Mavericks at Hornets
THE STORY: The Dallas Mavericks are suddenly in a slump and they could be missing their best player. Losers of three straight and four of five, the Mavericks lost Dirk Nowitzki in the second quarter of a loss at Memphis on Wednesday due to tightness in his lower back. The All-Star is questionable for Friday when Dallas visits the lowly New Orleans Hornets. The Mavericks already defeated the Hornets without Nowitzki once this season and have held them to 81 points in each of the first two meetings - winning both. New Orleans has dropped four of its last five.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, FSSW (Dallas), CST (New Orleans)
ABOUT THE MAVERICKS (21-15): Dallas has the best scoring defense in the Western Conference but has struggled on the other end of late. The Mavericks have averaged 89.3 points during their three-game slide and have not reached 100 points in any of the last six contests. Nowitzki felt the injury in warmups on Wednesday and tried to play through. He ended up scoring one point in less than 10 minutes. Dallas went 3-1 in four games without Nowitzki earlier this season, including an 83-81 triumph at New Orleans on Jan. 21. Lamar Odom scored 16 points in that one, but is away from the Mavericks due to personal reasons.
ABOUT THE HORNETS (8-27): New Orleans is still without several key players and did not seem to have the legs on the second night of a back-to-back on Wednesday, when it was outscored by 18 points in the fourth quarter of a 95-84 loss to the Toronto Raptors. “Coach Monty (Williams) has done a great job of getting us ready,” guard Greivis Vasquez said. “We’re just not really that talented.” The Hornets rank 29th in the NBA in scoring at 88.2 points. Chris Kaman has been a bright spot, posting a double-double in three straight games as his trade value increases.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. The Mavericks have taken three straight in the series.
2. Dallas F Shawn Marion is shooting 28.9 percent (11 for 38) over the last three games.
3. New Orleans is 0-16 when trailing at the half.