SB Nation Dallas - Mavericks Vs. Heat: Dirk Nowitzki's 25 Points Not Enough In 106-85 Loss To Miamihttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48887/dallas-fave.png2012-03-29T21:38:32-05:00http://dallas.sbnation.com/rss/stream/26750392012-03-29T21:38:32-05:002012-03-29T21:38:32-05:00Mavericks Vs. Heat Final Score: Dallas Struggles To 106-85 Loss In Miami
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<p>The Dallas Mavericks struggled their way to a 106-85 loss to the Miami Heat Thursday night despite 25 points from <span>Dirk Nowitzki</span>. </p>
<p>The Mavericks defense struggled to contain the Heat who outscored Dallas 46-24 in the paint. Dirk Nowitzki hit just 1-9 shots in the second half after a red hot start to finish 9-19 from the field on the night. <span>Lamar Odom</span> dropped 12 points off the bench while <span>Brandan Wright</span> and <span>Vince Carter</span> finished with 11 points each. </p>
<p>Miami hit 49 percent of its shots in the game and enjoyed balanced scoring across the board. <span>LeBron James</span> and <span>Chris Bosh</span> led the Heat with 19 points each. <span>Dwyane Wade</span> and <span>Udonis Haslem</span> each finished with 16 while <span>Mario Chalmers</span> added 12. </p>
<p>The loss drops Dallas into sixth place in the Western Conference standings with a 29-23 record. The Mavericks have won six of 10 and currently hold a game and a half lead over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.slcdunk.com/">Utah Jazz</a> and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thedreamshake.com/">Houston Rockets</a>. </p>
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https://dallas.sbnation.com/dallas-mavericks/2012/3/29/2912968/mavericks-vs-heat-final-score-dallas-struggles-to-106-85-loss-in-miamiKris Willis2012-03-29T20:06:54-05:002012-03-29T20:06:54-05:00Mavericks Vs. Heat Score: Miami Takes 60-53 Lead Over Dallas At Halftime
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<p>The Miami Heat used a big second quarter to wrestle the lead away from the Dallas Mavericks and take a 60-53 advantage at halftime. Miami outscored Dallas 36-24 in the second quarter after the Mavericks took a 29-24 lead after one. </p>
<p><span>Dirk Nowitzki</span> leads the Mavericks with 16 points and is a sizzling 8-10 from the field. <span>Vince Carter</span> added nine points while <span>Brandan Wright</span> chipped in eight off the bench. The Mavericks hit 55 percent of their shots but had a difficult time slowing down the Heat. </p>
<p>Miami hit 62 percent of its field goal attempts in the first half with <span>Dwyane Wade</span> leading the way with 14 points. <span>LeBron James</span> added 11 and <span>Chris Bosh</span> chipped in nine. <span>Norris Cole</span> and <span>Udonis Haslem</span> came off the bench to score eight points each. </p>
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<p><i style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">For more on the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/" style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #c82527; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Dallas Mavericks</a>, be sure to visit <a href="http://mavsmoneyball.com/" style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #c82527; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Mavs Moneyball</a>. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.hothothoops.com/" style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #c82527; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Miami Heat</a> news and notes can be found at <a href="http://peninsulaismightier.com/" style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #c82527; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Peninsula Is Mightier</a>, and all your hoops news is at <a href="http://sbnation.com/nba" style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #c82527; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">SB Nation's NBA page</a>.</i></p>
https://dallas.sbnation.com/dallas-mavericks/2012/3/29/2912757/mavericks-vs-heat-score-dirk-nowitzki-lebron-jamesKris Willis2012-03-29T15:52:04-05:002012-03-29T15:52:04-05:00Mavericks Vs. Heat: Delonte West To Return For Dallas In Miami
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<p><a href="http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/mavericks/post/_/id/4687305/delonte-west-set-to-return-against-miami-heat">According to ESPN Dallas' Jean-Jacques Taylor</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/">Dallas Mavericks</a> head coach <span>Rick Carlisle</span> is going to rotate guard <span>Delonte West</span> into the game on Thursday night against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.hothothoops.com/">Miami Heat</a>. The backup point guard has not played in a game since he broke a finger on his non-shooting hand on Feb. 15 against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.denverstiffs.com/">Denver Nuggets</a>.</p>
<p>West had his fingers taped together and had them covered in gauze. However, he still knows that if they're hit, it's going to hurt.</p>
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<p>"It's a mental thing," he said. "I just have to fight through it. I use my hands a lot to knock the ball loose and trying to get steals. It's just something I'm going to have to deal with."</p>
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<p>Carlisle is happy to have West back. He couldn't say, however, how much West would play or if he would even play well when given the opportunity to get back on the court.</p>
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<p>"We're going to get him back into it the right way, so I'm not sure how much he'll play, but we're going to try to get him into the game," Carlisle said of West. "There's going to be some apprehension and he's going to have some stingers because the doctors says the hand is going to be swollen some for another four-five months."</p>
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<p>Before his injury, West was averaging 8.3 points and 3.5 assists per game and played an average of 22 minutes. He was also playing great defense, which could come in handy for the Mavericks against the high-scoring Heat.</p>
<p>For more on the Mavericks, head to <a href="http://www.mavsmoneyball.com/">Mavs Moneyball</a>, and for more on the Mavs-Heat game, follow SB Nation Dallas' <a href="http://dallas.sbnation.com/2012/3/29/2912301/mavericks-vs-heat-preview-five-questions-with-peninsula-is-mightier#">StoryStream</a>.</p>
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https://dallas.sbnation.com/2012/3/29/2912305/dallas-mavericks-miami-heat-nba-delonte-west-injury-updateJason Garrison2012-03-29T11:31:10-05:002012-03-29T11:31:10-05:00Mavericks Vs. Heat Preview: Five Questions With Peninsula Is Mightier
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<p>We discuss the rivalry between Dallas and Miami, the Heat's biggest weakness this year and whether former Texas center Dexter Pittman has a future in the NBA.</p> <p><i>To preview Thursday's rematch of the 2011 NBA Finals, we've brought in Mnelik from "</i><a href="http://www.peninsulaismightier.com/"><i>Peninsula Is Mightier</i></a><i>", SB Nation's <a href="https://www.hothothoops.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Miami Heat</a> blog, which I think is named for a reference to an old Celebrity Jeopardy joke. </i></p>
<p><i>Head over </i><a href="http://www.peninsulaismightier.com/2012/3/29/2911958/heat-vs-mavericks-preview-5-questions-with-sbnation-dallas"><i>to their site</i></a><i> for my answers to his questions about Dallas.</i></p>
<p><span id="internal-source-marker_0.40433128690347075">1) Are the <a href="https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Mavericks</a> as hated in Miami as the Heat were in Dallas after the 2006 Finals?</span></p>
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<p><span id="internal-source-marker_0.40433128690347075">Not in the least bit. After the 2006 finals, several Dallas fans harbored hatred because of the excessive foul calls in Miami's favor and the numerous free throws <span>Dwyane Wade</span> had. There were no possible excuses or conspiracies in last year's finals, as the Mavericks just clearly were the better team. </span></p>
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<p><span id="internal-source-marker_0.40433128690347075">2) How concerned are you about Miami's recent slump?</span></p>
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<p><span id="internal-source-marker_0.40433128690347075">Slightly. The Heat had been playing at a torrid pace all season and a crash seemed inevitable given the wear and tear of this years NBA lockout season. The Heat went through a similar rough stretch like this last year, where they lost 5 games in a row to playoff teams. They bounced back and won 15 of their remaining 18 games left in the season. Ironically the Heat have 18 games left this season but if this slump continues into next 2 weeks, then my concern will grow considerably. <br></span></p>
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<p>3) What is this team's biggest weakness headed into the playoffs?</p>
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<p><span id="internal-source-marker_0.40433128690347075">Rebounding. The Heat have one of the smallest starting frontcourts in the NBA. Their lack of frontcourt size and interior presence has been the forefront of their recent struggles. In addition, the <a href="https://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Magic</a>, <a href="https://www.blogabull.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Bulls</a>, <a href="https://www.postingandtoasting.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Knicks</a>, <a href="https://www.indycornrows.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Pacers</a> and <a href="https://www.libertyballers.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">76ers</a> all have a frontcourt size advantage over the Heat. </span></p>
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<p><span id="internal-source-marker_0.40433128690347075">4) Which team do you think is the biggest threat to Miami to winning a 2012 title?<br></span></p>
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<p><span id="internal-source-marker_0.40433128690347075"><a href="https://www.welcometoloudcity.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Thunder</a>, <a href="https://www.poundingtherock.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Spurs</a> and Bulls. All 3 teams have the depth, size, defensive prowess and perimeter shooting to compete with the Heat. The asterisk next to the Bulls and Spurs however is health, with <span>Derrick Rose</span>, Ginobli/Parker/Duncan all questionable. The Thunder have the best chance at staying healthy but their youth and lack of experience could surface should they make it to the Finals.</span></p>
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<p><span id="internal-source-marker_0.40433128690347075">5) There are two players with Dallas connections at the end of the Heat bench: UT's <span>Dexter Pittman</span> and Dallas native <span>Terrel Harris</span>. Do you think they will be able to carve out careers in the NBA?</span></p>
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<p><span id="internal-source-marker_0.40433128690347075">Possibly. Dexter Pittman might have a better chance given his size and length but Terrel Harris could have more overall upside. Harris had an eye opening game in January against the <a href="https://www.peachtreehoops.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Hawks</a> but would have to join another team with a depleted backcourt to get an opportunity. </span></p>
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https://dallas.sbnation.com/dallas-mavericks/2012/3/29/2911118/mavericks-vs-heat-preview-five-questionsJonathan Tjarks2012-03-29T08:08:15-05:002012-03-29T08:08:15-05:00Mavericks Vs. Heat: Game Preview, TV Info And More
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<p>The Mavericks will visit a Heat team struggling to score points and a slightly wounded Lebron James in a second rematch of the NBA FInals.</p> <p>The Mavericks and Heat will meet in another rematch of the 2011 NBA Finals on Thursday night, their first meeting since Christmas Day, when the Heat thumped the defending champs 105-94. But Miami's scoring has suffered as of late - the Heat have been held under 100 points in 11 of their last 13 games (one NBA.com stat: Miami was first in the league in scoring through March 1, but since then are 25th). </p>
<p><span>LeBron James</span> will play through a left ring finger injury after dislocating it in the first quarter against Indiana on Monday. James played the rest of that game relying on his right hand to catch passes, and will play with his left fingers bandaged.</p>
<p><b>Date / Time:</b> Thursday, March 29, 7 p.m. CT</p>
<p><b>Location: </b>American Airlines Arena, Miami, Florida</p>
<p><b>TV: </b>TNT</p>
<p><b>Radio: </b><a href="http://www.nba.com/mavericks/news/espnradio_affiliates.html">Mavs Radio Network</a></p>
<p><b>Streaming: </b>n/a</p>
<p><b>Line:</b> <a href="http://www.oddsshark.com/nba/dallas-miami-odds-march-29-2012">Miami -8.5</a></p>
<p><i>For more on the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/">Dallas Mavericks</a>, be sure to visit <a href="http://mavsmoneyball.com">Mavs Moneyball</a>. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.hothothoops.com/">Miami Heat</a> news and notes can be found at <a href="http://peninsulaismightier.com">Peninsula Is Mightier</a>, and all your hoops news is at <a href="http://sbnation.com/nba">SB Nation's NBA page</a>.</i></p>
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https://dallas.sbnation.com/dallas-mavericks/2012/3/29/2910564/mavericks-heat-game-preview-tv-nba-2012Steven Godfrey