Timberwolves-Mavericks Preview

By NOEY KUPCHAN
Posted Jan 14 2013 1:15AM

While it's been a frustrating season for the Dallas Mavericks, they may be ready to finally put it all together.

The Mavericks aim for a season best-tying third consecutive win Monday night as they face the slumping Minnesota Timberwolves, who try to avoid a winless four-game road trip.

Dallas (15-23), which fell 10 games under .500 for the first time in 13 years Wednesday with a 99-93 road loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, has since picked up the pace. Two nights after pulling out a 117-112 overtime win at Sacramento, the Mavericks cruised to a 104-83 rout of Memphis in the opener of a four-game homestand Saturday.

Shawn Marion led six players in double figures with 20 points for Dallas, which outscored the Grizzlies 21-10 in transition and held them to 38.1 percent shooting.

"For where we are right now, gutting out the game in Sacramento was really important for us. Being able to come home and start off this homestand the right way is really important for us," coach Rick Carlisle told the team's official website. "We take nothing for granted. This whole season has been work. It's been challenging and it's going to continue to be that, but we're showing some signs of coming together in some different ways and we've just got to continue."

Nowitzki's return from offseason knee surgery has surely helped the club. The former league MVP has averaged 18.0 points over his last six games, scoring 17 on 5-of-8 shooting against Memphis.

"This was definitely a good one to get and build on the momentum we got in Sacramento with a win," said Nowitzki, averaging 27.3 points in his last four matchups against Minnesota. "And hopefully we can build on that."

After taking 18 of 19 from Minnesota (16-18), the Mavericks have gone 1-4 in this series since the start of last season. Nowitzki only played in one of those losses, missing both this season. The Timberwolves won 90-82 at Dallas on Nov. 12, then 114-106 in overtime Dec. 15.

Minnesota, though, has dropped nine of 13 since beating the Mavericks last month, including seven of eight on the road. The Timberwolves have been outscored by an average of 17.3 points on the first three stops of their current trek, most recently falling 106-88 to San Antonio on Sunday.

J.J. Barea returned from a two-game absence due to back spasms to score 15 points for Minnesota, which was limited to 37.1 percent from the field. The Timberwolves entered the fourth quarter trailing by seven but were outscored 28-17 over the final 12 minutes.

"We were right there going into the fourth," guard Luke Ridnour said. "On the road, that's where you want to be - within striking distance."

Besides getting outscored 54-34 in the paint, the Timberwolves were outscored 32-10 in transition. They're giving up an average of 14.9 fast-break points to rank near the bottom of the league.

"A lot of transition points is our weak point," forward Andrei Kirilenko told the league's official website.

Minnesota continues to play without star Kevin Love (fractured hand) and is also expected to be without coach Rick Adelman for a fifth consecutive game as he tends to his wife, who is hospitalized with an undisclosed illness. Assistant coach Terry Porter will continue to fill in.

Collison leads balanced Mavs over Wolves 113-98

By SCHUYLER DIXON
Posted Jan 15 2013 12:07AM

DALLAS (AP) Darren Collison now runs the floor where J.J. Barea was the spark that helped rally the Dallas Mavericks to their first championship two seasons ago.

Dallas' new point guard made sure one of his predecessors didn't finish off another comeback Monday night.

Collison led six players in double figures with 23 points and the Mavericks matched their season high with a third straight win, holding off a pair of Barea-engineered surges in a 113-98 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

"I felt like we were going to attack," said Collison, who also had nine assists and three steals.

That used to be Barea's job coming off the bench in Dallas, until he became a starter midway through the 2011 NBA finals on Dallas' home court and helped erase a 2-1 series deficit against Miami.

He was finally back on that floor after sitting out Minnesota's first two trips with injuries since signing as a free agent when Mavericks owner Mark Cuban decided not to bring back several key pieces of the title team.

The diminutive guard is a reserve again, and he had former teammate Dirk Nowitzki and others chasing him all over the court while running the pick-and-roll and scoring 11 second-quarter points. He led the Timberwolves with 21 and was on the floor for a second-half rally that cut a 23-point deficit to eight.

"I have a lot of good history here," said Barea, who made 4 of 7 from 3-point range and added five assists. "I hit a couple of shots early so I just kept being aggressive the whole game. I always try to bring a lot of energy off the bench and help my team as much as I can."

The Timberwolves, who finished a 0-4 road trip that coach Rick Adelman missed for personal reasons, got 20 points and a game-high 12 rebounds from Nikola Pekovic.

"It was a tough trip," Barea said. "I tell them to remember how this feels. We have to get better at home."

O.J. Mayo and Elton Brand had 20 points each for Dallas. It was a season high for Brand. Mayo matched Collison's nine assists, and the Maverick had a season-high 33 as a team. Nowitzki, Chris Kaman and Vince Carter had 10 points apiece.

Minnesota trailed by nine in the third quarter when Dallas guard Jae Crowder beat the shot clock with a 3-pointer moments before Ricky Rubio was called for a technical foul from the bench. Less than a minute later, Alexey Shved was called for kicking out his leg when he made a 3-pointer, negating the shot. Shawn Marion scored on other end, and Mayo followed with a 3-pointer to put the Mavericks ahead 83-67 late in the third quarter.

The Dallas run eventually reached 19-5 for a 91-68 lead before the Timberwolves rallied. They thought they were within seven after Barea hit a 3-pointer with 3:16 left and the Mavericks called time out. During the break, the deficit grew to eight at 101-93 after officials reviewed an earlier 3-pointer by Rubio and made it a 2 instead.

Collison hit a 3-pointer to push the lead back to 11 and keep Minnesota from getting any closer.

Rubio's wiped out 3-pointer would have been his first of the year from long range. He was 2 of 3 from the field after hitting just six of his first 33 shots since returning from last season's knee injury. He also missed four games with back spasms.

"It's hard when you feel you are not 100 percent yet and you want to be," said Rubio, who led Minnesota with six assists. "Your mind is doing it, but your legs are not."

After helping Dallas win the title, Barea didn't play in his first trip to Dallas last season but did get a championship ring in Minnesota's only visit. He sat out a game earlier this season with a sprained foot.

Coming off the bench late in the first quarter, Barea had two quick assists then scored eight of Minnesota's first 10 points in the second. Barea hit three 3-pointers and a driving layup and led the Timberwolves with 11 points and four assists before halftime.

Barea, who had about 15 family members and friends in the crowd, helped Minnesota cut an 11-point deficit to 40-38 before Carter converted a three-point play to start a 15-5 run that put the Mavericks up 55-43 late in the second quarter. Brand had eight points during the run and led Dallas with 14 points on 7-of-8 shooting in the first half.

NOTES: Interim Minnesota coach Terry Porter said there was nothing new on the status of Adelman, who has been out since the last home game, Jan. 8 against Atlanta, attending to his wife, who was hospitalized. Minnesota plays at home Thursday against the Clippers. ... The Mavericks matched a season low for the second straight game with nine turnovers. They have 13 or fewer in six straight games in a season notable for turnovers being a persistent problem. ... The Timberwolves were 4 of 16 from 3-point range Sunday against San Antonio, dropping them to 29.7 percent for the season heading into Monday night. In the past 10 NBA seasons, only one team has finished below 30 percent from long range.

Notebook: Mavericks 113, Timberwolves 98

Dave Ivey, for NBA.com
Posted Tue Jan 15, 2013 12:23 AM - Updated Tue Jan 15, 2013 12:23 AM

THE FACTS: Darren Collison, O.J. Mayo and Elton Brand fueled a sizzling shooting performance by the Dallas Mavericks in a wire-to-wire 113-98 victory over the slumping Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday at the American Airlines Center. Collison scored 23 points and Mayo and Brand added 20 apiece as the trio shot a combined 25-for-35 from the field.

It was a season high for Brand. Collison and Mayo each tallied nine assists for the Mavericks (16-23), who won their third straight by shooting 59.7 percent overall, 46.2 percent (6-for-13) from downtown and 93.8 percent (15-for-16) at the line. Dirk Nowitzki, Chris Kaman and Vince Carter each scored 10 points. It was the most points and highest shooting percentage allowed by the Timberwolves this season.

Minnesota (16-19) suffered its fourth straight setback. Nikola Pekovic had 20 points and a game-high 12 rebounds and former Maverick J.J. Barea scored 21 points off the bench. The Wolves had a huge 46-33 advantage on the glass, including 20 offensive rebounds and a 19-2 edge in second-chance points, but it wasn't enough to offset the Mavericks' lights-out shooting.

QUOTABLE: "We're playing with more familiarity with one another, with more familiarity with the system. Our reads are better. We've been doing some good things in that area. The challenge will be continuing."

-- Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle

THE STAT: The Timberwolves lost their four games on this road trip by an average margin of 16.8 points.

TURNING POINT: Minnesota sliced the Mavericks' lead to two points late in the second quarter before Brand simply took over. He sank his last four jump shots of the half, pushing the lead back to 55-45 at intermission. Brand scored 14 in the first half on 7-for-8 shooting.

HOT: The Mavericks had their transition game running on all cylinders. Their edge in fast-break points was 18-2 at halftime and 27-4 through three quarters, finishing at a decisive 31-11. Dallas set a season high with 33 assists, topping the 31 against Charlotte on Nov. 3, and committed just 10 turnovers.

NOT: Pekovic was only 4-for-10 at the charity stripe and Minnesota rookie Alexey Shved was 1-for-7 from the field. ... All nine players who took the court for the Timberwolves committed at least one turnover.

GOOD MOVE: Mayo made an athletic, left-handed catch on a long touchdown pass from Brand, then converted the layup for an 89-68 lead with 45.9 seconds left in the third.

BAD MOVE: Interim coach Terry Porter probably left starters Shved and Luke Ridnour out there too long before going to his bench in the third quarter, allowing the fresher Mavericks to expand their lead against a Timberwolves squad playing the second night of a back-to-back.

FANTASY SPOTLIGHT: This was Barea's first game in Dallas since helping the Mavericks win the 2011 NBA championship. He received a warm ovation when he checked in late in the first quarter, then sank his first three 3-pointers and scored 11 points in the second quarter. The former fan favorite finished 4-of-7 from 3-point distance and 5-of-5 at the line with five assists and three rebounds.

NOTABLE: Minnesota head coach Rick Adelman missed his fifth game to be with his wife, who is hospitalized with an undisclosed illness. ... The Timberwolves swept the first two meetings this season, winning 90-82 in Dallas on Nov. 12 and 114-106 in overtime in Minnesota on Dec. 15. ... This was the seventh straight game in which the Wolves had a lower field-goal percentage than their opponents. ... Dallas is 13-5 when scoring 100 or more points, including 7-1 with 110-plus. ... The Mavericks are 14-5 when shooting at least 45 percent from the floor. ... Dallas has turned it over 13 or fewer times in six straight games.

UP NEXT: For the Mavericks, Wednesday vs. Houston, Friday vs. Oklahoma City, Sunday @ Orlando. For the Timberwolves, Thursday vs. L.A. Clippers, Saturday vs. Houston, Monday @ Atlanta.

• Timberwolves: Budinger, Roy
• Mavericks: Cunningham, James

• Timberwolves: Rubio
• Mavericks: Collison

• Lead Changes: 0
• Times Tied: 1

• Arena: American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX
• Officials: #22 Bill Spooner, #65 Sean Wright, #58 Josh Tiven
• Attendance: 19486
• Duration: 2:06