New Orleans at Dallas (March 21) Neither team could shoot to open the game and both teams had small runs during the 1st quarter. A 3-pointer by Dan Dickau gave New Orleans a 7-6 lead with 8:30 remaining, but Dallas then went on an 8-1 run to go up 14-8 with 6:30 to go. New Orleans scored 6 straight points to tie the game at 16-16 with 1:50 left. And the game stayed tied at 20-20 after 1. Dallas shot 7-21 FG and New Orleans shot 6-17 FG and the Hornets were really shooting themselves in the foot by shooting just 7-13 FT (Dallas shot 6-7 FT). Dallas opened the 2nd quarter with a 16-1 run, including 8 points by Keith Van Horn, to go up 36-21 with 8:15 left. Dallas led 40-25 with 7 minutes remaining and used a 12-2 run to take a huge 52-27 lead with 3:30 left - Dallas was out-scoring New Orleans 32-7 in the quarter as the Hornets shot just 2-10 FG (and got into the penalty a mere 3 minutes into the quarter). Dallas led 56-35 at the half. Devin Harris had 12 points and J.R. Smith had 10 points in the 2nd quarter. Dallas out-scored New Orleans 36-15 in the 2nd quarter. Dickau opened the 3rd quarter with a 3-point play. After the teams traded buckets, Michael Finley got a pretty reverse layup and Dirk Nowitzki drained a 3-pointer to give Dallas a 63-40 lead with 9:50 to go and the Mavs led in the 20s the rest of the quarter. A 3-pointer by Finley gave Dallas their largest lead at 80-52 with 3:25 left. Dallas led 83-61 after 3. It was pure garbage time in the 4th quarter as Dallas led in the 20s for all but the last 1 1/2 minutes of the quarter. The fans that stuck around did get some amusement when after New Orleans hit consecutive 3-pointers (surrounding a Dallas bucket), Avery Johnson hopped off the bench and called timeout and really yelled at Marquis Daniels, Darrell Armstrong, and Jason Terry for their defensive lapses. Dallas won 103-86. Finally, a blowout! It was the first true blowout in over 2 months [137-120 win over Washington January 18; the 101-83 win over Utah 2/23 and the 99-77 win over the Clippers 1/20 were not true blowouts as those games were not over until Dallas made strong runs in the 4th quarter]. It was a team that Dallas should have beaten easily, and they did. Dallas blew out the Hornets in the 2nd quarter and never let them back in to the game. Dallas only shot 41.8% (33-79) FG, but shot 9-18 3-pointers and held New Orleans to 39.4% (26-66) FG [only 3 more made field goals than the team opponent record low] and 5-12 3-pointers - with 3 of the made 3s coming in the 4th quarter. The Hornets hurt themselves by only shooting 12-22 FT in the 1st half, though they did shoot 17-19 FT in the 2nd half. For the game, Dallas shot 28-33 FT. Dallas out-rebounded New Orleans 45-37 including 16-11 offensive. New Orleans committed 18 turnovers and Dallas committed 14 turnovers. As a result of the blowout, no Mav played more than 31 minutes. Dirk Nowitzki led the way with 25 points including 11-11 FT and 8 rebounds. Michael Finley had 16 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists. Josh Howard had 15 points and 5 rebounds. Shawn Bradley had another nice game and made a solid contribution. He had 5 points, 7 rebounds, 2 steals (including a really nice one), and 2 blocks in 23 minutes. The rookie showed up, especially in the 2nd quarter, as Devin Harris had a career high 17 points including 5-7 FG and 3-3 3-pointers and lots of 3s - 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 fouls, and 3 turnovers. Keith Van Horn couldn't buy a 2-pointer in missing all 7 he attempted, but was good behind the arc in shooting 3-5 3-pointers. He also had 8 rebounds. Jason Terry and Marquis Daniels had poor nights. Terry had 3 points including 1-5 FG, 4 assists, and 4 turnovers in 20 minutes. Daniels had 6 points including 2-9 FG and 3 rebounds in 28 minutes. Alan Henderson was the only other Mav to play more than 10 minutes and had 2 points and 4 rebounds in 18 minutes. Pavel Podkolzin got in for the last 30 seconds of the 2nd quarter and last 1:40 of the game and got his first points in the NBA on a free throw with a minute left. Obviously, the Hornets didn't have much going for them. Rookie J.R. Smith had a career high 27 points including 10-11 FT, but had just 1 rebound, 3 assists, and 3 turnovers. Dan Dickau never got going and had 14 points, including 6 in the garbage time 4th quarter, 3 assists, 3 steals, and 3 turnovers. Jamaal Magloire managed a bizarre double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds including 5 offensive. His shooting was completely off and he struggled at the line. In his first 5 trips to the line, he only shot 1-2 FT and he did not make his first basket until early in the 3rd quarter. He shot 2-6 FG and 9-14 FT. No other Hornet was in double-digits. P.J. Brown had 8 points and 5 rebounds before fouling out early in the 4th quarter. Quotes Avery Johnson: "This was a terrific effort by the Mavs tonight. The guys really played hard and played against a team that was really dangerous. They've been playing pretty well - they beat Chicago, had a tough night against Boston at home. Magloire is a handful and J.R. Smith is one of the best young players in the league." Johnson: "It was a pretty interesting game tonight. I really liked our defense during the 1st half. We had a little lapse in the 3rd quarter, but we picked it up in the 4th. Overall, we did some really nice things defensively and we did 1 or 2 things defensively that we need to get better. I told these guys overall this game wasn't about playing our opponent but improving our system. It was a good win for us." Johnson: "Bradley is making a big difference for us with the way he is playing. Not a big stat game tonight, but his 7 rebounds helped. Every time Finley rebounds 5 or more our record is pretty good [19-5]. Collectively we had a lot of guys who rebounded for us." Johnson: "That is one of the things Del Harris talked about all day - we struggled to beat this team last time. It wasn't just about that, there have been a few times where we have been up by 20 points and teams have come storming back on us. That didn't happen tonight and that was another little small victory for us." Johnson on yelling at the team in the 4th quarter: "We were playing New Orleans, and a crawfish bit me. We had 2 defensive lapses in a row. How many times have we had a 20 point lead against a team this year and lost it? It didn't happen tonight, and that was a small victory for us." Johnson on yelling at the team in the 4th quarter: "We gave up 2 3-pointers in a row, and when you're up that much, you can give up 2 points, but not 3." Johnson on Nowitzki playing 30 minutes: "That was huge, especially since we have a really tough road trip coming up for us. I didn't have to overuse anybody tonight, especially with a couple guys who are hurting right now being late in the season. We should be ready to go on this trip." Michael Finley, addressing the coaching change for the first time: "It was an emotional day for me [on Saturday], as far as seeing Coach resigning the way he did. We've been together since I've been here, and he was the main reason I re-signed the 2 times I did. It was to be a part of something that he believed in and that I believed in. For him to walk away was difficult, but life goes on. Plus, he's leaving the team in great hands in Avery Johnson, and I'm confident in what he's able to do." Finley on Nelson: "He's been very instrumental in my career and gave me the confidence that no matter who they brought in, I was going to be the leader of the team." Keith Van Horn on Harris: "Devin really came in off the bench. Guys really pushed the ball. We were aggressive defensively. We had both ends of the court going for us which hasn't always been the case this year. We really put it together here in the 2nd quarter tonight." Marquis Daniels on defense: "That's something we're focusing on, just worrying about getting better defensively and just making our team better. We weren't really focusing on beating New Orleans, we wanted to win the game, but we were really focusing on getting better defensively. We knew we could score the ball tonight, but we wanted to get stops on the other end." Daniels: "Avery's a very defensive minded coach and that's something he's going to keep focusing more on and for us just to play better defense and getting better every day in practice. He wants us to better ourselves as well as our teammates." Darrell Armstrong on Johnson yelling at the team in the 4th quarter: "I know what I did wrong. But I hope Avery relaxes a little. I don't want him to bust a blood vessel." Devin Harris: "I was finally able to make a jump shot and that helped. Some of the plays, I got some good looks and knocked them down. Defensively, I just wanted to get after it. It wasn't my best outing last game, but I just need to slow the game down for myself and that's what I did today. I felt a lot more comfortable." Harris: "I'm definitely getting my confidence back, especially defensively. I was kind of getting after it. I'm just working on consistency right now. Some games it's just not always there. I'm just trying to work to get better." Harris on the blowout: "It was very important. I can't remember the last time we had a blowout. We really needed this to get ourselves back on track and kind of figure out what we need to do as a team." Harris on the 2nd quarter: "We had one stretch where we got 7 stops where they didn't score and we scored on every possession. That was the key thing. We haven't really been getting that lately." Harris on Nowitzki playing 30 minutes: "That's definitely good, you don't want to overwork him, especially when we've got a big back-to-back coming on the road. We're going to need all his energy so it was good to give the starters a rest tonight and rest up for the next 2 games." Harris: "Definitely, if [Johnson] gives me an opportunity, I can make the most of it and get 20 minutes more often." Harris on his and Smith's scoring in the 2nd quarter: "It was fun out there with a fellow rookie. He took some good shots tonight and was able to knock them down." Byron Scott: "We stood there and forced the ball. Every team is different and every player is different. In New Jersey, it took about 4 or 5 months for us to really understand what we had offensively. It has taken us a little longer, and I think it is because of all the changes we have made. We are still at a point right now where these guys should feel a little more comfortable with what we are doing and understand the hidden idiosyncrasies of the offense." Scott on the game: "By tomorrow, I'll calm down, but I was really upset. There are so many things tonight I just can't explain. I was upset at halftime, and I was upset with them at the end of the game. I told them, from the bottom of my heart, the honest-to-goodness truth, if the season were to end right now, there are only 3 guys in that locker room I'd keep on the team. That's how upset I am, not only about the way we played but how we're playing. Little things we do every day at practice, we can't retain it and bring it to the game. If you can't do that, you've got to make changes." Scott: "It's amazing to me that we've been doing this for I don't know how many months now, and we still don't understand the little simple things on the offensive end. The one thing we said before this game started was, 'Make this team defend you. Don't just come down and just get 1, 2 passes and shoot the ball. Let's get the ball to the weak side and make them work.' We didn't do that in the 2nd quarter. I thought in the 2nd quarter we came down and turned it over, took bad shots. And when you do that against a team this good, they're going to get on a roll. They got into a rhythm, and we couldn't do anything about it." P.J. Brown: "This team has our number. They're a tough team with offensive power and a lot of guys who can score with the ball. I thought out of the 13 [losses] this was one of our worst ones. I don't think we battled like we should have or played like a team that had lost to another team 12 straight times." Brown: "They're a tough team to match up against. They've got a lot of offensive firepower. The light's always got to be on when you play these guys. Anybody who touches the ball can score. They just put a lot of pressure on you from every position." Dan Dickau: "I think everyone understands the offense, but I think we get a little too impatient. It's an offense that if you have a little bit of patience and get the ball from side to side, you are going to get open shots. Once in a while we get in a hurry, keep the ball on one side of the floor, and take the first open shot. Sometimes if you turn that down, 2 or 3 passes later you are going to get a better shot." J.R. Smith: "I shot the ball pretty well tonight; getting to the cup, getting to the free throw line. I finally started to make my free throws. I am just trying to help my team as much as I can." Smith on the 2nd quarter: "We just didn't get back as much as we should. We came in at halftime and looked at the tape and every bucket they scored was pretty much on fast breaks." Dallas Mavericks 103, New Orleans Hornets 86 at Dallas (March 21) 1st 2nd 3rd 4th - Final 2FG 3FG FG% FT% Dallas 20 36 27 20 - 103 .393 .500 .418 .848 New Orleans 20 15 26 25 - 86 .389 .417 .394 .707 Halftime: Dallas 56-35 3rd Q: Dallas 83-61 Technicals: Shawn Bradley 7:28 1st, Jamaal Magloire 7:28 1st, Jackson Vroman 10:52 2nd, Bostjan Nachbar 1:23 2nd Refs: Joey Crawford, Luis Grillo, Olandis Poole Attendance: 19,997 (sellout) Did not play due to injury: David West (right knee), Speedy Claxton (sprained left ankle) Dallas Mavericks REB Player MIN FGM-FGA 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA PTS O-T AST TO PF STL BLK Michael Finley 29 6-15 1-4 3-5 16 2-5 5 1 3 0 1 Jason Terry 20 1-5 0-1 1-1 3 1-1 4 4 4 1 0 Josh Howard 31 7-14 0-1 1-1 15 3-5 2 2 3 2 1 Dirk Nowitzki 30 6-11 2-4 11-11 25 0-8 2 2 3 2 2 Shawn Bradley 23 2-3 0-0 1-2 5 0-7 0 0 3 2 2 Marquis Daniels 28 2-9 0-0 2-2 6 1-3 1 1 1 0 0 Devin Harris 25 5-7 3-3 4-5 17 2-3 3 3 3 1 1 Keith Van_Horn 25 3-12 3-5 4-4 13 5-8 2 0 4 1 0 Alan Henderson 18 1-2 0-0 0-0 2 2-4 0 1 3 0 0 Darrell Armstrong 6 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0 1 0 0 0 0 Pavel Podkolzin 3 0-0 0-0 1-2 1 0-1 0 0 1 0 0 DJ Mbenga 2 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 0-0 0 0 1 0 0 Totals 48 33-79 9-18 28-33 103 16-45 20 14 29 9 7 New Orleans Hornets REB Player MIN FGM-FGA 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA PTS O-T AST TO PF STL BLK J.R. Smith 34 8-16 1-4 10-11 27 0-1 3 3 2 1 0 Dan Dickau 33 5-11 2-4 2-3 14 0-2 3 3 2 3 1 P.J. Brown 22 3-6 0-0 2-2 8 2-5 0 3 6 1 0 Lee Nailon 20 0-6 0-0 0-0 0 1-2 0 1 3 0 0 Jamaal Magloire 32 2-6 0-0 9-14 13 5-12 1 1 2 1 0 Bostjan Nachbar 30 2-7 0-0 1-1 5 1-5 3 3 3 2 1 Casey Jacobsen 29 1-5 1-3 2-6 5 0-3 4 0 1 0 1 George Lynch 18 1-2 1-1 1-2 4 0-1 0 1 3 1 0 Jackson Vroman 13 2-3 0-0 0-0 4 1-3 1 2 3 0 0 Maciej Lampe 9 2-4 0-0 2-2 6 1-3 0 0 2 0 0 Totals 48 26-66 5-12 29-41 86 11-37 15 18 27 9 3 patricia