Game of basketball played; outcome disappointing

The Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs pushed an orange leather ball around a wood surface.  Members of the San Antonio Spurs tossed said ball into a round hoop with great success, while members of the Dallas Mavericks, try as they might, managed this only occasionally.

Spurs win.  Mavs lose.

Good things:

-Monta Ellis, 21 points, only member of starting lineup to score in double figures.

-Ricky Ledo, still alive, making both shots he took.  (Yes, this game was that bad)

Bad things.

-All else.

In somewhat similar fashion to last night's game against the Lakers, in reverse, Dallas looked outclassed but still managed to keep the score respectable.  That is, until the third quarter, when San Antonio broke the game wide open with a 37-24 period.  37 points was just one less than Dallas managed in the entire first half.

In the second half...boy.  Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together, mass hysteria.

The Spurs torched Dallas shooting the ball(52.6% for Spurs to 41.9% for Mavs), and they obliterated them on the glass(55-32 rebounding advantage, including 12-9 offensive).

Dallas shot eight free throws in this game.  Eight.

Patty Mills and Cory Joseph both outscored Dirk Nowitzki.

Dallas falls to 20-16 on the season, and 8-10 on the road.  Depending on what happens in the Phoenix/Minnesota game, Dallas will either fall farther out their quest to move up in playoff seeding from the 8th and final spot, or lose ground in their lead over the talented but inconsistent Minnesota team, who already own a vastly superior point differential.

If you are the sort who views this game as one Dallas wasn't really supposed to win and therefore sees no great calamity in such a seemingly inevitable outcome, then good for you.  However, the screws holding the wheels on this thing are loosening, and the fight to stay on the road to the playoffs is just beginning.

Pounding The Rock

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