GDT: Mavericks @ Magic 16 November 2013, 6:00pm CST

[EricaLubarsky]

Preview

The Dallas Mavericks continue to struggle on the road, with suspect play on both sides of the ball hurting their chances to win.

Perhaps facing the sub-.500 Orlando Magic, against whom they've won seven consecutive road meetings, can help them figure things out Saturday night.

The Mavericks (5-4) are undefeated at home while averaging 114.3 points. They haven't been nearly as successful on the road, going 1-4 including a 110-104 loss to Miami on Friday. Dallas committed a season-high 24 turnovers, with eight coming on steals by Dwyane Wade. The club is committing 17.2 turnovers per game and 19.2 per road contest.

"Our effort was good," coach Rick Carlisle said. "The turnovers doomed us."

Dirk Nowitzki and Monta Ellis combined for 48 points but also committed five turnovers each. Ellis is one of the league's most turnover-prone players with 4.2 per game.

Fortunately for the Mavericks, Orlando (4-5) forces only 14.4 turnovers per game and averages 14.9 points off those mishaps. Plus, Dallas is 4-0 against teams which currently have losing records, winning by an average of 12.3 points.

Carlisle's club, though, has been more vulnerable defensively on the road, allowing four of five opponents to shoot 46 percent from the field or better. Miami hit 54.1 percent with LeBron James going 14 for 18.

Still, Nowitzki had a season-high 28 points on 8-of-12 shooting after he had averaged 16.3 over his previous four games while shooting 40.4 percent. Dallas remains one of the NBA's best shooting teams at 46.5 percent.

"If we go out and compete every night at this high level and turn our turnovers down, we can beat anybody in this league," said Ellis, averaging 30.0 points and 9.8 assists over his last five matchups with Orlando.

The Magic have conversely been strong at home, going 4-1, though they were all but single-handedly bailed out by Arron Afflalo's career-high 36 points in a 94-91 win over Milwaukee on Wednesday. Afflalo scored 29 in the second half and finished 11 of 15 from the field, helping erase a deficit that was as large as 19 points in the second quarter.

Afflalo hit five 3-pointers in the third, tying the team record for the most in one quarter, and was 8 of 11 from long distance on the night.

"Arron was extremely efficient tonight," coach Jacque Vaughn said. "It was just old-school drive-and-kick basketball. Sometimes the game is just that simple."

The seventh-year pro is hitting 52.0 percent of his 3-point attempts after connecting on 30.0 percent last season.

Dallas is letting opponents shoot 40.8 percent from beyond the arc on the road, but Afflalo will still likely need more help Saturday. His teammates hit 35.8 percent of their field goals Wednesday, and Nikola Vucevic was the only teammate to score more than 10.

Orlando's defense has also wavered recently, letting its last three opponents shoot a combined 51.0 percent after the first six were held to 39.1 percent.

The Mavericks have won 15 of the last 20 meetings, including seven in a row at Orlando since a 108-99 loss March 31, 2006.

http://espn.go.com/dallas/nba/preview?id=400489010

Starting Lineup
Dalembert
Dirk
Marion
Ellis
Calderon

Link
TV: FSSW-Dal
Video (online): http://www.watchnow.tv/watch/640261/...ndo-magic.html
Radio: FSN
Radio (online):

[GhostOfAdamMorrison]

Vuc is an exciting young player. Dalembert needs to play tonight, because Blair is too small to handle him.

[sike]

This games needs to be a W.

GO MAVS!

[Bayliss]

Orlando is a really athletic bunch. Their center Vujecic (or however you spell it) is a really active big. His rebounding is really good. Mavs need to keep him off the offensive glass.

And Oladipo and Harkless need to be checked. Oladipo isn't a great player yet, but he has a high motor so his energy plays could be troublesome if the Mavs don't watch it.

Mavs should come out focused. If they are "taking the night off" or expecting an "easy win" then Orlando is very likely to jump all over them.

[Kante]

Not an easy win at all, Orlando looks pretty good so far. But the Mavs "need" this one!

[markus1234]

mavs stream anyone ? ORL announcers are boring

[Bayliss]

Not sure I like Dirk's shots short.

[markus1234]

Dirk's shots look good. In and out. He needs to stay confident and demand the ball.

Dumping the ball to Marion for a corner 3 is not what we need.

[Bayliss]

Dalembert really does some goofy things sometimes. That turnover he had was so stupid. He was under the rim, jumped up and instead of even trying to shoot (and maybe getting it blocked)... he just came down with the ball.

[oilfieldtrash]

Looks like fun out there. Nellie ball is back.

[Bayliss]

Calderon's 3 ball is money when he can spot up. If you make him move left or right off the dribble? That 3 is not money. But man he is nearly automatic with his feet set and someone passes him the ball.

[jleefilled]

strong finish to the quarter.. actually some defense was played for a minute or two there.

[Bayliss]

Dirk short again.

[oilfieldtrash]

Marion is everywhere. Rebounds and a nice strip of the ball with a few points thrown in for good measure.

[Kante]

Dirk shots are all short, but Mavs had a good last 2-3 minutes. Solid defense and getting easy buckets in transition.

[Bayliss]

That Archer commercial is hilarious......

[markus1234]

Dirk needs 26pts tonight. It gives him 20ppg.

[Bayliss]

Dirk might either need to get to the line or he might need some shots inside 15 feet.....

[sike]

anyone w a good link with our home broadcasters?

[jleefilled]

tired legs. everyone is short

[markus1234]

Dirk gets the ball, passes it ...and never sees it again.

[jleefilled]

jae crowder with some nice defense since he's come in

[Bayliss]

Dirk isn't going to get 26 tonight.

[Kante]

Originally Posted by markus1234

Dirk needs 26pts tonight. It gives him 20ppg.

Could not care less...

[zakarumes]

why doesnt Blair shoot

[sike]

Aggressive Ellis is needed tonight.

[sike]

Gal looking more comfortable tonight

[Bayliss]

It really is amazing how much Crowder has grown this year. He looks like a competent NBA player. No more stupid shots. He plays within himself.

I really think his emergence will allow the Mavs to part with either Marion or Carter at the trade deadline.....

[Bayliss]

Dirk.... that was kind of pitiful.

[Cerberus]

Post up Dirk.

[Bayliss]

Dalembert..... that was pitiful. He really needs to be stronger with the ball when he has it in his hands. That was an easy putback.

[Kante]

Maybe run a play for Dirk but he is pretty unselfish at times, not demanding the ball. But tonight the offense looks good so far, passing and getting good shots.

[Bayliss]

Dirk isn't going to exert himself tonight. Mavs got the lead and he is just kind of zoning out. Cruising.

[sike]

Originally Posted by Bayliss

It really is amazing how much Crowder has grown this year. He looks like a competent NBA player. No more stupid shots. He plays within himself.

I really think his emergence will allow the Mavs to part with either Marion or Carter at the trade deadline.....

I'm down w that.

[oilfieldtrash]

Originally Posted by Bayliss

It really is amazing how much Crowder has grown this year. He looks like a competent NBA player. No more stupid shots. He plays within himself.

I really think his emergence will allow the Mavs to part with either Marion or Carter at the trade deadline.....

Hate to say it but Carter is more expendable than Marion. We have other guys that could put up some more offense we don't have another guy that does all the other things that Marion does. Such as the D, rebounding, playing completely off the ball while still being effective.

[Skywalker]

LETS F'IN GO MAVS

btw, link with our guys http://www.rojadirecta.me/goto/rivos3.blogspot.com

[oilfieldtrash]

That half put a bad taste in ORL mouth.

[sike]

Originally Posted by Skywalker

LETS F'IN GO MAVS

btw, link with our guys http://www.rojadirecta.me/goto/rivos3.blogspot.com

+rep

[Kante]

All in all, a pretty good first half.

[jleefilled]

Originally Posted by sike

I'm down w that.

He just needs some more consistency. He didn't really show up against the Heat yesterday. It seemed like he was a little intimated by playing the champs.