GDT: Mavs vs. Suns 7:30 CT (4/12/14)

[GermanDunk]

Let'sgoMavs+++ Gameday No. 81+++Let'sgoMavs




Lets'sgoMavsvsLet'sgoMavs

Both the Phoenix Suns and Dallas Mavericks were recently overrun by the San Antonio Spurs, who rolled to clinching home-court advantage throughout the playoffs.

Now the two teams battle each other to gain the all-important head-to-head tiebreaker in Dallas on Saturday night while aiding their hopes of avoiding the reigning Western Conference champions in the first round.

San Antonio wrapped up the league's best overall record after storming past Phoenix 112-104 on Friday night.

Eric Bledsoe had 30 points and 11 rebounds while finishing one assist shy of a triple-double, but the Suns (47-32) dropped into a tie with Memphis for the eighth and final playoff spot -- one-half game behind Dallas -- and now must put aside the sting of blowing a 21-point second-quarter lead in quick fashion.

"We had too many good shots and good looks early," said Bledsoe, who also committed seven of Phoenix's 18 turnovers that led to 26 points for San Antonio. "We thought we were going to come in the second half and it was going to be easy like the first half and we just weren't as aggressive or locked in."

Gerald Green added 27 points in his first start since March 12 and has averaged 23.5 on 52.1 percent shooting -- 47.8 percent from 3-point range (22 for 46) -- in his last six games. He had 22 off the bench in a 123-108 home win over Dallas on Dec. 21, but only 12 on 4-of-13 shooting as a starter in place of Bledsoe on Jan. 17 in a 110-107 home defeat.

Leading scorer Goran Dragic (20.5 points per game), who sat out Friday night's loss with an ankle injury, is expected to play. He's totaled 41 points and 12 assists in the two games against the Mavericks this season.

Dallas (48-32) has been idle since a 109-100 home loss to San Antonio on Thursday that ended a four-game winning streak. The Mavericks were swept in the four-game season series by the Spurs, and the Suns didn't fare much better against them -- their lone win in four contests came with San Antonio point guard Tony Parker out due to injury.

"Most of our problems were in transition," coach Rick Carlisle told the team's official website after the Mavericks allowed 35 fast-break points. "We just didn't find them fast enough. We just weren't good enough in that area."

Monta Ellis had 24 points and Dirk Nowitzki added 19 for the Mavericks, who have dropped five of eight at home due to a porous defense that has yielded at least 100 points in every game and an average of 111.9 on 48.3 percent shooting in that span -- including 40.8 percent from 3-point range.

"Obviously, Saturday's huge for us," said Devin Harris, who had eight points and was just 1 of 8 from the field. "We've got to come out with that type of effort, knowing that our season's on the line and it's a game that we must have."

Perimeter shooting has keyed both victories. Phoenix made 15 of 30 from beyond the arc in its December victory while holding Dallas to 3 of 17. The Mavericks tightened up defensively in January, limiting the Suns to 7-of-22 shooting from 3-point range while going 9 for 24 themselves.

After this game, Phoenix will host Memphis on Monday and complete its season at Sacramento on Wednesday, while the Mavericks are idle until wrapping up their season Wednesday at Memphis.

[Underdog]

Just win.

[Kante]

Just get the win tonight!

[Jproxursoxoff]

Well, this is it. This is what it all comes down to. We gotta come out like this is a game 7.

And by the way, how much more dramatically could the basketball gods have designed ours, Memphis' and Phoenix's schedule this year, with our own little round robin tournament here at the end to decide who gets in??

Lets just win this one and seal it all. GO TEAM! Im gonna be so nervous all day haha.

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by Jproxursoxoff

Well, this is it. This is what it all comes down to. We gotta come out like this is a game 7.

And by the way, how much more dramatically could the basketball gods have designed ours, Memphis' and Phoenix's schedule this year, with our own little round robin tournament here at the end to decide who gets in??

Lets just win this one and seal it all. GO TEAM! Im gonna be so nervous all day haha.

I figured these last couple games would be huge when the schedule was released, but I had no idea that our entire season would hinge on them.

[Melonhead]

Last game is Wednesday. Ride dirk for 35+ tonight. Its gonna be a dogfight

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by Melonhead

Last game is Wednesday. Ride dirk for 35+ tonight. Its gonna be a dogfight

I'd rather see Dirk play 24 minutes tonight, but nothing ever comes easy with this squad...

[LonghornDub]

The Mavs have consistently won these type of games--at least the ones at home--in the Dirk era. I expect no different tonight. Easiest win of the damn season.

[oilfieldtrash]

This team really deserves a playoff run. Ellis is having a great year, Carter after a slow start has come around, Nowitzki is still beasting 15 years later.

[Vinsanity]

4 days until our next game so we gotta go all out tonight. Dirk needs to play 35-40 minutes (assuming it's a close game). Leave it all out there on the court boys... time to crush Phoenix's dreams.

[purplefrog]

[Melonhead]

I think the key for the Mavs tonight is defending Dragic/Bledsoe in transition or limiting these opportunities. And for the love of God, defend the 3pt line.

[Kante]

Dragic will play.

[Melonhead]

Here we go. NBA TV all has PHX winning. So we got this!

[Vinsanity]

Monta Buckets

[Vinsanity]

Ok Frye, that needs to stop... now

[Melonhead]

LOL at the threes. got dam

[Melonhead]

Originally Posted by Melonhead

I think the key for the Mavs tonight is defending Dragic/Bledsoe in transition or limiting these opportunities. And for the love of God, defend the 3pt line.

Too much to ask so far...

[Kante]

Everyone saw that last TO coming... Lazy pass by Calderon and bad movement by Ellis.

Foul him or try the block on Bledsoe then, it's not a normal regular season game!

[Oberon]

I ask myself if PHX can make more threes than the Spurs the other night

[sefant77]

Frye is such a lame annoying player...

[Kante]

Frye shooting 243% from three so far, ok...

[Vinsanity]

Frye is a early lock for "scrub with a career night"

[Vinsanity]

GREAT passing there, good work

[Oberon]

Nice effort by Dalembert

[Vinsanity]

No, no, no... Not in Dalembert's house!!

[Kante]

So many blown layups so far...

[adonis]

Glad to see Dirk not at all involved in the half court offense. I just love Dick Carlisle

[Vinsanity]

PHX really seems to turn the ball over a lot

[Vinsanity]

I think the Morris brothers have the sam exact tattoos lol that's pretty lame

[Kante]

Larkin?

[Kante]

Larkin!

[Vinsanity]

SHAN3!!!

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by Kante

Larkin?

Larkin.

[Underdog]

Nice 1st quarter, considering the refs keep calling ticky-tack fouls in favor of Phoenix.

[dude1394]

Originally Posted by Underdog

Nice 1st quarter, considering the refs keep calling ticky-tack fouls in favor of Phoenix.

Heh. Phoenix didn't get a free throw.

[Kante]

All calls go to the Suns so far! Not FT's but some pretty weak calls they got...

[Kante]

Mavs worked themselves in the game now.

[adonis]

Good to see Dirk chasing his 50/40/90 in a must-win game.

Jesus fucking Christ.

[Melonhead]

Ive lost count on missed chip shots by the mavs