Preview: Mavericks (3-4) at Spurs (4-2)

Earl K. Sneed previews the Mavericks' road contest in San Antonio against the rival Spurs, as the defending champs bid for their third consecutive victory to get to .500 for the first time this season.

SAN ANTONIO — Perhaps it’s swagger. Perhaps it’s team chemistry developing right before our very own eyes.

Whatever it is something has the Dallas Mavericks playing at a different level the last two times the defending champions have stepped on the floor.

Since beginning the season with a 1-4 start, the new-look Mavericks have admittedly looked like a different squad while capturing back-to-back wins this week against Oklahoma City and Phoenix. Thursday night, entering the AT&T Center, the Mavericks (3-4) will bid for a third straight win against the hated San Antonio Spurs, attempting to show the same piazza that has led to the first back-to-back victories of the young season.

“We’re digging ourselves out of a hole right now and this next game we already know what that means; it’s rivalry time,” Mavericks reserve Jason Terry said when looking ahead to the Spurs. “It’s a big brother versus little brother scenario, but now we have one ring to go up against their four. So, it’s going to be a fun ball game, and we always like going into another team’s home and doing some damage.”

Both teams enter the Southwest Division matchup on the second night of a back-to-back, with San Antonio claiming a 101-95 home victory over Golden State simultaneously while Dallas seized a 98-89 win at the American Airlines Center against the visiting Suns in 10-time All-Star Dirk Nowitzki’s 1,000th career regular-season game. And with a third consecutive win on the line the Mavericks will try to feast on the Spurs squad playing without All-Star swingman Manu Ginobili, who is expected to miss at least two months with a fractured left hand.

However, even without the versatile scoring threat in San Antonio’s backcourt, Nowitzki says he still expects to receive the Spurs’ best shot as the rivalry ensues with another three-game season series. And with perennial All-Stars Tim Duncan and Tony Parker still operating as the core of the Spurs’ lineup even without Ginobili, Nowitzki admits the Mavs will still have plenty to be concerned about.

“That’s a rivalry. It has always been fun games down there,” Nowitzki explained. “I remember one year, maybe a year or two years ago, we were down there and no Tim Duncan, no Manu and [the Spurs] still beat us. So, we’ve got to be ready for a dogfight. They’re scrappy defensively, and obviously they’re very well coached. So, they’re gonna throw a lot of things at us and we’ve got to be ready.”

Fortunately for the Mavs the Dallas bench is coming off its best game of the season, lending Nowitzki and the first unit much support with a combined 52 points and 23 rebounds. After newcomer Lamar Odom produced his best game thus far in a Mavericks uniform with a season-high 15 points on 6-of-12 shooting, the Mavs’ bench appears fortified with the ex-Laker, Terry and eight-time All-Star Vince Carter all in sync.

“There’s not too many benches with two Sixth Man of the Year and a Hall of Famer,” Odom said of the offensively-gifted trio.

“Well, the second unit’s goal is to come in and impact the game on both ends of the floor, and it’s not just good enough to go out and play,” Terry added. “We want to dominate every time we step out on the floor. When you’ve got guys like Lamar Odom, Vince Carter and myself, these are All-Star potential guys, and anybody we face we should have the upper hand.”

The Mavs and their bench will try to gain the upper hand in the Spurs’ home gym on Thursday night in a game that will air locally on Fox Sports Southwest at 7:30 p.m. CT. With a win, the Mavericks will get to .500 for the first time this season after starting off in an uphill climb following back-to-back-to-back losses.

Note: The team returns home against the New Orleans Hornets on Saturday night, in a game that will air locally on Fox Sports Southwest at 8 p.m. CT. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by calling (214) 747-6287.

Single-game tickets are on sale and available at the American Airlines Center North Box Office, online at mavs.com, via phone by calling 214-747-MAVS or 1-800-4NBA-TIX and all Ticketmaster outlets (Fiesta Grocery Stores, Wal-Mart, Simon Mall in Garland and the Shops at Willow Bend in Plano).

Rivalry Pack: Aside from being a season ticket holder, the only way for Mavs fans to attend either of the two Los Angeles Lakers games is through the Rivalry Pack. Tickets to the Feb.22 and March 21 games vs. the Los Angeles Lakers can be purchased as part of a three-game package that includes one (1) of the three premium games and two (2) additional regular season games.

RPL Nights: RPL Nights return for the sixth season and will feature special discounted tickets for 10 pre-selected games. Tickets normally priced $9 will be $2, $15 will be $10, $31 will be $20 and $42 will be $32.