Jazz-Mavericks Preview
Share This Story
The Dallas Mavericks are slowly climbing back into the Western Conference playoff picture.
The Utah Jazz are aiding that ascent.
Dallas tries to Utah for ninth place in the West on Sunday night when the Jazz try to prevent their first nine-game road skid in 31 seasons.
The Mavericks (33-36), who are tied with Portland, have split their last six games since a 4-0 run, but they've moved with one game of the Jazz (34-35), who have dropped three straight and 11 of 14.
Dallas still has work to do to extend its playoff streak to 13 - it is 2 1/2 games behind the eighth-place Los Angeles Lakers - but a 104-94 victory over Boston on Friday was a step in the right direction after opening its season-high six-game homestand with a 113-96 loss to Brooklyn on Wednesday.
"It's good. Any win is good right now," said forward Shawn Marion, who had 11 points and 13 rebounds after missing eight games with a strained left calf. "You know, we're just trying to gradually get to that .500 mark right now. We've got to keep taking these steps in that direction, and if we can knock down this homestand it can be a good thing for us."
The Mavericks have lost twice in Salt Lake City this season - 113-94 on Oct. 31 and 100-94 on Jan. 7 - but they've owned the Jazz in Dallas, winning four straight and 18 of the last 21 regular-season matchups.
That's bad news for a Utah team riding its worst road losing streak since 2005. The Jazz will try to salvage the final game of their three-city Texas trip - and avoid a season high-tying fourth consecutive loss - after falling 104-97 in overtime to West-leading San Antonio on Friday.
"We played a tough team on their home floor and had a chance to win for the first time in a long time," said center Al Jefferson, who had 18 points and 13 rebounds for his third consecutive double-double. "The energy and the effort was there for all 48 minutes plus. If we continue to play the way we did tonight for the rest of these 12 games, we have a great chance.''
The Jazz have to feel good about starting a stretch of eight of 10 at home on Monday, but they're in danger of dropping nine straight outside Salt Lake City for the first time since a 17-game skid spanning Nov. 21, 1981-Feb. 6, 1982.
Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki, who had a team-best 20 points on Jan. 7 after missing the previous matchup following knee surgery, is averaging 33.1 points and 8.0 rebounds in his last eight home games versus Utah. He finished with 40 points in the Jazz's last visit, a Mavericks 102-96 victory on March 3, 2012.
Nowitzki also scored 40 - matching a season high - in a 123-121 triple-overtime road loss on April 16 that ended Dallas' seven-game win streak between the teams.
Utah's current three-game run over the Mavericks is its longest since reeling off 12 straight victories from Feb. 15, 1997-Feb. 24, 2000.
Related Stories
Trending Now
-
Sergio sorry for 'fried chicken' line
Sergio Garcia apologized to Tiger Woods for saying he would have ''fried chicken'' at... -
Long history of Tiger-Sergio squabble
The nearly 15-year squabble between Tiger Woods and Sergio Garcia has reached a new l... -
Canseco accused of sexual assault
Las Vegas police are investigating a woman's allegations that former baseball player ... -
Ex-Bears LB Brian Urlacher retires
Star linebacker Brian Urlacher says he's retiring after spending 13 seasons with the ... -
Teen strangled by dog lead
A Kentucky high school football player known as a "jokester" was strangled by a dog l...
NBA Videos
Bosh on Heat battling for Game 1 win
Posted: May 23, 2013
Hear from Chris Bosh after the Heat beat the Pacers in Game 1 of the Eastern Con...
Hear from Chris Bosh after the Heat beat the Pacers in Game 1 of the Eastern Con...
Birdman flies in Game 1 vs Pacers
Posted: May 23, 2013
Chris Andersen on the Heat's Game 1 win against Indiana.
Chris Andersen on the Heat's Game 1 win against Indiana.
NBA Draft: Top 5 Prospects
Posted: May 21, 2013
Check out highlights FOXSports.com's top five draft prospects. Who do you think ...
Check out highlights FOXSports.com's top five draft prospects. Who do you think ...
NBA Headlines
More Than Sports on MSN
Fox Sports Store
| itemName | itemURL | imageSrc | price | itemDescription |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| adidas Blake Griffin Los Angeles Clippers Revolution 30 Performance Jersey - Red | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Los_Angeles_Clippers/browse/featuredproduct/491845/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_491000/ff_491845_xl.jpg&w=100 | 59.95 | adidas Blake Griffin Los Angeles Clippers Revolution 30 Performance Jersey - Red |
| adidas LeBron James Miami Heat Revolution 30 Swingman Performance Jersey-Black | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Miami_Heat/browse/featuredproduct/498609/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_498000/ff_498609_xl.jpg&w=100 | 89.95 | adidas LeBron James Miami Heat Revolution 30 Swingman Performance Jersey-Black |
| adidas Carmelo Anthony New York Knicks Revolution 30 Swingman Performance Jersey - Royal Blue | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_New_York_Knicks/browse/featuredproduct/620470/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_620000/ff_620470_xl.jpg&w=100 | 49.99 | adidas Carmelo Anthony New York Knicks Revolution 30 Swingman Performance Jersey.. |
| Mitchell & Ness San Antonio Spurs Black Solid Script Snapback Adjustable Hat | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_San_Antonio_Spurs/browse/featuredproduct/692239/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_692000/ff_692239_xl.jpg&w=100 | 25.95 | Mitchell & Ness San Antonio Spurs Black Solid Script Snapback Adjustable Hat |
| Majestic Kobe Bryant Los Angeles Lakers Logo Man T-Shirt - Black | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Los_Angeles_Lakers/browse/featuredproduct/851828/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_851000/ff_851828_xl.jpg&w=100 | 23.95 | Majestic Kobe Bryant Los Angeles Lakers Logo Man T-Shirt - Black |
| Majestic Kevin Durant Oklahoma City Thunder Logo Man T-Shirt - White | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Oklahoma_City_Thunder/browse/featuredproduct/851842/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_851000/ff_851842_xl.jpg&w=100 | 23.95 | Majestic Kevin Durant Oklahoma City Thunder Logo Man T-Shirt - White |
| adidas Miami Heat 2012 NBA Eastern Conference Champions Locker Room T-Shirt - White | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Miami_Heat/browse/featuredproduct/890174/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_890000/ff_890174_xl.jpg&w=100 | 21.95 | adidas Miami Heat 2012 NBA Eastern Conference Champions Locker Room T-Shirt - Wh.. |
| adidas Oklahoma City Thunder 2012 NBA Western Conference Champions Locker Room Flex Hat - Black | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Oklahoma_City_Thunder/browse/featuredproduct/890384/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_890000/ff_890384_xl.jpg&w=100 | 19.99 | adidas Oklahoma City Thunder 2012 NBA Western Conference Champions Locker Room F.. |
Member Comments
Please note by clicking on "Post comment" you acknowledge that you have read the Terms of Use and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Be Polite. Inappropriate posts may be removed by the moderator.