Mavs cool off the Hawks…Badgers trip up the Longhorns…Wake and UConn bowling in Charlotte DALLAS Dirk Nowitzki scored 22 points to lead the Dallas Mavericks in a 97-84 win over the Atlanta Hawks this … via KXMA-TV Dickinson
“He was a big challenge with the [Phoenix] Suns and he’s even bigger now because he’s a go-to guy”
Who’s hot: Joe Johnson The Hawks’ 6-7 guard has averaged 29 points and 9.5 assists in the last two games. via Dallas Morning News
Dirk Nowitzki drained 22 points and grabbed 9 rebounds, and the Dallas Mavericks withstood a late push by the Atlanta Hawks to earn its 20th victory of the season, 97-84. Josh Howard and Devin Harris each … via Local6.com
To those who don’t know, PJ means pre-James; as in LeBron James. On Thursday night, that streak came to an end as James scored 24 points to lift his squad to an 88-81 victory over the sagging Mavericks. via Sportscolumn Blog
LeBron James had 24 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, helping the Cleveland Cavaliers avenge a lopsided loss to Dallas in the season opener by beating the Mavericks 88-81 on Thursday night. via Mansfield News Journal
It’s almost time to ring in a New Year. Myself and Big Ed would like to include an audio link to our recording of Auld Lang Syne here, but neither of us has the technological expertise to pull that off. via Dallas Morning News
Carlos Boozer scored 21 points, including six of Utah’s last seven, and the Jazz held off the Dallas Mavericks 99-90 on Wednesday night. via KOTV Tulsa News
“I wouldn’t have been able to do that last year”
SALT LAKE CITY — After the playoff loss last season, Avery Johnson concluded that a return trip to the Finals required improved and consistent play from the point guard and the post.
Who can argue after the Mavericks coach presented this most telling statistical data?
‘We have a stat around here,’ he said. ‘When both of those play well, we’re undefeated. When one of them plays well, we’re still capable of winning. But when our fives [centers] and our ones [point guards] play well, we’re a pretty good team.’ Read more
“We have a stat around here, and when both of those play well, we’re undefeated”
By EDDIE SEFKO / The Dallas Morning News esefko@dallasnews.com If the Mavericks were a luxury car, their whole dashboard would be full of indicator lights. via Quick
“Whereas this year we got off to a slower start, and right now we’re not the favorites. We’re just in the lab working on our game, getting stronger.”
DALLAS — When deliberating several attractive offers after the Timberwolves granted his request to be released in the preseason, Juwan Howard wasn’t seeking a place to pad his stats, especially the most important one — minutes played.
In 13 previous NBA seasons, the 6-foot-9 power forward had racked up 33,362 minutes — 35.1 a game — including 2,652 in his first stint with the Mavericks.
To understate it, he hasn’t been quite so busy this time around in Big D. In 12 of 27 games since he signed Nov. 1, Howard’s stat line has been filled with a dreaded acronym — DNP-CD: Did Not Play, Coach’s Decision. Read more
“It has something to do with my kneecap being out of line.”
Rockets forward Shane Battier wasn’t surprised when a Dirk Nowitzki elbow to the forehead in the first quarter on Saturday night opened up a nasty gash that required four stitches to close. via Houston Chronicle
“He had a pretty good look at it”
By JAN HUBBARD DALLAS — A few hours before Steve Nash managed to shake loose for a 3-point shot that would have resulted in overtime, Mavericks coach Avery Johnson addressed Dallas’ 3-point defense.The … via Star-telegram.com
“People say you can lose a couple of games early”
For those who lamented the state of the Dallas Mavericks early this season, for those who suggested the team be broken up or fretted that it no longer ranked among the Western Conference elite, I would like to … via Quick
“We never ran the pick-and-roll like the Suns do know. “That was a great team to play on, with so many unselfish guys. We must have hit all our shots that night, because we always passed it enough.”
Shawn Marion agreed to wear a microphone for ESPN Wednesday night. The Suns might want to consider wiring the Matrix up every night. via East Valley Tribune
Detroit 87, at Boston 85: Chauncey Billups made two free throws with one tenth of a second left as the Pistons handed the Celtics their first home loss of the season. via Los Angeles Times
