DMN Notebook

[MavsFanFinley]

Nelson impressed with O'Neal's play
Pacer looks well-rested and dominant, Mavs coach says

By MIKE HEIKA / The Dallas Morning News

Mavericks coach Don Nelson said Pacers forward Jermaine O'Neal is playing the best basketball of his career.

O'Neal, who was suspended for his part in the Pacers' brawl with the Detroit Pistons on Nov. 19, has been on fire since his return Dec. 24. He averaged 39.3 points per game in the three games heading into Saturday's meeting with the Mavericks, including a career-high 55 points vs. Milwaukee on Tuesday.

"He's well-rested now and playing at a high level," Nelson said. "This is as dominant as I've ever seen him, and he had a great year last year."

Howard sniffling:

Mavericks forward Josh Howard was coughing and sniffling after pregame warmups, but he didn't want to address his health.

When asked if it was good timing to be sick in the middle of a 17-day homestand, he said, "Sure, I guess."

When asked if it allowed him to rest or miss a few practices, he said, "Uh, no."

Howard played eight minutes in the first quarter before heading to the locker room. He came back for three more minutes, then left the game for good.

"He's pretty sick," Don Nelson said.

Daniels still pedaling:

By this time, injured Mavericks guard Marquis Daniels could have ridden the Tour de France. "I'm on the bike all the time," he said of his rehab for a chronically injured ankle.

So, is it working?

"I don't know," Daniels said. "I haven't really tested it yet. I think it's getting better, but it's really just day-to-day and see how it goes."

Old men jokes:

Mavericks coach Don Nelson said he still is amazed at the play of Pacers guard Reggie Miller. At 39, Miller is in his 17th NBA season.

"If he gets open, he's going to make shots," Nelson said. "What a career."

Briefly:

Dallas shot a franchise-record 74.3 percent from the field in the first half. The previous best shooting percentage for a half was 71.8 percent, hit Feb. 6, 1989, against the Clippers and matched Jan. 23, 1990, against Washington. ... Erick Dampier appeared to be limping for much of the second half and played with a wrap around his left knee. Coach Don Nelson said Dampier bumped his knee, but "we thought he could play on it." ... The Mavericks end their five-game homestand Wednesday against Houston.

[V]

Marquis Daniels peddling his bike

[EricaLubarsky]

Originally posted by: V
Marquis Daniels peddling his bike

?

[MavsFanFinley]

Hot shots set record in first

By David Sessions
Star-Telegram Staff Writer

DALLAS - The Mavericks seemingly hit everything they shot in the first half Saturday.

Dallas shot a franchise-record 74.3 percent from the field before halftime in a 121-101 victory against Indiana, hitting 26 of 35 shots. The Mavs didn't merely sink layups and dunks, either. They were 4-of-7 from 3-point range and 23-of-25 (92 percent) from the free-throw line.

"That was unexpected, to say the least," Mavs coach Don Nelson said. "We played a terrific first half and just made every shot. Sometimes that happens."

But not to that extent. Twice, the Mavs had shot 71.8 percent in a half: in 1990 against Washington and in 1989 against the Los Angeles Clippers.

"We didn't want to make it a close ballgame," guard Michael Finley said.

Dallas' hot streak didn't continue in the second half; the Mavs shot 40 percent in the third quarter. Still, their game total of 54.8 percent (40-of-73) was less than a percentage point off their best performance from the field this season.

"I didn't expect it to go on the whole game, and of course it didn't," Nelson said.

Heavily guarded

Mavs guards Michael Finley and Jason Terry dominated Indiana's backcourt of Jamaal Tinsley and Reggie Miller from the beginning Saturday.

Finley scored 15 in the first quarter, his best one-period total this season, and wound up with a season-high 33 points. Terry finished with seven points.

Tinsley and Miller failed to score in the first quarter, and Miller didn't score until 4:25 remained in the half.

In the Pacers' previous 10 games, Tinsley averaged 18.1 points. He had a strong second half against Dallas, finishing with 20. But Miller, who had averaged 14.6 points in Indiana's previous 10 games, had only five Saturday.

Briefly

• Mavs center Shawn Bradley, who has a right hip flexor injury, played only two minutes. He said his hip "suffered a little setback" in practice Friday.

• Mavs guard Marquis Daniels said his sore left ankle was "coming along," but he did not suit up and missed his fourth game in a row.

• Mavs guard Josh Howard started Saturday night but left with flu-like symptoms after playing eight minutes and scoring two points. He returned briefly in the second quarter but sat out the second half.

[dude1394]

Glad to hear that nellie isn't icing bradely (if he isn't!).

So 'quis is "coming along". What exactly does that mean...imo it means he'll suit up and it will get bad again, they may need to just do the surgery, however it was sort of obvious last night that they could have used 'quis.

[Don_Didi]

Well yes, I do not mean to whine, but I really long for the next game Marquis plays in. He's kind of my favorite Maverick. Then again, the Mavs wil survive without him as long asJosh can play AND Stackhouse doesn't go Tony Delk on us.