Preview: Mavericks (4-1) at Knicks (3-0); streaking Mavs head into Madison Square Garden
Earl K. Sneed reports from New York and previews the Dallas Mavericks' matchup against Jason Kidd, Tyson Chandler and an unbeaten Knicks team, as the Mavs try to extend a three-game winning streak.
Preview: Mavericks (4-1) at Knicks (3-0); streaking Mavs head into Madison Square Garden
NEW YORK — Just four players remain in Big D from the Dallas Mavericks’ 2011 NBA championship roster.
But, with 11-time All-Star Dirk Nowitzki (knee surgery) and four-time All-Star Shawn Marion (sprained left MCL) not available for the Mavericks (4-1) Friday night in New York, the Knicks (3-0) will have an equal amount of players from that title team on the floor, after 39-year-old veteran Jason Kidd followed center Tyson Chandler to the Big Apple in back-to-back offseasons of free agency.
Sweeping through a three-game homestand before heading out to New York and Charlotte on a two-game road trip, the Mavericks will enter Madison Square Garden a confident bunch despite the injuries to Nowitzki and Marion. And after seizing a 109-104 victory at home Wednesday night versus Toronto without four of their key contributors, the Mavs will look for similar success away from home.
“That’s an important game for us,” Mavs point guard Darren Collison emphatically proclaimed. “New York is a very good team. We know the players they have and I’m definitely looking forward to the challenge along with my teammates. That’s a big game for us, and I think we’ve gotta go up there and handle our business. It’s not gonna be easy, but I think we’re gonna be ready to take on the challenge.”
Playing without Marion, who is slated to miss at least three games, as well as big man Elton Brand (birth of his daughter) and fourth-year guard Rodrigue Beaubois (sprained left ankle), the Mavs continued to roll behind two of their nine new additions this season. And after 2-guard O.J. Mayo and center Chris Kaman produced 22 points apiece to help lead the way, the Mavericks’ players also continued to show the ability to fill the void when veteran leaders are out, helping the team get off to a 4-1 start for the first time since the 2007-08 campaign.
“It was a great team effort [Wednesday night],” Mayo said after games of 30 points, 32 points and 22 points during the unbeaten homestand. “It was good. It’s definitely a positive for us, having Dirk out, Shawn going out, and we just have to pull it together. … I guess we’re maybe proving the naysayers a little wrong, but we’re just gonna go out and play and give ourselves a chance to win every night. That’s what it’s about.”
“We’ve got guys picking up where guys are injured, so it’s been a full team effort,” Kaman added. “We’re on a little bit of a roll and we’re just going to try to keep it going.”
Keeping it going against an unbeaten Knicks team Friday night will be challenging, however, as perennial All-Star and scoring threat Carmelo Anthony, Kidd and fellow newcomer Raymond Felton have led New York to its best start in 19 years even without power forward Amare Stoudemire due to a left knee injury.
And with Chandler anchoring the defense, the Mavs know they’ll have a hard time keeping up their offensive success against a squad allowing just 85.3 points on 40.7 percent shooting.
“We go on the road now and it gets tougher. … I mean, they’re a legit championship-contending team now, especially with Kidd on the team,” Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said of the Knicks. “I mean, he brings that winning presence to their situation, and you can just tell it’s really rubbed off on them in a big way. So, that’s gonna be a different kind of test for us, ‘cause they are playing good basketball.”
Note: The Mavs start off their two-game road trip by touching down in New York to face ex-Maverick Jason Kidd and the Knicks Friday night. The game will air locally at 6:30 p.m. CT on Fox Sports Southwest.
