It has been 13-days since the Dallas Mavericks were able to turn the dial on the win column and we knew it wouldn’t be an easy test taking on the Charlotte Hornets (never thought I’d say that). The Mavericks (34-33) would lead by as many as 19 points but the Hornets (37-29) would take the lead midway in the final quarter but the Mavs would prevail with a 107-96 victory.
Dallas entered the game with a five-game losing streak (longest active) and Charlotte would have a seven-game win streak (longest active) and showed why they have emerged as a strong competitor in the East.
Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle made adjustments to the starting lineup by sliding Dirk Nowitzki into the center position, sending Zaza Pachulia to the bench and adding Raymond Felton in the first unit.
Rick Carlisle on Zaza Pachulia's willingness to come off the bench: "It just goes to show what kind of leader he is." #DALatCHA
— Earl K. Sneed (@EarlKSneed) March 15, 2016
The Mavericks would open the game with a 7-0 run and hold the Hornets to just 6 of 21from the field in the opening quarter.
It was a nice sight as Mavs rookie Justin Anderson entered the game early and helped keep the momentum on Dallas’ side by making defensive plays and those hustle plays that don’t show up in the stat book.
David Lee would pick up a flagrant foul with a blow to Cody Zeller that many people reacted to and thought was a horrible call. The Mavericks would shake it off and soon be rewarded with two technical fouls against Kemba Walker and Nicolas Batum. Dallas would take a 19 point lead into the half.
https://twitter.com/mcuban/status/709531868522106880
The Hornets averaged 61 points in the first half during their seven game win streak and would be held to just 33 points, shooting 26.8 percent.
The third quarter was like usual, the Mavericks would come out sluggish and once again allow another team to claw their way back into the game. Batum and Marvin Williams would put on a clinic giving Charlotte 32 points in the third and cut the lead to 71-65 going into the fourth.
Walker would open the quarter by draining back-to-back money balls knotting the score up at 71. He would then follow his threes with two free throws giving Charlotte their first lead of night at 73-71 with 10:18 left to play.
After retaking the lead from a Nowitzki jumper, the Mavericks would never look back and snap their five-game losing streak scoring 36 points in the final quarter.
Catching fire late in the game, Chandler Parsons led the Mavericks with 24 points on 9-of-14 shooting and draining 5-of-9 from behind the arch. Nowitzki scored 23 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in 28 minutes, making it five consecutive games with 20 or more points.
Deron Williams added 15 points, including six straight on three possessions late in the fourth; Felton scored nine points and served up 12 assists.
Back on Nov 5. Al Jefferson went off for a season-high 31 points against thee Mavs but would be held to only 7 points Monday night, Walker would lead the team with 25 points on 8-of-18 shooting.
The Mavericks will travel North to take on Lebron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers Wednesday night. Cleveland handed Dallas an overtime loss in their only meeting this season. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. CT on Fox Sports Southwest.
TIP-INS:
Dallas’ bench outscored Charlotte’s 31-19. The Mavericks scored 18 points on 15 Charlotte turnovers.
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