MILWAUKEE — After leaving the first two stops on a four-game road trip with wins on both Detroit's and Minnesota's home floors, the Dallas Mavericks entered the BMO Harris Bradley Center hoping to keep that trend going while also accomplishing something they hadn’t done through the first 62 games of the season.
Looking to notch three straight road wins for the first time in the 2012-13 campaign and attempting to match their season-best winning streak with a fourth straight win, the Mavericks sought retribution as they tried to avenge a 95-90 home loss to the Milwaukee Bucks back on Feb. 26. In order to get even while continuing to trend upward, however, the Mavs would have to slow down a Milwaukee team that entered Tuesday night after winning six of its previous seven outings. Dallas would have to do so despite taking the court for a third straight game minus four-time All-Star Shawn Marion as well as the defensive catalyst was once again sidelined due to a left calf contusion.
Still, the Mavericks (30-33) would have no problem moving to 3-0 on their road trip after a 115-108 win minus their top defender, collecting their third straight victory away from home for the first time since February 8-17, 2012.
"I like the momentum we've got going," 11-time All-Star Dirk Nowitzki said after the victory. "I like the rhythm we've got going. We've got to keep playing hard. ... Definitely a good way to start with a 3-0 road trip against some tough teams, especially since we haven't been good on the road all year. So we'll take it."
"I think we're playing with a lot of confidence right now and a lot of momentum. Our togetherness is at an all-time high and we believe," sixth man Vince Carter added as the Mavs continue to keep their playoff hopes alive.
But the Mavs would find themselves at an early disadvantage while opening the game in a 6-0 hole, before Nowitzki briefly settled his team down with three free throws after getting fouled on a 3-point attempt by Ersan Ilyasova. Mavs coach Rick Carlisle was then forced to burn a timeout with his team in a 15-7 hole as 7:26 remained in the opening period.
The Mavs would respond to the timeout well, tying the game at 18-all on Carter’s athletic and-one score before taking a 21-20 edge on leading scorer O.J. Mayo’s pull-up 3. However, after the Bucks (32-30) closed the quarter strong, the Mavs found themselves down 35-28 with 12 minutes in the book despite Nowitzki’s 10 first-quarter points.
"We were down early, a step slow to everything, and then we picked it up with the second lineup," Nowitzki foreshadowed.
With backup point guard Darren Collison in the locker room having his left eye examined due to a collision in the first quarter, the Mavs would rally in the second stanza behind the play of rookie Jae Crowder and seldom-used guard Rodrigue Beaubois.
"It's interesting. During the game tonight, the score was 41-33. So we came into a timeout and I reminded the guys we were ahead 41-31 in our game, and they went on a 10-0 run to get even," Carlisle explained while looking back to that February loss. "We chipped it back up and they kept chipping back. And tonight, when it was 41-33, we made a move and that's when we got the lead and didn't relinquish it. So I give our guys a lot of credit. You know, we knew this was going to be one of those persistence games where you've got to keep chipping away and you've got to keep hanging in. They did and they deserved to win."
Meanwhile, Nowitzki continued to carry much of the offensive load before Crowder returned to the gym he called home while at Marquette University and connected on a 3-pointer to put the Mavs up 49-45 with 3:37 left in the half.
"I thought Crowder played a terrific game," Carlisle added. "It's very difficult to do what he did tonight, and that is to come back to your kind of hometown and play. Usually guys get so worked up it's hard for them to play well, and not only did he play well, he played a complete game. ... I was really happy for him. You know, he's about all the right things. He plays hard, he's into winning, a team guy, and so I was really happy for him coming back home. I told him after the game I wish we could play all our games here."
Beaubois then lent Crowder a helping hand, draining a triple to take the Mavs into the half with a 63-55 advantage.
Led by Nowitzki's 17 points on 6-of-10 shooting and 6 of 16 from 3-point range as a team, the Mavs assumed the lead despite getting outshot through the first two quarters, 50 percent to 47.8 percent. Both teams also snatched down 23 rebounds in the first half while combining for five total giveaways in a low-turnover affair.
Making a switch from center Chris Kaman to big man Brandan Wright to open the second half, Carlisle would see a positive result right away. A floater to start the third period by starting point guard Mike James would then quickly give the Mavs a double-digit advantage as the visitors tried to pull away, before Wright took over the scoring responsibilities inside while Mayo did his work from the outside.
But, after leading by as much as 18, the Mavericks would see the Bucks charge back within single digits after a 13-2 Milwaukee run. Veteran big man Elton Brand and Mayo then kept the Bucks at bay before Crowder's 3 beat the shot clock and put the Mavericks back up by 12.
The Mavs then took a 90-79 margin into the final 12 minutes of play.
Surging back ahead by 15 as Nowitzki found Wright inside, the Mavs tried to keep a safe separation on the scoreboard. But, after Larry Sanders' block on Collison, his recovery and an eventual dunk, Carlisle was again forced to calm his team with a timeout while holding a 98-86 advantage as 8:32 remained.
Sanders then connected on 1 of 2 free throws to cut the Bucks' deficit to nine a short time later. The Bucks weren't done just yet after J.J. Redick's driving score cut the Mavs' lead to seven midway through the fourth before Carter and Mike Dunleavy exchanged triples. Redick's long two then cut the margin to just five, 101-96, with 4:37 remaining.
But again it would by Carter with the answer from long range, swishing a 3 from the wing to quiet the Milwaukee crowd. Crowder follow that with a jumper of his own, lifting the Mavericks to a 106-98 edge with 3:11 showing on the game clock. Carter's 3 then sandwiched scores by Monta Ellis as the former All-Star tried to close the door on the Bucks, finding the bottom of the net yet again to put the Mavs up 111-102 with 1:40 left to hold on.
"When they made their run, it got a little tighter than we wanted, but Vince was spectacular again. ... Just phenomenal down the stretch. He really took the game over for us," Nowitzki would later say.
"Well, we had big shots all night and Vince got hot at the right time," Carlisle added. "We had Dirk out of the game, he needed a blow, and Vince hit two or three in a row that were hellacious shots and really difficult. He has that capability, so that was great."
But, after yet another 3 by Redick, the Bucks refused to go quietly, cutting the Mavericks' separation to six with 1:18 still remaining. Mayo then missed on his attempt to put the Bucks to bed, finding all iron on a 3 attempt before Milwaukee secured the board and called timeout with 59.6 ticks left.
Still, after a miss from 3 by Ilyasova, Carter was finally able to put the game away with a 2-for-2 trip to the foul line as 45.2 seconds remained. Dunleavy then sailed the ball too far for Ellis on the sideline before Wright and James put the final padding on the win at the charity stripe.
Leading five Mavs in double figures, Carter tallied up 23 points (13 in the fourth) off the bench while hitting 6 of 10 from the floor and 4 of 6 from behind the 3-point arc.
"I felt in a groove," Carter modestly said. "The basket just seemed extremely big. ... I mean, I was just in the flow of the game. A couple of shots, once I let them go, I happened to look down and the 3-point line was up there. I know if I don't make them Coach is going to yell, but I was just prepared. I mean, I had my feet set, I was in rhythm and just being in attack mode."
"He's been fun to watch all year," Nowitzki said of Carter. "He's been great off the bench. To me, I know our record isn't that great, but he's probably in talks for Sixth Man of the Year. That's how good he's been for us."
Nowitzki, meanwhile, recorded a double-double, scoring 19 points while grabbing 11 rebounds. Mayo and Crowder added 14 points apiece and James pitched in 13 points in the first unit.
Ellis led five Bucks in double figures with 32 points on 12-of-24 shooting, but the Mavs' 50 percent from the field bettered Milwaukee's 48.3 percent. The Bucks also claimed a 42-41 rebounding edge and a 54-36 margin in points in the paint.
Note: The Mavs will now conclude their four-game road trip in San Antonio, returning to the practice court on Wednesday before Thursday's matchup against the Western Conference-leading Spurs. The Spurs lead the season series 3-0. The game will air nationally Thursday night at 7 p.m. CT on TNT.
"We've gotten closer together as a team," Carlisle concluded. "You know, we know time is short and urgency is high, and we're going let it all hang out. I mean, we're going to throw the kitchen sink at everybody and we're going to hit every arena with guns blazing. I mean, that's just how it's got to be."
Mavs Fans: Are you hopping on the beard bandwagon? Show your support and make your pledge today!
MILWAUKEE — The last time Dallas Mavericks rookie Jae Crowder stepped into the BMO Harris Bradley Center he was getting set for his final collegiate home game as a member of the Marquette Golden Eagles.
Tuesday night, the former Big East Player of the Year returns to the gym he once called home, playing in front of family, friends and faithful fans as the Mavericks (29-33) try to match their season-best winning streak with a fourth consecutive victory overall against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Receiving a visit from Marquette coach Buzz Williams prior to the Mavs' Tuesday morning shootaround, Crowder was provided all the motivation he needed to take the court against a Milwaukee team that's won six of its last seven. And with four-time All-Star Shawn Marion listed as questionable after missing the past two games due to a left calf contusion, Crowder could play a vital role for the Mavs on a hardwood that he's very familiar with already.
"It will be a surreal feeling playing here, because my last time here was my last home game on Senior Night," Crowder said while looking up to the rafters. "It was a very emotional day for me, and it will be good playing here again.
"[Williams] was just like, 'Just play. Play like you did when you were in this building the whole year, two years, and just have fun. There will be a lot of fans here rooting for you, and good luck.'"
Looking to avenge a 95-90 home defeat at the hands of the Bucks (32-29) on Feb. 26, the Mavs may need the first-year contributor to step up as the visiting Dallas team tries to claim three straight road wins for the first time all season. The Mavericks will also attempt to win four straight outings the first time since Jan. 10-16, likely calling on Crowder to start again if Marion is unable to give it a go.
"It's definitely exciting for him and guys in that situation," Carlisle said. "It's unusual to come back and play an NBA game in your college arena. You know, you don't see a lot of that in this league. So this is a unique thing and Jae's a special guy, so this will be a nice thing for him."
Note: The Mavs will continue their four-game road trip in Milwaukee, taking on the Bucks on Tuesday. The Bucks lead the season series 1-0 after a 95-90 win in Dallas back on Feb. 26. The game will air locally Tuesday at 7 p.m. CT on Fox Sports Southwest.
Mavs Fans: Are you hopping on the beard bandwagon? Show your support and make your pledge today!
MILWAUKEE — If the Dallas Mavericks are going to successfully match their season-best winning streak of four straight victories and continue to fight for their playoff lives, then they may need to once again lean on the play of eight-time All-Star Vince Carter off the bench Tuesday night in Milwaukee.
Scoring 22 points to lead the Mavericks (29-33) to Sunday's 100-77 win in Minnesota in the second outing of a four-game road trip, Carter once again provided a spark while doing so in just 25 minutes of action. But, after going 0 for 8 from the field against the Bucks (32-29) in a 95-90 home defeat and totaling just two points back on Feb. 26, Carter will try to redeem himself when the Mavs enter the BMO Harris Bradley Center looking to get even.
“We’re all in sync and doing what needs to be done,” Carter said as the Mavs continue their postseason push. “Everybody is really locked in and focused on the game plan, and the biggest thing is we’re just moving the ball. I think regardless of whoever the play is called for, we’re just finding the open guy. I think when we do that, everybody feels like, ‘If I’m open and they swing the ball to me, I need to knock it down.’ We’re moving the ball and everybody is benefiting from it, in my opinion.”
Carter was certainly the beneficiary of the Mavs' unselfish play on Sunday.
Finishing one rebound shy of a double-double and hitting 8 of 15 from the floor, including 4-of-5 shooting from 3-point range, Carter continued to carry the torch for the Mavs while recapturing his All-Star form. His production was also sorely needed as veteran small forward Shawn Marion missed his second straight game due to left calf contusion.
“He was phenomenal. I actually think he’s been great all season,” 11-time All-Star Dirk Nowitzki said of Carter. “His 3-ball really looks automatic. It’s got that high arc on it, it looks easy and he can shoot it from deep. I mean, really every time he shoots it now I feel like it’s going in, so he’s been in a great rhythm. …. He’s playing a great all-around game for us.”
“You know, him and Marion have been our MVPs, if you look at the entire season,” Mavs coach Rick Carlisle added with high praise for Carter's play. “You know, with Vince, we depend on him for so much — playmaking off the bench, scoring off the bench, defense, rebounding. He really plays a terrific all-around game, so he’s essential to whatever we’re doing.”
With Marion's status unclear for Tuesday when the Mavericks face off for a second time against the Bucks while trying to slow Milwaukee's high-octane attack down, the visiting Dallas team may once again rely on the production of Carter and the reserves after 58 bench points boosted them past the Timberwolves. More importantly, the Mavs will look to continue heading in the right direction, sitting three games out of the eighth spot in the Western Conference standings entering Tuesday night's showdown.
The Mavericks haven't won four straight outings since Jan. 10-16. They also haven't notched three straight road games all season long. And after dropping three of the last four meetings against the Bucks in the overall series, the Mavs will somehow try to contain a Milwaukee team that has won six of seven.
Note: The Mavs will now continue their four-game road trip in Milwaukee, taking on the Bucks on Tuesday. The Bucks lead the season series 1-0 after a 95-90 win in Dallas back on Feb. 26. The game will air locally Tuesday at 7 p.m. CT on Fox Sports Southwest.
Mavs Fans: Are you hopping on the beard bandwagon? Show your support and make your pledge today!
