Jonah Ballow
Wolves Editor/Writer
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Wolves vs. Mavericks 7:30 PM - American Airlines Center
WHERE TO WATCH: KSTC-45
WHERE TO LISTEN: KFAN 1130

Scouting Report:
Big Picture:

Assistant Coach JB Bickerstaff DOWNLOAD MP3

The countdown for the 2010 All-Star game in Dallas is underway and the same could be said about the opportunity for the Mavericks to capture an NBA title during Dirk Nowitzki's prime. Most NBA fans did not expect Dallas to reach the top of the Western Conference standings this year but they quietly hold the No. 3 spot with a 31-18 record. Owner Mark Cuban may need to pull the trigger on a trade after the Mavericks slowed down in January, only posting an 8-7 mark. Trade rumors are swirling around Josh Howard, who has now found a role off the bench while Jason Terry stepped into the starting lineup. Dallas bounced back from a three-game losing skid to defeat Golden State on Wednesday night and the team will host Minnesota before two road contests.

Last Meeting:
Nowitzki exploded for 15 of his 20 points in the third quarter to lead the Mavericks in an 89-77 victory at the Target Center on November 15.

Backcourt:
Don't doubt the productivity from the 36-year old point guard. Jason Kidd continues to make an impact as one of the best point guards in the history of the league. His scoring is down to just 8.9 points per game but Kidd's assists averages place him in the NBA's top five. When Kidd dishes out 15 or more assists, the Mavericks are 4-0 and the former All-Star has improved his touch from the 3-point line. In the first meeting against the Wolves, Kidd only scored six points; however, he pulled down seven boards at the point guard position. With Terry joining Kidd in the backcourt, Dallas presents a potent attack due to the ball handling abilities from both players. Terry has assumed the role with the starters by improving his scoring averages and adding a secondary option when Nowitzki takes a breather. Corey Brewer will defend Terry tonight on the wing; Wolves fans should feel confident about that matchup. In his last 13 games, Brewer has shot 47.3 percent behind the arc and averaged 17.8 points during the previous five outings. The consistent offensive improvement from Brewer may earn him the Most Improved Player of the Year award along with giving Minnesota a threat at the shooting guard position.

Frontcourt:
This season, Nowitzki seems to be playing with a chip on his shoulder. The Wolves witnessed his feistiness first hand on November 13 after the seven-footer turned up the heat in the third quarter. Ryan Hollins and Nowitzki exchanged words during that crucial period and then Hollins was ejected for throwing an elbow at Drew Gooden. The increased intensity lit a fire under Nowitzki as he took control of the game with several patent fadeaway jumpers. The two post players square off again tonight as Hollins starts at the power forward spot opposite of Nowitzki. For the Wolves frontline, Al Jefferson and Kevin Love got back on track this past week with impressive performances against the Clippers and Knicks. Love scored a career high 25 points on Sunday night, including 11 boards in 32 minutes with the second unit.

What To Look For:
How will Minnesota respond tonight after a four-day layoff? Head coach Kurt Rambis mixed a couple of "light" practice days with the normal workout load during the long break between games. In searching for their first three-game winning of the season, the Wolves must find a way to duplicate their defensive performances this past week against a Mavericks squad that holds a 15-3 record against sub .500 teams.

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