Archives
Subject: Mavs win again
Time: 7:05:00 AM CST
Author: lrpatton
The Clippers' Cuttino Mobley fouls the Mavericks' Dirk Nowitzki in the fourth quarter Friday night.
White-hot Mavs keep cleaning up on road Blowouts are quickly becoming a habit.
After 36 games without consecutive double-digit victories, the Mavericks posted their fourth in a row with Friday night’s 101-81 rout of the Los Angeles Clippers at the Staples Center.
The Mavs’ can match their longest run of blowout victories since last season Sunday at Portland.
“Guys are starting to come together,’’ Josh Howard said. “This is a good road trip to see if we’re going to jell.’’
The Mavs (30-10) are 2-0 on the season-long five-game trek, and join Detroit as the only teams with at least 15 wins at home and on the road. The victory also assures the Mavs will complete the midpoint of the season (41 games) on at least a 60-win pace.
The Mavs’ four consecutive victories are by 99 combined points and they fell one made basket short of shooting at least 50 percent in each.
The Clippers (20-16) had beaten the Mavs the last three times at home and went into the game as the NBA’s top rebounding team. The teams play two more times this season.
“Tonight was a big test,’’ said Dirk Nowitzki, the game’s high scorer with 26. “A lot of guys are playing real well right now.’
Six scored in double figures, including three off the bench. Nowitzki added 11 rebounds, and Erick Dampier came off the bench to register only his second double-double of the season with 13 points and 12 boards.
“He delivered,’’ coach Avery Johnson of Dampier. “He’s been playing really hard.’’
The Mavs’ latest victory was a study in balance, offensive efficiency and suffocating defense, especially in the first half. The Mavs led 63-39 at the break, with seven players scoring at least seven and none more than 10.
The Clippers were out-rebounded 44-33, and Sam Cassell and Elton Brand were the only two to score more than 10.
“We had everything cooking,’’ said Adrian Griffin, a rebound shy of his own double-double. “It’s all about Avery’s system. Offensively, he stress ball movement and, defensively, he stresses taking care of your responsibilities.
“When we do that it’s like kids realizing what their parents told them was right.’’
Los Angeles fell behind by 16 in the first quarter and never got closer than 13 the rest of the way.
“Fortunately we were able to get off to a good start and set a pretty good tempo for the rest of the game,’’ Johnson said.
The Mavs did suffer two minor setbacks in the fourth quarters. Jason Terry was ejected for arguing after being knocked to the court on a drive without a foul call.
“I just disagreed with some of the action out there,’’ he said. “It was nothing.’’
Darrell Armstrong left the game late in fourth quarter after turning his left ankle. It’s considered a minor sprain.
Written by lrpatton Blog about this entry |
Add to del.icio.us | 
digg this
9/24/08 11:04 PM