Miami Heat at Dallas Mavericks

[ducks]

Thursday: Miami Heat at Dallas Mavericks – The Mavericks have beaten all the top teams in the NBA – they're a combined 5-1 against San Antonio, Detroit, Phoenix and Miami. The Heat, on the other hand, are 0-6 against the Spurs, Pistons, Suns and Mavericks. If Miami wants to prove it's for real, this would be a good place to start.

who wins?

[boutons_]

I have no doubt that Mavs win @DAL.

The Mavs could bring a 20-W streak to ATT Center 2 March.

[ducks]

Miami (30-19) at Dallas (38-10)
Miami (30-19) at Dallas (38-10)

Preview - Box Score - Recap

Game Info: 8:00 pm EST Thu Feb 9, 2006
TV: TNT Add to Calendar
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No team has enjoyed a longer winning streak this season than the one the Dallas Mavericks are riding. The biggest threat to their run for quite a while could come from the Miami Heat.

The Mavericks go for their 13th consecutive victory when they meet one of the highest-scoring teams in the Eastern Conference -- and one of its best -- in a matchup with the Heat.

Dallas enters this meeting of division leaders two wins shy of the longest win streak in franchise history, set in the 2002-03 season when the team opened 14-0.

If they can get past Miami, owner of the East's second-best record, the Mavericks face what appears to be a fairly easy schedule for the rest of the month.

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If a quick turnaround in a visit to struggling Denver on Friday doesn't throw them off, the Mavs will open a six-game homestand on Monday against lowly New York with a chance to set a new team-record win streak. Only two opponents -- the Los Angeles Clippers and Memphis -- on that homestand had winning records through Tuesday's games.

Dallas already has set one club record by holding all of its opponents during this win streak below 100 points.

The Heat are averaging 100.3 points per game and lead the East in field-goal shooting at 47.2 percent.

The Mavericks held Kobe Bryant to 24 points in a 102-87 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday. Bryant had averaged 52.5 points in the previous two meetings.

"I think that is why we came out with a lot of energy," Dallas' Adrian Griffin said. "We know he is capable of putting up big numbers. As a team, we have been playing some good ball and we just wanted to continue that."

The Mavs often put extra defenders on Bryant to try to get the ball out of his hands, a strategy they could employ against Heat guard Dwyane Wade, though that may leave openings for Shaquille O'Neal.

Wade has scored more than 30 points in the Heat's last two games and has topped that plateau in 10 of his last 12 road contests.

"He's a great young player. He's very, very gifted on offense and defense," O'Neal said. "It's good to play with a guy like him. You just have to let a guy like that do his thing."

O'Neal bounced back from a poor performance in Saturday's loss to New Jersey to score 21 points in a 114-98 win over Boston on Monday. Wade led Miami with 34 points.

O'Neal sat out with an injury when these teams met on Nov. 25 and the Mavericks won 103-90 behind 48 points and 19 rebounds from Josh Howard and Dirk Nowitzki.

That duo combined for 48 points and 22 boards on Tuesday against the Lakers, with Nowitzki scoring 26 points to lead Dallas in scoring for the first time in five games.

The Mavericks have won three straight against the Heat and are 9-2 in the last 11 meetings.


Updated on Thursday, Feb 9, 2006 3:26 am EST

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Team Comparison
Team Record Standings PF PA Road/Home Streak L10
Miami 30-19 1st Southeast / 2nd East 100.3 96.0 Road 13-13 Won 1 7-3
Dallas 38-10 2nd Southwest / 4th West 99.8 93.2 Home 19-4 Won 12 10-0

Miami Notes
Feb 7 G Jason Williams scored only four points on 2-of-9 shooting. ... All 11 players who reached the court for Miami scored, ranging from G Dwyane Wade's 34 points to two for F Jason Kapono, G Shandon Anderson and rookie F Wayne Simien. ... The Heat have won five of six and seven of nine. ... Miami held a 44-36 rebounding advantage despite not having a single player with more than eight rebounds. ... The Heat had only five turnovers. Wade was the only starter to commit one. ... Miami led by as many as 22 but never trailed by more than four.
Dallas Notes
Feb 8 The Mavericks' current winning streak is the longest in the NBA this season and is the second-best in team history. Dallas opened the 2002-03 campaign with 14 consecutive victories. ... Coach Avery Johnson called on journeyman G Adrian Griffin to guard NBA leading scorer Kobe Bryant, who had averaged 52.5 points in his first two matchups with the Mavs, to start the game. Griffin responded and combined with F Josh Howard and G Devin Harris to frustrate Bryant into a 5-of-22 shooting performance. "We have a lot of respect for Kobe," Griffin said. "I think that's why we came out with a lot of energy. We know he is capable of putting up big numbers." ... Dallas allowed just 10 points in the first quarter - tying the franchise record for fewest points allowed in the opening quarter in franchise history.

[HB22inSA]

Dallas by 17

[ducks]

heat by 10

[FreshPrince22]

Dallas by 12.

[jochhejaam]

Dallas is the better team, chalk up a win for the Mavs.

[himat]

i'm hoping dallas loses, they're at home though.

[Budkin]

I hope the Mavs lose obviously, but I think they will win this game easily. Mavs by 13.

[sa_butta]

Im hoping the Heat can end the streak, but Ill say
Mavs by at least 6.

[5ToolMan]

I don't think the Mavs can mail this on in. The Heat have looked much better as of late, winning 5 of their last 6. They had a convincing win over the Cavs who came into Miami with a 7 game streak of their own.

Expect the Heat to be trying to make a couple of statements starting tonight. After the Mavs tonight they are play Sunday at the Pistons. Riley, Shaq and Flash will want to demonstrate they have what it takes to compete with the big boys (Pistons, Mavs, Spurs) by making a good showing on consecutive huge road games. The main question is about the Heats' chemistry as they have considerable talent.

[boutons_]

Mavs start out 14 - 4.

No way Heat win this game. Mavs are too strong at home and Heat are just not strong anywhere.

[HB22inSA]

I really hope Dallas comes into San Antonio having won 20 straight.

[boutons_]

Heat really suck, can't score, can't defend.

Mavs W-streak going to 13

[jochhejaam]

Heat takin a butt whoopin' on national tv 73-47, how humiliating. Waiting for the Shaq interview after the game where he'll say "we had 'em all the way, just couldn't close it out". :lol

[Budkin]

Man the Heat are just pathetic. They have to be kicking themselves for overhauling their roster the way they did. Last year they had a group playing team basketball who were a few minutes away from the Finals. They most likely would have won the ECF if it wasn't for Wade's injury. This year it's every man for himself. They aren't going to beat any of the elite teams in the league and will be lucky to even make it out of the second round of the playoffs. Poor Snaq.

[ChumpDumper]

Stan Van Gundy is the smartest man in the NBA.

[HB22inSA]

Please, I don't ever want to hear about how the Heat will be contenders, or play better later in the season.

They look old, non-energetic, and just plain bad.

They aren't a powerhouse in the East.

Give credit to Dallas for killing a mediocre (at best) team.

[boutons_]

Thu 9 Miami W
Fri 10 @ Denver, next 6 games @DAL

Mon 13 New York,

Wed 15 Washington, 16W at ASB


Tue 21 L.A. Clippers

Thu 23 Memphis

Sat 25 Toronto

Mon 27 Philadelphia , 20W heading to SA

Thu 2 @ San Antonio

====================

I think 20W is very do-able.

[mavsfan1000]

Stan Van Gundy>Riley. Miami is just terrible now.

[Budkin]

But Stephen A. Smith picked them to win it all! How could be be wrong?? :lol

[ducks]

I thought the heat would atleast give the mavs a challenge wow

[hussker]

Nuggets over Mavs tomorrow night at the Pop Can

[mavsfan1000]

Nuggets over Mavs tomorrow night at the Pop Can
It is a possibility but I doubt it. Dallas is pretty well rested after such an easy win. Still games in Denver are tough.

[Budkin]

Mavs will win tomorrow too... book it.

[hussker]

Nuggets 110
Mavs 102

in the Pop Can tomorrow.

QUESTION: Shouldn't these MAVS links be in the TROLLS FORUM? Just curious...

[hussker]

Nuggets 110
Mavs 102

in the Pop Can tomorrow.

QUESTION: Shouldn't these MAVS links be in the TROLLS FORUM? Just curious...


Ok, so I was off on the SCORE, but you did hear it here first! :)

[spurs=bling]

Ok, so I was off on the SCORE, but you did hear it here first! :)

thank goodness the mavs lost

[hussker]

Nanny Nanny Boo Boo!!! Toldya!