Preview: Mavericks (36-28) at Bulls (47-16)
Earl K. Sneed reports from Chicago and previews the Dallas Mavericks' road contest against the NBA's best team record-wise, the Bulls, in the defending champions' second-to-last regular-season showdown.
Preview: Mavericks (36-28) at Bulls (47-16)
CHICAGO— Facing the team with the NBA’s best record, Saturday night should serve the Dallas Mavericks well as they approach the playoffs.
Although they will be without the services of starting point guard Jason Kidd due to a scheduled rest, the Mavericks (36-28) enter the United Center looking to build off two wins to conclude regular-season play at home.
And after stretching out their hold on the sixth spot in the Western Conference standings to a full game on Friday night with a 104-94 victory over Golden State, the Mavs will try to prevent the Chicago Bulls from wrapping up the No. 1 seed in the East.
"It’s going to be a playoff-caliber game in terms of its physicality," Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said looking forward to the matchup. "That’s a guarantee, because when you lace them up against those guys, that’s the kind of game it’s going to be. It’ll be good, it’ll be good for us."
"We’ve gotta do a good job still of keeping the pressure up and still compete," leading scorer Dirk Nowitzki added. "You don’t wanna lollygag a week before the playoffs. … We’ve gotta keep the pedal to the medal here."
With a 1 ½-game lead on Miami in the race for the top seed out East, the Bulls (47-16) will likely try to secure that prime position without reigning MVP Derrick Rose for the fourth straight game due to a foot injury. Still, Chicago is 17-9 minus Rose this season, showing just how deep the Bulls’ roster is without the cat-quick lead guard.
Meanwhile, the Mavs will try to avoid a third straight loss away from Big D after finishing a four-game road trip with an overtime loss Sunday in Los Angeles to the Lakers before a triple-overtime defeat the next night in Utah.
And even without Kidd to run the show, Nowitzki says Saturday’s nationally-televised contest could not only keep Denver at bay in the standings but also prepare the Mavs for the ruggedness of the postseason.
"They’re tough. You know, D-Rose has been out for numerous games but they play hard, their big guys really crash the paint, they play together, and yeah, they’re a tough team. I really like how they compete and Coach [Tom] Thibodeau really has them playing at a high level, with or without Rose. So, it’s gonna be a challenge and they’re gonna keep coming for 48 minutes, no matter if they’re up or down. They’re gonna keep competing and we’ve got our hands full," Nowitzki explained.
"You’re not looking for any pressure to be taken off of you," new addition Delonte West added just a night after the team clinched its 12th straight playoff appearance. "You’ve gotta thrive in pressure situations to be a championship team and we don’t really feel any pressure. You know, it is what it is."
Note: The Mavericks now journey back out on the road, touching down in Chicago for a battle against the NBA’s best team record-wise, the Bulls. The game will air on Saturday night locally on Fox Sports Southwest and nationally on ESPN at 7 p.m. CT.
Dates and times for the first two home playoff games have not been announced but will be posted on mavs.com by April 27th.
