Mavericks vs Warriors Preview: Dallas Ends Record Home Stand With Big Game vs Warriors

Mar 11, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Monta Ellis (11) drives in against Golden State Warriors forward David Lee (10) during the first quarter at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

DALLAS MAVERICKS (44-30) vs GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS- April 1 at American Airlines Center (8:30 p.m. ET)

The Dallas Mavericks are locked in a three-way tie for the 7th seed out West, and can get within half a game of 6th when they end their franchise-record eight-game home stand with the Golden State Warriors on April 1. Game starts at 8:30 p.m. ET and can be seen on Fox Sports Southwest with Mark Followill, Derek Harper and Jeff “Skin” Wade.

With eight games left in the regular season, Dallas is tied at 44-30 with the Memphis Grizzlies and the Phoenix Suns, but has its eyes set on the 6th-seeded Warriors.

The Mavericks can tie the season series with Golden State with a win, as they’ve already locked up the tiebreaker with the Grizzlies and can do so with the Suns when they face off at the end of the season.

Dallas should be on a nine-game winning streak, but suffered disappointing losses on the home stand, against the T’Wolves, Nets and most recently, Clippers.

The Mavs lost in overtime to Minnesota and Brooklyn, then had an 11-point fourth-quarter lead against LA before falling 109-103 on March 27. In all three losses this season to the Clips, the Mavs blew double-digit-fourth-quarter leads.

Dallas got back into the win column, defeating the Sacramento Kings 103-100 on March 29 despite 30 points from Rudy Gay and 18 rebounds from Reggie Evans. Dirk Nowitzki led six players in double figures with 19 points, seven boards and seven dimes. Samuel Dalembert added 15 points, six rebounds, two steals and three blocks.

Dallas got plenty of help on its off day (Sunday) when all three teams directly ahead of the Mavs lost. The Grizzlies fell in Portland and the Lakers blew out the Suns.

After Tuesday’s game, the Mavs will have seven games remaining on their schedule, two at home and five away. Four will be against playoff teams (Clippers, Spurs, Suns, Grizzlies).

For the Warriors, they could’ve separated themselves further from the trio of teams, but suffered an 89-84 home loss to the New York Knicks on March 30. Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson combined for 47 points (Curry with 32) on 16-of-39 shooting (41 percent), but the rest of the team scored just 37 points and shot 12-of-40 from the field (30 percent).

Wild, Wild West: 

Warriors– 9 games left, 4 National TV games, 5 road/4 home, 3 against playoff teams (Mavs, Spurs, Blazers), ends season on April 16 in Denver.

MAVERICKS– 8 games left, 2 National TV games, 5 road/3 home, 5 against playoff teams (Warriors, Clippers, Spurs, Suns, Grizzlies), ends season on April 16 in Memphis, 1.5 games back of GSW.

Grizzlies– 8 games left, 4 National TV games, 4 road/4 home, 4 against playoff teams (Spurs, Heat, Suns, Mavs), ends season on April 16 vs Dallas, 1.5 games back of GSW.

Suns– 8 games left, 2 National TV games, 5 road/3 home, 6 against playoff teams (Clippers, Blazers, Thunder, Spurs, Mavs, Grizzlies), ends season on April 16 in Sacramento, 1.5 games back of GSW.

Season Series

Game 1: Mavs 103-99 (Nov. 27)

Game 2: Warriors 95-93 (Dec. 11)

Game 3: Warriors 108-85 (March 11)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Btd68Bp-t38

Leaders:

Dirk Nowitzki (3 games): 18.3 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 2.0 apg, 1.3 spg, 1.0 bpg, 50-percent shooting

Monta Ellis (3 games): 13.3 pgg, 5.7 apg, 3.0 rpg, 2.3 spg, 33-percent shooting

Jose Calderon (3 games): 14.3 ppg, 4.3 apg, 2.7 rpg, 47-percent shooting

Shawn Marion (3 games): 7.7 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 1.0 spg, 35-percent shooting

Vince Carter (3 games): 8.7 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 1.7 apg, 35-percent shooting

Samuel Dalembert (3 games): 6.3 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.3 bpg, 46-percent shooting

April Fools Anyone: Date back 11 years ago, April 1, 2003. The scene, the Mavericks hosting the New Orleans Hornets…does Cuban have anything planned this time?