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

Earl K. Sneed previews the Mavericks' home matchup against ex-Mav Steve Nash and the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday night, as the reigning champs try to build off their win over the previously unbeaten Oklahoma City Thunder.

DALLAS — The careers of Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash are seemingly headed in two different directions. Wednesday night, the two collide once again on the American Airlines Center court looking to elevate their teams from sluggish starts to the 66-game shortened season.

Whereas Nowitzki is coming off the end of a 13-year journey to the NBA championship and a Finals MVP award, Nash and his Phoenix Suns (2-3) appear to be in rebuilding mode with the two-time MVP one of a few carryovers from when the organization was a perennial playoff contender.

The two former MVPs have crossed paths many times since teaming together from 1998-2004, but it’s Nowitzki that seems more focused than ever to return to the mountaintop a second time. The first European-born player to reach 20,000 career points — draining his 8,000th career made field goal Monday night in a 100-87 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder — is now looking to add to his trophy case with a second Larry O’Brien Trophy.

“Now, you felt it once and I think you want to feel it again,” Nowitzki said after adding that elusive title to his growing resume. “You want to be the best team again. And you want to defend your title. … You put all your efforts into that. That’s really what drives me now; being a great player and going out there and winning some games.”

But the 7-footer faces a new challenge in this condensed campaign, trying to lead his aging team back to the promise land while also working in new additions Lamar Odom, Vince Carter, Delonte West, Brandan Wright and Sean Williams.

Recognizing that last season his team was not thought of as the early favorite to win the championship, Nowitzki has ignored the naysayers and their belief that the new-look Mavs can’t equal last year’s feats. Instead, he’s used the criticism as fuel to power and motivate his teammates to once again emerge as the last team standing with fellow veterans Jason Kidd and Jason Terry helping to lead the charge.

“We’re a veteran team that wants to play off each other and that’s where we were last year. We’re not gonna be the heavy favorites, but we weren’t last year either and we still found a way to fight together, have a good team, fight through some stuff and come out on top,” Nowitzki explained.

Coming off the home win over the previously unbeaten Thunder, the Mavericks (2-4) appear to have finally put it all together with the new additions of Carter and Odom assisting Terry in the second unit. The deadly trio powered the Mavs to a 47-25 advantage in bench scoring, showing just how deadly the Mavs’ bench can be.

Against the Suns, the offensively-gifted trio will once again look to assert itself en route to the Mavs’ first back-to-back wins of the year.

“Well, if you look at our bench — myself, Vince Carter, Lamar Odom — those three guys in itself are starters in the league, a couple of them All-Stars. So, we have to come out and dominate,” Terry explained. “Whoever they put out there for the other team’s bench, we have to win that matchup. If we do so then we’re gonna put ourselves in a position to win every night.”

Now, the Mavs will try to build off the impressive showing instead of taking a step back, as was the case Sunday night when the team surrendering a 15-0 run on the road to close out a 99-82 loss in Minnesota.

“The last couple of games we’ve definitely seen spurts of how we’re capable of playing,” Terry added. “So, we’re definitely encouraged. But our thing is, if you’re able to come play the way we did [Monday night], why do you play the way we did against Minnesota? So, once we figure that out then we’re gonna be a much more consistent ballclub and we’ll start to inch forward towards our goal.”

Meanwhile, Nash is pondering over how to get his Suns squad back in postseason contention, after seeing his team finish with a 40-42 record last season.

Nash enters this season looking up to Nowitzki and the Mavs at the top of the food chain. Still, Nowitzki admits that the Mavs will have their hands full with the pass-first point guard and his henchmen as Phoenix tries to knock off the reigning champs on their own floor.

“We’re gonna play a hungry, young, athletic team and they’re gonna be ready like everyone is playing the champs. So, we’ve gotta be ready,” Nowitzki concluded.

“This is a rivalry for me,” Terry added after joining the Mavs following Nash’s departure to Phoenix. “You know what that matchup means for me personally. I’ve always taken that matchup personally and there’s nothing different this time. As long as they’re Phoenix and we’re Dallas, it’s gonna mean something special.”

The Mavericks return to action at home against the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday night, in a game that will air locally on Fox Sports Southwest at 7:30 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.