The Dallas Mavericks have dropped four games in a row. San Antonio crushed the Dirk-less Mavs 101-89 at AT&T Center Friday night, making short work of their Southwest division foes. Tony Parker poured in 18 points to lift the Spurs to their fifth straight win and an NBA best 34-6 record. Parker sparked San Antonio in the first quarter and Richard Jefferson buried back-to-back three-pointers to highlight the second quarter. The visiting Mavs trailed 51-30 at the break in what has been a tailspin month for the 26-12 club. The Mavericks are just 2-7 without their big man, Nowitzki. Dallas couldn’t contain Parker or point guard,Tim Duncan during the first half. Neither Spurs’ shooter played in the fourth quarter as the Mavs were hammered on the boards all night. It was San Antonio’s 14th straight home win this season.
Shawn Marion scored 14 points to lead Dallas, who shot just 39.7 percent through three quarters. The Mavs’ Jason Terry added nine points on a 3-for-14 shooting effort. Dallas closed within 13 points on a Tyson Chandler dunk in the third quarter, put an 18-7 Spurs’ spree dismantled a Dallas comeback rally. Dallas’ bench could not surge in the fourth quarter to avoid defeat. Duncan paced the Spurs with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Former Pitt Panther standout, DeJuan Blair, collected 18 points and led San Antonio with 13 boards. Manu Ginobili contributed 11 buckets as four Spurs scored in double figures. San Antonio was a stellar 79% from the line as they carved out a 24 point lead heading into the final quarter.
Friday’s win marked the second time this season the Spurs have handed the Mavs a beat-down. The Spurs are headed for home-court advantage throughout the playoffs as long as they remain healthy and firing on all cylinders. Dallas still remains in the top three in the Western Conference (seven games behind the Spurs) but the injury-plagued Mavs must find a way to start reeling off victories instead of just reeling.
Parting Points: The Big 10 is sticking with Leaders & Legends and Cam Newton is heading to the NFL.
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