In Game 2, Dallas appeared to be riding the wave of Game 1, but then Kevin Durant murdered Brendan Haywood.
In the 4th quarter Kevin Durant and OKC got big baskets from Eric Maynor, and James Harden. Harden’s scream in this video following the jumper is what nightmares are made of.
Game 3 is Saturday at 9ET on ESPN/ Series tied 1-1
(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Dirk Nowitzki and the Mavericks had a nice rest before Tuesday nights Western Conference Finals. Many believed that rust would play a part in their matchup with the OKC Thunder who were fresh off a Game 7 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies.
There was no sign of rust on the older Mavs, winning 121-112, and taking a 1-0 series lead. There was absolutely nothing the Thunder could do to stop Dirk. He hit 10 of his first 11 shots from the field and an NBA playoff-record 24 straight free throws on the way to 48 points. “I thought Dirk was pretty good tonight,” Thunder coach Scott Brooks said, laughing. “I thought we defended him as close as we can — obviously, too close.” Scott Brooks won’t be laughing if Dirk continues his play, and there doesn’t appear to be any reason he will end his dominance.
Nowitzki finished 12 of 15 from the field and a perfect 24 of 24 at the line. It was the most points by anyone this postseason and two shy of his most ever in a playoff game. Dirk also had the highest FG pct in a conference finals game in history.
Kevin Durant followed his 39 points in Game 7 of the previous round with the 40, one shy of his most ever in a playoff game. Tuesday night marked the third time in NBA playoff history that opposing players scored at least 40 points in Game 1 of a playoff series.
Russell Westbrook routinely attacked the rim but was unable to convert many of his shots missing 12 of 15, and drawing the angst of Thunder fans as he chose difficult shots instead of deferring to Durant in the second half.
The problem for the Thunder was obviously, and without question Dirk Nowitzki. Although he shot 24 free throws the Thunder still had more attempts, 43 for OKC, and 36 for the Mavs. Each Thunder player got a chance to defend Dirk and all failed miserably.
The Mavs bench outscored the Thunder 53-22. 21 points on mostly laypus from J.J. Barea, and the super 6th man Jason Terry had 24 points.
Game 1 winners have won 78.6 percent of all best-of-7 series in NBA history
Game 2 is Thursday night in Dallas, where the Mavs are 6-0 this postseason. Dallas leads series 1-0
(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
If you were to tell me at the start of the season that the 2-time defending champs, the Los Angeles Lakers would be down 3 games to nothing to the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference Semifinals, I would have been convinced you knew nothing about basketball. As unbelievable as that sounds it is currently live and in living color and extremely unprecedented.
You knew after watching the Lakers first round matchup with the Hornets that something wasn’t right, but you knew, like all the times before, they would find a way to better their opponent. Dallas is notorious for folding under pressure and coming into Game 3, leading 2-0, many still believed they wouldn’t even win the series. On Friday night the Mavericks put to bed any notion that they aren’t capable of being champions, by once again finishing better then the champs, leading to a 98-92 victory and a win away from the Western Conference Finals.
The Mavericks pulled this game out by scoring 32 points in the fourth quarter, the most by either team in any period this series. The Mavs go-to-guy Dirk Nowitzki scored 32 points, making 12 of 19 shots, and dropping 4 of 5 from beyond the arc. Seemingly unstoppable the lakers had no answer for Dirk. Jason Terry scored 23 points, including multiple daggers down the stretch.
“Just about everything that happened down the stretch was a direct result of him either scoring the ball or making a play to get somebody a shot, or make a pass for an assist for a 3 or a 2 or whatever it was,” Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said.
Peja Stojakovic scored 11 of his 15 in the final quarter. Jason Kidd added 11 points and nine dimes.
(AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Kobe Bryant finished with 17 points, on a night he chose to be more passive. The Lakers without Ron Artest started lamar Odom in his place. The trio of Odom, Gasol and Bynum had only been on the court together a total of 2 minutes, 19 seconds all season. After complaining about “team trust issues” Andrew Bynum lead all Lakers with 21 points and 10 boards.
If the Lakers fans need to blame anyone Pau Gasol continues to draw a huge bulls-eye on his chest. Pau finished with 12 points on 5-13 shooting and 8 boards.
*The Lakers outscored the Mavs in the paint 56-20, but Los Angeles made 3 three pointers while Dallas made 12.
“I don’t know, I might be sick in the head or crazy or thrown off or something like that because I still think we’re going to win this series,” Bryant said “I might be nuts. … Let’s win on Sunday, go back home and see if they can win in L.A.”
No NBA team has ever won a series when trailing 3-0, as the trailing team has gone 0-98 in those situations.
Game 4 Sunday: at Mavs, 2:30 (ABC / 103.3 FM) / Mavs lead series 3-0
Photo by Harry How/Getty Images
The Los Angeles Lakers lead by 16 points late in the third quarter, but were out-clutched for the first time in a long time. The Mavs trailed by seven points entering the fourth quarter Monday, but then outscored the Lakers by nine to steal the win, 96-94.
Dirk Nowitzki scored 28 points, including 11 in the 4th quarter, and 14 boards. The Lakers had a chance to pick their match-up against Dirk Nowitzki nursing a 1-point lead with 20 seconds remaining, and elected to go with Pau Gasol. Prior to the play, Nowitzki was 5-for-5 against Gasol, 5-for-11 against Lamar Odom and 1-for-6 against all other Lakers. Gasol fouled Nowitzki on the inbounds, sending him to the line and giving the Mavs a lead they would not relinquish.
Pau will receive the majority of the blame for the loss. He committed the foul on Dirk and lost the ball to Jason Kidd on the next play with less then 20 seconds on the clock. Pau Gasoldid finish with 15 points, 11 boards and seven dimes, so he played well offensively. Kobe Bryant was in shooting machine mode finishing with 36 points on 14 of 36 shooting. He had no dimes.
Bryant had the 81st 30-point game of his playoff career, trailing only Michael Jordan (109) in NBA history. Bryant has scored in double figures in 156 straight postseason games.
Jason Terry scored 13 of his 15 points in the first half to lead the Mavs’ reserves, who outscored Los Angeles’ bench 40-25.
The Lakers looked out of sorts late in Game 1, and the ability of the Mavs to deny Andrew Bynum was key to their win. “I know we got that crazy last minute there, but we’ve got to come out in the second half and play better,” said Andrew Bynum, who managed eight points and five boards for Los Angeles. “We didn’t lose it at the end. We lost it in the third quarter.”
Game 2 is Wednesday at 9:30 on TNT/ Mavs lead series 1-0
For the first time the battle of the all-stars: Dirk vs. Kobe; the battle of the one-liners: Cuban vs. PJax; and the six-man battle: Lamar Odom vs. Jason Terry.
The Lakers are the cream of the crop, and have been playing entitled basketball throughout the last two years. The New Orleans Hornets gave the Lakers a nice slap to the face, and may have woken them up a bit. Dallas fought off a tough Blazers squad in six games, but both teams will need to play at higher level in order to make it to the Conference Finals.
The Mavs lost of Caron Butler to injury early in the season hurts the Mavs in the defending Kobe Bryant department, and Andrew Bynum enjoys posting up Tyson Chandler averaging 16.7 points on 70.4 percent shooting with 11.7 boards against Dallas. Chandler averaged 5.7 points and 8.7 boards on 46.2 percent shooting against the Lakers.
Both of the Mavs regular season losses to the Lakers were by an average of 15.5 points per game. Dallas is 16-0 in regular season and playoffs when Dirk attempts at least 10+ free throws. First team to criticize the refs wins!
Game 1: Mon., May 2, at Staples Center, 7:30 p.m. Pacific (TNT)
Game 2: Wed., May 4, at Staples Center, 7:30 p.m. Pacific (TNT)
Game 3: Fri., May 6, at Dallas, 6:30 p.m. Pacific (ESPN)
Game 4: Sun., May 8, at Dallas, 12:30 p.m. Pacific (ABC)
Game 5 (if necessary): Tue., May 10, at Staples Center, TBD (TNT)
Game 6 (if necessary): Thurs., May 12, at Dallas, TBD (ESPN)
Game 7 (if necessary): Sun., May 15, at Staples Center, 12:30 p.m. Pacific (ABC)
Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
Just yesterday I was ripping Deshawn Stevenson for letting old, low-top sneaker wearing Peja Stojakovic take his minutes. On Tuesday night Peja made me eat my words.
Stojakovic tied his career playoff best with five 3-pointers and had 21 points, and speaking of old players schooling young ones, Jason Kidd continued his surprising scoring surge with 18 points, powering the Mavericks to a 101-89 victory on Tuesday night.
Dirk Nowitzki led Dallas with 33 points, scoring 14 points in the fourth quarter — including the team’s final 11.
LaMarcus Aldridge scored 24 points, and had 10 boards. Gerald Wallace, and Andre Miller had 18 points, but the bench on scored 11 points. The Mavs bench scored 39 points.
Brandon Roy played 8 minutes and missed the only shot he took. The five backups who got into the game were a combined 4 for 11.
Portland fell to 2-15 in its last 17 road playoff games.
With Tuesday’s win over the Blazers, the Mavs jumped out to a 2-0 series lead. In the last 10 seasons, Dallas has won three of four postseason series in which it won the first two tilts. However, the last time the Mavs led 2-0 in a series was the ’06 Finals, they proceeded to drop four straight to the Heat.
Game 3, Thursday at Portland, 10:30 p.m. ET, TNT/ Mavs lead series 2-0
AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez
Dirk Nowitzki scored 18( 13-13 free throws) of his 28 points in the fourth quarter and Jason Kidd had a playoff career-best six 3-pointers among his 24 points as Dallas defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 89-81.
Nowitzki scored 12 consecutive points in the game-turning spurt in the closing minutes when Dallas tied the game and eventually went ahead to stay.
Jason Kidd in his 122nd playoff game over 15 NBA postseasons, was 9-of-14 shooting. He also had four dimes and two steals, and bailed out the Mavs throughout the night. “They want me to be aggressive,” Kidd said. “We all know that Dirk and Jet are offensive guys and they put the ball up. But in the playoffs you have to have other guys step up and score and I know that our opponents are going to give me that jump shot and I have to be able to knock it down.”
The Blazers’ biggest lead came during a span when Dallas missed 10 consecutive field goals over a stretch of nearly 11 minutes after building a 10-point lead. Kidd’s step-back jumper with 5:28 left in the game ended that miserable spurt before Nowitzki took over.
LaMarcus Aldridge had 27 points( mostly from alleys) for Portland and Andre Miller had 18. Marcus Camby finished with 18 boards.
We can only pray that the non-stop cuts to the ‘Mark Cuban reaction’ ends soon.
Game 2 at Dallas, 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
The Western Conference matchup’s werent decided to the last day of the season, and sadly only the Hornets are going to be an easy out. Let the preview begin……
#1. San Antonio Spurs vs. #8 Memphis Grizzlies
The Spurs shot at the gate, surprising everyone outside of San Antonio en route to the best record in the West. The Grizzlies suffered a huge setback with the loss of Rudy gay for the Playoffs. The two headed defensive monster of Shane battier and Tony Allen were key reasons the Grizzlies were able to hold on to the bottom spot.
The key matchup of the series is Tim Duncan-Zach Randolph. Tim Duncan is no longer the offensive focal point and averaged a career-low 13.4 points, but is still effective enough to lure double teams. Memphis scored a league-high 51.6 points in the post and its interior size of Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol should pose problems for San Antonio. The Spurs are on a mission, but the Grizzlies have been playing great ball down the stretch. This series has the capabilities to go the distance.
Spurs in 6
#2 Los Angeles Lakers vs. #7 New Orleans Hornets
The Lakers earned the privilege to play the David West-less Hornets in the first round. If the Lakers don’t sweep the Hornets, prepare for panic out of Los Angeles. The Lakers swept the Hornets, 4-0, in the regular season.
Lakers in 4
#3 Dallas Mavericks vs. #6 Portland Trail Blazers
*The Best First Round Matchup* The loss of Caron Butler dealt a heavy blow to the Mavs. The toughest player taken from your team makes deep Playoff runs next to impossible. Despite nearly a decade’s worth of regular-season success, Dallas has advanced only once to the finals.
The Mavericks draw a tough first-round matchup in Portland, which benefited after a midseason trade by obtaining Gerald Wallace. Brandon Roy is somewhat back from injury, but the team now revolves around LaMarcus Aldridge (21.8 points, 8.8 rebounds), who is a native of Dallas. The teams split their regular-season games with each winning twice at home.
Portland in 6
#4 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. #5 Denver Nuggets
The most intriguing first-round matchups between the benefactors of deadline deals. The Thunder may pose the largest obstacle to the Lakers of escaping the Western Conference a fourth straight year. Denver hasn’t lost a step after dealing Chauncey Billups and Carmelo Anthony to New York. Denver is similar to a college team complete with two ex-North Carolina Tar Heels in Raymond Felton and Ty Lawson.
Kevin Durant remains the best basketball player not named Kobe, or LeBron. The addition of Kendrick Perkins adds a touch of toughness the Thunder have yet to achieve. Oklahoma won the season series, 3-1, including taking two games after the trading deadline.
Thunder in 6
With the start of a new year, teams make their own resolutions. Here is a team by team look at those resolutions.
ATLANTA HAWKS
We resolve to get to the bottom of why we gave Joe Johnson so much damn money. He does lead us in points, but will we make it deep in the playoffs….of course not.
BOSTON CELTICS
We the Boston Celtics resolve to play at least one game with both O’Neal’s on the court at the same time. I, the Boston Celtics fan resolve to relax and enjoy each game because if anyone gets injured the world will not end.
CHARLOTTE BOBCATS
I, Michael Jordan resolve to stop wearing all my rings on one necklace to every Bobcats meeting.
CHICAGO BULLS
We resolve to kept nurturing Derrick Rose, and to keep Carlos Boozer and his weird beard away from him.
CLEVELAND CAVALIERS
We resolve to simply exist before the NBA goes through with contraction and makes us a NBDL team. I, the Cavs fan will save up and buy the Fathead of Daniel Gibson for no reason whatsoever.
DALLAS MAVERICKS
I, Rick Carlisle resolve to stop making faces like Jim Carrey, and to let jason Terry do whatever he wants in the 4th quarter.
DETROIT PISTONS
I, Tayshaun Prince resolve to ask Joe Dumars nicely if I can be traded, then pray its not to Toronto.
DENVER NUGGETS
We resolve to trade Carmelo to the highest bidder, then struggle until we draft anthoer Carmelo and repeat the same process.
GOLDEN ST. WARRIORS
We resolve to never sign a legitimate big man so we can never truly play defense.
HOUSTON ROCKETS
I, the Houston Rockets fan resolve to lower our expectations until Michael Jordan goes and plays baseball for two years.
INDIANA PACERS
We resolve to sleep through the rest of this year, and promptly wake up during the lottery selection this summer.
L.A. CLIPPERS
I, Donald Sterling resolve to continue being concerned about only money, and as long as Blake Griffin makes me money he stays….for cheap of course.
L.A. LAKERS
We resolve to work all year so we actually play a competitive game on Christmas. We also resolve to never let Kobe and Nike convince us that Lime green sneakers are cool.
MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES
We resolve to save our money, to pay for the shipping of all the equipment to our new home in Seattle.
MIAMI HEAT
I, Miami Heat fan resolve to show up to games on time, especially once the playoffs start. At least we will make it seem that basketball games are more fun then the beach, or clubs full of young hispanic women.
MILWAUKEE BUCKS
We resolve to continue doing whatever it was we did to beat the Lakers. *Brandon Jennings didn’t play
MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES
I, Kevin Love resolve to rebound every ball, on every shot, from every basketball game in the world.
NEW JERSEY NETS
We resolve to never put an ad across from Madison Square Garden again. Unless of course, if we get Carmelo Anthony then we get to play in the Garden.
NEW ORLEANS HORNETS
We the NBA speak for the Hornets, and the Hornets have nothing to say.
NEW YORK KNICKS
I, Spike Lee resolve to continue wearing clothes too big for me to games, and my Landry Fields jersey, even if he gets traded.
OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER
We resolve to take out as many loans as possible to keep Russell Westbrook away from Los Angeles.
ORLANDO MAGIC
I, Dwight Howard will work on my three point shooting so I can fit in better with the team.
PHILADELPHIA 76ERS
We resolve to hire Michael Vick as soon as the NFL season is over. He will suit up and be in the starting lineup, just for the player introductions, but he wont play any minutes.
PHOENIX SUNS
I, Marcin Gortat, will continue to plead with my teammates to play defense, even if they speak another language.
PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS
I, Trail Blazers fan will take a class in physical therapy so I can be more hands on with the players.
SACRAMENTO KINGS
We, the Maloof Brothers resolve to finish construction on our secret basketball stadium in Las Vegas. We also must sit Tyreke Evans down and ask that he not hit 50 footers to win games and instead keep piling on the loses.
SAN ANTONIO SPURS
We resolve to casually ignore the age of our Big 3, but encourage fans to purchase DeJuan Blair Bears from the gift shop
TORONTO RAPTORS
We resolve to call the NBA everyday, and send flowers so that they remember there is a team in Toronto.
UTAH JAZZ
We resolve to continue research into age-defying potions that can make it possible for Jerry Sloan to coach the Jazz forever.
WASHINGTON WIZARDS
We resolve to finally change our name back to the Bullets, and once again lose out on front page reports to real bullets.
Watch out Kareem!!
On Tuesday night, Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki scored 17 points in a 105-99 road win over the Orlando Magic. In the process, Nowitzki moved into 25th place on the NBA’s all time scoring list. At night’s end, Nowitzki had 21,798 points, passing Boston Celtics Hall of Fame forward Larry Bird (21,791).
If Nowitzki continues on his current scoring pace this season, he would finish the year with more than 23,000 points, moving him past Clyde Drexler (22,195) and Gary Payton (21,813) into 23rd place. Both Adrian Dantley (23,177) and Elgin Baylor (23,149) are also possibly within reach this year.
Given that Nowitzki is just 32 years old and his scoring production has remained relatively level for the past five seasons, there is a very, very good chance that he will end his career in the top 10 of the league’s all time scoring list. To do so, he’d need to reach roughly 27,000 points, which equates to a little more than 2 years (after this season) at his current pace, or 3-4 seasons at a reduced rate. Given his history as an extremely durable player, no lingering injury concerns prevent Nowitzki from playing until he is 35 or 36, and his current contract runs for three years after this season.
Nowitzki’s current career scoring average of 23.0 points per game is better than half of the 24 guys currently above him on the list. Moses Malone, Elvin Hayes, Hakeem Olajuwon, John Havlicek, Alex English, Reggie Miller, Patrick Ewing, Charles Barkley, Robert Parish, Kevin Garnett, Drexler, and Payton all averaged less than 23.0 points per game.
The only other active players in the top 25 currently are Celtics center Shaquille O’Neal (5th place), Los AngelesLakers forward Kobe Bryant (11th place) and Celtics forward Kevin Garnett (22nd place).
Bird had been one of only five players in the top 25 all time to achieve the mark in a career that lasted less than 1,000 games. The others: Jerry West (932 in 15th place), Allen Iverson (914, in 17th place), Dantley (955, in 20th place) and Baylor (846, in 21st place).
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