Nuggets at Mavericks
THE STORY: The Dallas Mavericks will see a much different team when they host the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday. Denver is 15-5 since it traded Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups to New York on Feb. 21, and has played more as a team, especially on defense. The Nuggets and Mavericks are coming off games against their likely first-round playoff opponents. Denver had its six-game winning streak snapped with a 101-94 loss to Oklahoma City on Tuesday, while Dallas fell at Portland 104-96 on Sunday. The Mavericks have dropped eight straight to Western Conference playoff teams, but hope to have center Tyson Chandler back.
TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, FS-Southwest, Altitude
ABOUT THE MAVERICKS (53-24): Dallas has reached the playoffs 10 straight seasons, but lost in the first round in three of the last four years. The Mavericks appear locked into the No. 3 seed. They are two games behind the No. 2 Los Angeles Lakers and two ahead of No. 4 Oklahoma City. Chandler left during the third quarter of Saturday’s 99-92 loss at Golden State with a back injury and missed Sunday’s game. He is still sore and is questionable to play. Chandler’s injury contributed to Dallas losing its last three games to finish 3-3 on a six-game trip.
ABOUT THE NUGGETS (47-30): It looks like Denver will be the No. 5 seed. It is four games behind No. 4 Oklahoma City, and 2½ games ahead of No. 6 Portland. The most telling statistic since The Trade is points per game allowed. Before the deal, the Nuggets gave up 105.2 compared to 95.1 after. On offense, Denver is scoring only two points less per game, and eight players are averaging double figures. The Nuggets are 8-9 on second nights of back-to-back games, including a respectable 6-8 on the road. Denver plays at Oklahoma City on Friday before it finishes the regular season with Minnesota, Golden State and Utah.
WHO'S HOT/WHO’S NOT: Dallas’ Shawn Marion is averaging 20 points – 7.8 above his season average – and is 18 for 28 from the field in his last two games. Dirk Nowitzki is averaging 16 points on 10-for-28 shooting in his last two. Denver’s Ty Lawson had a career-high 28 points Tuesday. Kenyon Martin is averaging 15.3 points – 7.3 above his season number – on 21-of-35 shooting in his last two.
KEY STATISTIC: The Mavericks are 40-4 when they score 100 or more points this season for a percentage of .909. Only the Los Angeles Lakers (39-3) have a higher percentage (.929).
SEASON SERIES: The Nuggets have won two straight – 121-120 on Feb. 10 and 103-92 at Dallas on Nov. 6 – after the Mavericks took the first meeting 102-101 at Denver on Nov. 3. Anthony and Billups combined for 72 points on Feb. 10. The Nuggets have won eight of the last 11 regular-season meetings.
KEY INJURIES: DENVER: F Chris Andersen (ankle); G Arron Afflalo (hamstring). DALLAS: C Tyson Chandler (back); G Dominique Jones (foot); F Caron Butler (knee).
LAST WORD: “They play together now on both ends of the floor. They’re fighting for each other, they’re moving the ball well, so they really, really look good. They’re going to be a dangerous team in the playoffs.’’ – Nowitzki, on the Nuggets.