Dallas drops game #79 of the season, losing at home to the Spurs to put their record at 15 games under .500, and 32-47 overall. Dwight Powell led the Mavs with a team-high 12 points, which brings us too...
The stealth rest
With most of San Antonio’s regular rotation sitting out, the Dallas Mavericks opened up a double-digit lead against the Spurs in the first half. Then for the second half, they pulled out four of five starters and six of their top rotation guys. The result was predictable, and immediate. An 8(!) point third quarter turned the game on its head, and San Antonio cruised the rest of the way. Bryn (not Gary) Forbes decided to have a career night, pouring in 27 points to lead all scorers. He and Davis Bertans hit all nine of the Spurs’ threes, one more than the Mavs could muster as a team.
A pair of Mavs narrowly miss double-doubles
J.J. Barea and Nerlens Noel played 25 minutes combined, but both nearly recorded double-doubles. J.J. had 8 points and 8 assists in 11 minutes, and Noel had 8 points and 9 rebounds in 14 minutes. Nerlens led all Mavs at +9, and was his usual active self. Meanwhile, Barea put on a show early with his passing, and is so far and away the best playmaker on this team, it’s not even funny (maybe it’s a little funny).
West lottery rivals continue to lose
At one point, both New Orleans (facing Denver) and Minnesota (facing Utah) had leads, but it appears both will lose Friday night, meaning Dallas gains no ground in lottery positioning. Chances are still very good that they’ll get a top-ten pick (probably ninth), but with seventh in striking distance, Dallas will need a little luck to assure their best odds. They’ll take on the Phoenix Suns -- losers of 13 straight -- on Sunday.