first time since April 6, 2000 - the first season Mark Cuban owned the team. Carlisle used his 14th different starting lineup against the Spurs, giving Vince Carter his first start of the season. Carter finished with 13 points on 5-of-11 shooting.

"We've got to stick together and we've got to fight," Carlisle said. "And we've got to fight harder than we did tonight."

The league-worst Wizards (4-24) have lost nine of their last 10 as they are still without John Wall. The third-year point guard is still limited to non-contact work in practice as he recovers from a patella injury.

Wall's absence isn't helping Washington's league-worst field-goal percentage (40.6 percent). The Wizards turned in their 12th sub-40.0 percent shooting performance in Saturday's 87-77 loss at Chicago as leading scorer Jordan Crawford (16.0 ppg) sat out with an ankle injury. Crawford was a full participant in Monday's practice.

"We just didn't have our offense," coach Randy Wittman said. " ... Tonight we came out and battled hard, even though short-handed. Yes, it hurt to lose our leading scorer but it isn't that reason we lost."

Crawford scored 21 points off the bench in Washington's 107-101 loss at Dallas on Nov. 14 - the Wizards' fifth straight defeat in the series. Mayo led the Mavericks with 25 points on 9-of-15 shooting.

Mavericks break 6-game skid 103-94 over Wizards

By RICH DUBROFF
Posted Jan 01 2013 10:25PM

WASHINGTON (AP) A strong second-half performance helped the Dallas Mavericks avoid their first seven-game skid in nearly 14 years.

Vince Carter scored 23 points, and O.J. Mayo and Darren Collison each added 15 to help the Mavericks break their six-game losing streak with a 103-94 win over the Washington Wizards on Tuesday night.

The Wizards (4-25) took a 14-point lead early in the second quarter before Dallas rallied. The Mavs trailed by four at the half before outscoring the Wizards 35-19 in the third quarter to take an 83-71 lead.

"It's been a rough two weeks," coach Rick Carlisle said.

The Mavericks have tried to work Dirk Nowitzki back into the lineup, and in his fifth game back after right knee surgery the former league MVP scored 11 points.

"The locker room is miserable. The coaches are miserable when we lose, so it definitely is one we wanted to get," Nowitzki said.

The Mavericks were ahead 99-84 with 3:28 to play, but Washington scored eight straight to cut the lead to seven. Carter, making only his second start of the season, followed with an emphatic dunk with 1:11 to play to make it 101-93.

Carter began the game with a dunk, and the one that secured the win was reminiscent of his high-flying prime.

"The body felt good. Sometimes when I go to dunk, the next couple of plays, I'll stay away from the rim. So, I felt good. I was in attack mode. Those were plays that were needed," Carter said.

Carter will be 36 later this month, but his play doesn't surprise Carlisle.

"He shows flashes of those things more frequently than you might think. The play to open the game was a key play for us because it kind of woke our whole team up and I thought it got us going in the right direction. The play at the end of the game was pivotal because I thought it sealed the game," Carlisle said.

"He said to me coming off the court during the timeout, he goes: `Bet you didn't think I could do that.'

Six players scored in double figures for Dallas. Chris Kaman scored 12 and Shawn Marion had 11 points with a season-high 14 rebounds.

Bradley Beal equaled a career high with 22 points for the Wizards. Emeka Okafor had 14 points and 11 rebounds, and Martel Webster also scored 14.

Dallas arrived in Washington in the midst of its longest losing streak since a seven-game slump from Feb. 9-19, 1999 during Nowitzki's rookie season. The Mavs hadn't been losing close games, either, with only one loss during the recent slide coming by single-digits. The six losses came by an average of 19 points.

"It's been crazy, man. Not winning, and we all lose sleep, all a little stressed out, and a little tense," Mayo said.

NBA champions just two seasons ago, the Mavs haven't missed the playoffs since 2000 and looked to be a team in turmoil. Carlisle was so upset after Sunday's 25-point loss to San Antonio, he threatened suspensions to underperformers, a threat he dismissed before the game. He did institute a dress code for team charters, banning sweat suits and insisting on at least business-casual attire.

"Losing is not something we're used to in this franchise, in this organization. The fans are used to it, to a lot more," Nowitzki said.

The Wizards outrebounded the Mavericks 20-8 in the first quarter as they took a 29-23 lead and ended a 10-0 run with a 37-23 advantage with just over two minutes gone in the second quarter. Dallas clawed back with a 7-0 run to go into halftime trailing 52-48.

"We had a great start. They have experience, they have good players right there. We wake up the beast, Nowitzki started making shots. Vince Carter looked like the young Vince Carter," Washington forward Nene said.

Just before Washington left the court, coach Randy Wittman took reserve center Kevin Seraphin aside to hector him for allowing Kaman three easy baskets late in the half.

NOTES: Dallas recalled G Jared Cunningham from the D-League, but he was inactive, as was C/F Brandan Wright with a quad strain. ... The Wizards gave out bobbleheads depicting Beal. ... Washington has lost six in a row to the Mavericks. ... While the Mavericks were introduced, the strains of "Hail to the Redskins" were played.

Notebook: Mavs 103, Wizards 94

Rich Dubroff, for NBA.com
Posted Tue Jan 01, 2013 10:39 PM - Updated Tue Jan 01, 2013 10:48 PM

THE FACTS: Vince Carter scored 23 points, O.J. Mayo and Darren Collison each had 15 to help the Dallas Mavericks break a six-game losing streak, 103-94 over the Washington Wizards on Tuesday night. The Mavericks outscored the Wizards 35-19 in the third quarter. Six players scored in double figures. Chris Kaman had 12, Shawn Marion had 11 points and a season-high 14 rebounds and Dirk Nowitzki added 11.

Washington is now 4-25. The Wizards were led by Bradley Beal, who tied a career high with 22 points. Emeka Okafor had 14 points and 11 rebounds. Martell Webster also had 14.

QUOTABLE: "The locker room is miserable. The coaches are miserable when we lose."
-- Dirk Nowitzki

THE STAT: Dallas avoided its first seven-game losing streak since Feb. 9-19, 1999. "It's been a while. I don't remember losing six games in a row before in my career. It probably happened, but I don't remember it, it's been so long," Nowitzki said.

TURNING POINT: The Mavericks trailed by 14 points early in the second quarter, and by the end of the third quarter were up by 12.

QUOTABLE II: "He shows flashes of those things more frequently than you might think. The play to open the game was a key play for us because it kind of woke our whole team up and I thought it got us going in the right direction. The play at the end of the game was pivotal because I thought it sealed the game."
-- Mavs coach Rick Carlisle on Vince Carter's dunk

HOT: Nowitzki, who had been shooting 32.4 percent in his first four games, was 5-for-7 from the field. "I've been working my butt off to get in halfway decent shape. Didn't help the guys much in the last couple of outings," Nowitzki said.

NOT: Nene, who had been shooting 51.9 percent, missed eight of 10 from the field for Washington. "We had a great start. They have experience. They have good players right there. We wake up the beast. Nowitzki started marking shots. Vince Carter looked like the young Vince Carter," Nene said.

GOOD MOVE: Carlisle started Carter for the second straight game, his only starts of the season.

BAD MOVE: Kevin Seraphin tried to guard Kaman, but he allowed the Mavericks' big man three easy baskets at the end of the first half to let Dallas back in the game.

NOTABLE: The Mavericks have won six straight games against Washington and their starters scored in double figures for the first time since Feb. 2010.

IN THE ARENA: The Wizards gave out Beal bobbleheads. Fortunately, he was their leading scorer.

NEXT: For the Mavericks, Wednesday @ Miami, Saturday vs. New Orleans, Monday @ Utah. For the Wizards, Wednesday @ Indiana, Friday vs. Brooklyn, Sunday @ Miami.

• Mavericks: Cunningham, Wright
• Wizards: Booker, Wall

• Mavericks: --
• Wizards: --

• Lead Changes: 2
• Times Tied: 1

• Arena: Verizon Center, Washington, DC
• Officials: #71 Rodney Mott, #45 Brian Forte, #68 Marat Kogut
• Attendance: 14456
• Duration: 2:12