GDT: Mavs @ Heat 01/01/16 6:30pm CT

[Underdog]

Despite several factors falling in their favor in a victory over the NBA's best team, the Dallas Mavericks -- point guard J.J. Barea in particular -- have to be feeling good about their recent play.

Coming off a romp against defending champion Golden State, the Mavericks will try to extend their winning streak to five when they visit the Miami Heat on Friday night.

Starting with a victory over Memphis on Dec. 18, Dallas (19-13) has won five of six to climb into second place in the Southwest Division -- though that still leaves the club eight games behind 28-6 San Antonio.

Things worked out perfectly Wednesday when star Warriors guard Stephen Curry sat out with a bruised lower left leg. With Curry's backcourt mate Klay Thompson struggling and the Mavs enjoying one of their best shooting nights, the result was a 114-91 win that marked only the third time Golden State has failed to score 100 points this season.

Dallas had dropped the prior seven meetings while allowing 112.1 per game.

"They were a little short-handed tonight. Might have made a little difference," guard Devin Harris said. "The attention that (Curry) brings in shotmaking and the way the offense flows with him out there, obviously was a little bit different tonight."

The Mavs allowed the Warriors to shoot just 40.7 percent while converting 51.2 percent of their own shots and 14 of 27 from 3-point range. They had a 46-26 scoring edge in the paint and even outworked up-tempo Golden State 21-18 on the break.

Again, though, all without Curry, whose absence played a role in his team's struggles but can't explain away the strong offensive work of Dallas behind Barea, who scored 23 points in another big game filling in for injured starter Deron Williams.

Williams has missed two games with a strained hamstring and it's unclear if he will play in this contest, but with Barea at the point, the Mavs have averaged 113.5 points over their last four -- roughly 13 more than their 100.6 average prior to the streak.

Barea has been fantastic in that span, shooting 63 percent overall and 18 of 36 from 3-point range. Although Barea's assist total is 27 in his starts, the Dallas offense seems to be flowing better and has posted at least 25 twice in the last four games.

"J.J.'s been great, shooting the ball incredibly well but taking good shots," Harris said after Barea went 5 of 7 from beyond the arc Wednesday.

Sustaining that surge could hit a bump against the Heat (18-13), who sit among the NBA leaders in points (95.5) and field-goal percentage (43.1) allowed per game. Miami, though, has stumbled with a 3-3 mark while allowing 100.2 per game in its last six.

The Heat tightened things up considerably against the Grizzlies on Wednesday, allowing 83 points through regulation, but they were outscored 16-7 in overtime of a 99-90 loss. Chris Bosh scored 22 but was 3 of 14 after halftime and Dwyane Wade added 19.

"We showed some grit to get to that point," coach Erik Spoelstra said. "Then we had a couple of decent looks at the end of regulation and just couldn't put them down."

The Mavs had lost seven consecutive meetings before a 93-72 victory Jan. 30 in Miami which both Wade and Luol Deng missed with injuries. Prior to that, the Mavs went 20-2 in the regular-season series from 2001-2010.

http://espn.go.com/nba/preview?gameId=400828378

[Underdog]

Do we still hate the Heat? To be honest, I've kind of forgotten about them...

I mean, Wade can suck it forever, but I don't really feel anything toward this team anymore.

[EricaLubarsky]

I like Whiteside and Deng.

Never hated Bosh. I'll hate Wade forever, but Harden has siphoned off about 70% of the hatred of floppers whose whole game is manipulating refs.

What I really want? A win against another +.500 team and the streak to continue.

[dirt_dobber]

Will be interesting to see the matchup of Dragic vs our guards.

[Skywalker]

Yeah, f*ck the cHeat

[Bryan_Wilson]

I'll never hate a player near as much as Wade as long as I live, I'm pretty confident of that. But the heat as a whole doesn't even enter my mindset anymore when I think of teams I hate.

[yahyes]

First of a back to back. Weird how Mavs play in miami tonight. Then fly back to Dallas 24 hours later against the pelicans. Let's kick miami's ass! No letting up after that solid win against golden state.

[BPo001]

Followill just said Barea will get the start tonight over DWill.

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by BPo001

Followill just said Barea will get the start tonight over DWill.

Interesting...

[Bryan_Wilson]

Swear we always play like crap to start 6:30 games.

[Oberon]

What the heck is that? Are they all drunk?

[yahyes]

Not quite the good start. But not too late to climb out of it.

[sefant77]

we play like poooh

[EricaLubarsky]

10 points in 13 minutes?

[EricaLubarsky]

Oof

[EricaLubarsky]

@#$$% Dragic is an asshole

[yahyes]

Miami is just getting too many easy shots. The pressure isn't on them starting off.

[EricaLubarsky]

Can we call back the 2015 Mavs team, because the 2016 team went full awful

[turin]

Crappy start. I still hate Wade, but I think I've almost come to hate Harden as much or more. Never thought that would've been possible.

[EricaLubarsky]

Harris is a literal injury machine

[EricaLubarsky]

We are going to lose by 30 if we can't start defending and rebounding

[EricaLubarsky]

How can guys be that open and have that clear of a lane?

Some of it was two moving screens, but jebus. No help.

[ActionJackson]

Let's see if Miami actually fouls during the first half.

[EricaLubarsky]

McGee beasting

[EricaLubarsky]

Originally Posted by ActionJackson

Let's see if Miami actually fouls during the first half.

I've seen four moving screens

...oh you mean if the refs call it?

[ActionJackson]

Originally Posted by EricaLubarsky

I've seen four moving screens

...oh you mean if the refs call it?

Yep, that's what I meant. At least now they have a couple.

What, Wade is playing?

[yahyes]

Damn what is up with our offense. Need more flow

[yahyes]

Mavs need to make it tougher for whiteside second half.

[turin]

Glad to see the Mavs making some shots, but it would be nice if they'd keep in mind that half of the game is defense. SMH

[EricaLubarsky]

I want Whiteside so bad.

[Dan1]

Whiteside is such a tough matchup for us.

[Oberon]

Whiteside destroying the Mavs

[Underdog]

Not a great half of basketball.

[EricaLubarsky]

10 point 1st
35 point 2nd

Do we have a 60 pt 3rd in us?

Otherwise we better start defending.

[DGM]

McGee is a better matchup against Whiteside than Zaza. He has been abusing Zaza so far. Just not a good matchup for "the mayor".

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Parsons is the guy that needs to step up knowing that Dirk has been on a bit of a lull lately. Players are going to have to figure out one way or another how to win without Dirk being Uber. It can't last forever.

[yahyes]

Someone with a hot hand please light up

[EricaLubarsky]

we can't defend

[turin]

Mavs don't want to defend tonight. Hate to say it, but this game's over. :-(

[EricaLubarsky]

this game is already over