GDT 2-28-10: N.O Hornets @ Dallas Mavericks 8:30PM CST

[mavs777]

Lets keep it rolling Mavs

http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/preview?gameId=300228006
The Dallas Mavericks clearly have a strong roster with All-Star Dirk Nowitzki, top reserve Jason Terry and three players acquired over the All-Star break that have all started games in Caron Butler, Brendan Haywood and DeShawn Stevenson.

Jason Kidd, though, is making sure his importance isn't forgotten.

Kidd will try to follow one of the best games of his career and lead the Mavericks to a seventh straight win Sunday night at home against the New Orleans Hornets.

Dallas (38-21) is seeking its first seven-game win streak since Dec. 29, 2007-Jan. 12, 2008, and has clearly been bolstered by adding Haywood, Butler and Stevenson from the trade with Washington. Nowitzki is averaging 27.7 points in seven games since the deal.

Kidd is also playing well in that span with averages of 14.9 points, 10.1 assists and 7.7 boards while shooting 44.0 percent on 3-pointers.

"The big thing is we're not worried about competing for a championship," Kidd said. "We're going to take it one game at a time ... the (playoff) seeding will take care of itself."

The 36-year-old point guard was magnificent in Friday's 111-103 overtime victory at Atlanta. Kidd had 19 points, 17 assists and 16 rebounds for his first triple-double this season and 104th of his career.

"This one, I will treasure as much as the first one I had," Kidd said. "At 36, I feel great. A triple-double at 36 is special."

Kidd inspired a comeback from a 15-point deficit in the fourth quarter, making a heady play down the stretch when he ran into Hawks coach Mike Woodson -- who was on the court -- for a technical foul that Nowitzki converted. Nowitzki is shooting 96.0 percent (121 of 126) on free throws in the fourth quarter and overtime.

Butler missed his second straight game due to a negative reaction to medication but could return Sunday. Stevenson made his second straight start and Haywood turned in another strong game.

Filling in for an injured Erick Dampier, Haywood recorded his third double-double in four games with 11 points and 11 boards. He's got 11 blocks in his last three games.

"He's had double-doubles since he's been on the team," Kidd said. "He understands how to play and I think it's worked out for us."

Dallas and New Orleans (31-28) have split two games this season, and the Mavericks have won 15 of the last 16 regular-season home matchups. Hornets forward David West is averaging 13.3 points on 38.9 percent shooting in seven career starts at Dallas.

West, however, enters off a dominant performance Friday with 40 points and 10 boards in a 100-93 home win over Orlando. He had gone 12 straight games without a double-double.

"I wanted to come out aggressive," West said. "We've got a tough stretch of games coming up. We felt like coming off the road trip where we dropped two, we just wanted to come in here and put together a solid game win or lose."

Rookie point guard Darren Collison, starting for an injured Chris Paul, is averaging 22.7 points and 8.7 assists in his last nine games.

[aurelino9]

Butler better play tonight. His absence means more minutes for Dirk and Kidd (and Barea), unless it is a blowout.

[monty55555]

Go Mavericks!!!!!

[Mavsfan4ever]

Man this going to be a fantastic day if the Fakers beat the Thuggets and we go on to beat the Hornets.

[Dirkadirkastan]

It's annoying enough when tip-off time is listed in Eastern Time.

[mavs777]

Originally Posted by Dirkadirkastan

It's annoying enough when tip-off time is listed in Eastern Time.

pajamas?

[saclare]

Go Mavs! 7!

[left texas]

So is it Butlers medication or Butlers knee?

Go Mavs! Rock the House!!

[horse900703]

W7!!!! Lets go Mavs!

[12 Tone Melodies]

http://www.nba.com/news/referee.html
Referee Assignments
Feb 28, 2010
New Orleans @ Dallas--Scott Foster, John Goble, Sean Wright

[Bayliss]

Mavs777 or a mod should change the start time in the title. Second time in a row he has done this... I guess he thinks it is cute.

[tcat075]

You know, I actually use the GDT title to figure out when the game starts...

[pepe]

All NBA Champs for the last (Forever) had at least a 7 game winning streak, the MAVS need 7 in a row to keep the mojo going.

GO MAVS!

[mavsfan1000]

Originally Posted by Bayliss

Mavs777 or a mod should change the start time in the title. Second time in a row he has done this... I guess he thinks it is cute.

It's 8:30 Central Time btw. One time is funny I guess. 2 times it is overdone.

[Nowitzki4President]

By the time I can make a GDT, it's 1:01. I'ma have to set an alarm to make a GDT. And I shall!

Nevertheless, Go Mavs!

[Kante]

Butler good to go he says: http://mavsblog.dallasnews.com/archi...ood-to-go.html

[bobbyfg7]

Go Mavs!!!

[esoteric562]

Lets get another win! GO MAVS!

[candid_snoop41]

Looks like the lakers will beat the thuggets.

BEAT NO!!!

[Mavsfan4ever]

Lakers did their part now our boys in blue have to do theirs.

[frankvizza]

we need a garbage time win , kidd ,dirk, haywood, need to sit the fourth so lets put them away early and rest are boys , tomorro will be hell

[Mavsfan4ever]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but if we win tonight and tomorrow then Denver loses in Phoenix we move into second place in the West?

[Dirkadirkastan]

Originally Posted by Mavsfan4ever

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but if we win tonight and tomorrow then Denver loses in Phoenix we move into second place in the West?

A lot of ifs but yeah that would do it.

[quietsavant]

Mavs win, Mavs wins. Taco time

[Windmill360]

wrong team.

[Mavsfan4ever]

We’re 19-12 on the road while the Bobcats are 20-7 at home giving this is the second night of a back to back it will be a fight. The Suns are 22-7 at home while the Nuggets are 14-14 on the road (Not sure if that includes today’s lose). I just hope the Suns can keep their luck at home going.

[Kante]

Let´s win this one and worry about the Bobcats tomorrow...

[ty]

Go Mavs!

[SMC0007]

I don't think Collison is gonna have such a good game this time..

[NoTnERb]

let's go mavs!!!

[jcm28]

We will win. Easily. They dont have CP3.

[Robillion]

Originally Posted by jcm28

We will win. Easily. They dont have CP3.

I hate you dearly.

When will people learn?.. Never I assume since this happens every GDT.

[jcm28]

Originally Posted by Robillion

I hate you dearly.

When will people learn?.. Never I assume since this happens every GDT.

He is the Mav-killer. The rest of the team are average at best. You'll see what I mean later on tonight.

[xrobx]

Originally Posted by jcm28

He is the Mav-killer. The rest of the team are average at best. You'll see what I mean later on tonight.

that's what i thought about the wade-less heat and they still gave us a run for our money. you can never over look any team in the nba.

the cavs were probably saying the same thing about us earlier in the year when we beat them without dirk.

[pkdumas]

Don't the Nuggets have to lose two more for us to pass them? After the loss today they have 20 losses and we have 21. Don't they own the head to head tiebreaker?

[AO41]

any links pleaseee??

[LetsGoMavs]

http://veetle.com/frameworked/index....#4b8af8d00b7ce

Mavs game right after Orlando has finally blown out the Heat.

[AO41]

thanks much

[conjurer]

wait, something is missing

[CadBane]

Originally Posted by pkdumas

Don't the Nuggets have to lose two more for us to pass them? After the loss today they have 20 losses and we have 21. Don't they own the head to head tiebreaker?

Right now season series is 1-1. Denver has to play us twice in Dallas though.