NBA playoffs: Spurs at Mavericks, Game 3 (series tied 1-1) :WagerWeb Entertainment

NBA playoffs: Spurs at Mavericks, Game 3 (series tied 1-1)

23 April 2009 247 views No Comment

That the Dallas Mavericks split two games in San Antonio in their Western Conference quarterfinal series is somewhat amazing considering the struggles so far of Dallas star Dirk Nowitzki.

Dirk is just 10-for-29 from the field in this series (after hitting better than 55 percent in eight April regular-season games) and averaging 16.5 points per game. This is the same player who finished the season with 25 consecutive games scoring at least 20 points, but he hasn’t hit 20 yet in the playoffs. He’s 0-for-6 on 3-point tries.

“For a 7-footer who is not athletic, it’s pretty hard to beat a double team, especially against smaller guys,” Nowitzki said. “I just have to take what’s there.”

Indeed, the Spurs have been running everyone at Dirk, and Bruce Bowen, Matt Bonner, Ime Udoka and Tim Duncan all will see time on Nowitzki tonight, and possibly even Michael Finley and Roger Mason.

It’s also fortunate for Dallas that it got a split because the Spurs are 18-of-32 from 3-point range so far and have shot better than 50 percent from the field overall while outscoring the Dallas starters 162-113.

“With the way they’ve shot the ball, it’s a miracle we have a win under our belt,” Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said Wednesday. “Our defense has to get much better.”

But the Mavs are 5-point WagerWeb.com favorites (over/under 190) for Game 3 because Dallas is 15-1 at home since the All-Star break and 6-1 in games following losses by at least 20 points – which Game 2 was.

However, the Spurs have the second-best road record in playoff history at 59-81.

And the key for San Antonio remains Tony Parker, who blew up for 38 points on Game 2 and is averaging 31 in this series. Of course, Mavs center Erick Dampier mentioned putting Parker “on his back” the next time the Spurs point guard entered the lane, but Dampier backed away from the statement when he was threatened with a fine.