Preseason: Dallas at Detroit (October 18) Dirk Nowitzki opened the game with a 3-pointer and then it was almost 3 minutes before another point was scored. Dallas led 5-0 with 9:10 left and Detroit went on a 17-4 run, including a number of baskets inside, to go up 17-9 with 4:20 to go. Dallas then scored the next 7 points and Detroit held a small lead the rest of the quarter. Detroit led 24-22 after 1. The 2nd units came in and the game remained competitive, not feeling like a preseason game. There were 7 ties and the largest lead was 5 points in the 2nd quarter as neither team could put together much of a run. Detroit still led by 2 at 47-45 at the half. Detroit shot 60% FG and had 24 points in the paint as Dallas' interior defense was lacking. Dallas shot 42% FG, but had a number of offensive rebounds. Dallas came out with better defense in the 3rd quarter and the game remained close with both teams holding leads no larger than 3 points. Detroit led 67-66 after 3. The 2nd unit came on in the 4th quarter and opened the quarter with a 13-1 run to put Dallas up 79-68 with 7:40 remaining as Detroit missed their first 8 shots. Chauncey Billups hit 2 3-pointers and converted a 3-point play (while Dallas scored 4 points) to pull Detroit within 77-83 with 4:15 to go. But Billups was then subbed out as Flip Saunders elected to give his youngsters some experience (as Dallas was doing - Josh Howard was the only Mavs starter to play in the 4th and he subbed out with 5 1/2 minutes left). Dallas continued to hold a single digit lead. Consecutive buckets by Detroit after consecutive turnovers by Dallas pulled the Pistons within 88-90 with 35 seconds remaining, but Dallas hit 6 straight free throws down the stretch to preserve the win. Dallas won 94-88. It wasn't your usual icky preseason game as both teams played hard and the 2nd units continued the mostly solid play in the 2nd and 4th quarters when most of the starters sat. Dallas did find the defense they were lacking in the 1st half as Detroit only shot 28.5% FG in the 2nd half and their easy trips to the basket disappeared. Dallas finally got their turnover numbers back to reasonable (still some sloppy ones in the game, though, as they sometimes struggled with Detroit's press) and only had 16. Devin Harris had a nice outing (though did struggle against the trap) with a game high 20 points, including 13 in the 4th quarter, in 22 minutes. Marquis Daniels also looked nice and had some good moves to the basket. He had 10 points and 7 rebounds. Dirk Nowitzki's shot wasn't falling (Detroit did play some good defense on him, but he also missed some he normally makes). Nowitzki had 12 points including 4-12 FG and just 2 rebounds in 26 minutes. Josh Howard continued his strong preseason performances and his outside shot is looking pretty reliable (he's shot 55% FG in the 4 games) and had 14 points and 5 rebounds. I was surprised looking at the boxscore at the number of rebounds Erick Dampier had. What stuck out watching the game was the many times his shot attempt got blocked (though he did have 1 good slam). He had 4 points on 2-9 FG and 10 rebounds including 5 offensive. Jason Terry had 15 points and just 1 assist in 23 minutes - I know Avery Johnson wants Terry to look to score more, but he still needs to get some assists. Jerry Stackhouse did not play due to a sore knee. Detroit's starting 5 looked good - not surprising as they've been together for a few years and are one of the best in the East. Carlos Delfino had a nice outing with a number of impressive plays. He's stat line isn't that great with 7 points and 5 rebounds in 23 minutes. Darko Milicic is enjoying being out from under the heel of Larry Brown. Milicic had the highlight of the night (probably from any game) with a thunder dunk on DeSagana Diop. Milicic did collect fouls like crazy, though. Dallas Mavericks 94, Detroit Pistons 88 at Detroit (October 18) 1st 2nd 3rd 4th - Final 2FG 3FG FG% FT% Dallas 22 23 21 28 - 94 .411 .600 .434 .800 Detroit 24 23 20 21 - 88 .443 .286 .417 .778 Halftime: Detroit 47-45 3rd Q: Detroit 67-66 Technicals: Dallas defensive 3 seconds Refs: Monty McCutchen, Leroy Richardson, David Guthrie Attendance: 16,452 (cap 22,076) Did not play due to injury: Jerry Stackhouse (sore right knee), Pavel Podkolzin (toe injury), Lindsey Hunter (arthroscopic surgery left ankle) Dallas Mavericks REB Player MIN FGM-FGA 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA PTS O-T AST TO PF STL BLK Jason Terry 23 6-11 3-5 0-0 15 0-0 1 2 4 0 0 Doug Christie 22 2-5 0-0 2-2 6 3-4 4 1 1 0 0 Josh Howard 35 5-10 2-2 2-2 14 1-5 2 2 3 1 2 Dirk Nowitzki 26 4-11 1-2 3-4 12 1-2 2 3 2 1 0 Erick Dampier 29 2-9 0-0 0-0 4 5-10 2 1 3 1 1 Marquis Daniels 31 5-13 0-0 0-0 10 4-7 3 1 3 3 0 Devin Harris 22 8-12 0-0 4-6 20 1-2 2 2 4 2 0 Keith Van_Horn 20 2-7 0-1 0-0 4 0-3 2 1 0 1 1 Josh Powell 12 0-1 0-0 1-2 1 1-3 0 0 1 0 1 Rawle Marshall 11 1-2 0-0 4-4 6 1-4 1 1 0 0 0 DeSagana Diop 9 1-2 0-0 0-0 2 1-2 1 1 3 0 0 Totals 48 36-83 6-10 16-20 94 18-42 20 16 24 9 5 Detroit Pistons REB Player MIN FGM-FGA 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA PTS O-T AST TO PF STL BLK Chauncey Billups 26 4-12 2-5 1-1 11 0-3 5 0 3 0 0 Richard Hamilton 25 4-11 0-0 2-2 10 1-2 1 1 2 0 0 Tayshaun Prince 25 4-8 0-0 3-3 11 2-5 2 1 0 1 0 Rasheed Wallace 21 5-7 1-2 1-1 12 2-2 2 2 2 2 2 Ben Wallace 30 3-9 0-1 1-2 7 5-8 2 1 3 2 3 Maurice Evans 23 4-9 0-1 0-0 8 1-5 0 1 1 2 0 Carlos Delfino 23 3-8 1-5 0-0 7 3-5 3 1 1 0 0 Darko Milicic 22 4-7 0-0 1-2 9 1-2 2 2 5 1 2 Antonio McDyess 19 0-2 0-0 0-0 0 1-6 0 3 3 1 0 Carlos Arroyo 18 3-5 0-0 3-3 9 0-0 2 3 4 2 0 Alex Acker 4 0-3 0-0 1-2 1 2-3 1 1 1 0 0 Jason Maxiell 4 1-3 0-0 1-2 3 1-1 0 0 2 0 0 Totals 48 35-84 4-14 14-18 88 19-42 20 17 27 11 7 patricia