DALLAS (AP)—After playing the entire regular season, the Dallas Mavericks
and New Orleans Hornets still don’t know where they are headed for the playoffs.
Dirk Nowitzki(notes) scored 12 of his 32 points in the decisive third quarter,
leading the Mavericks to a 121-89 victory over the Hornets in the season finale
on Wednesday night—and leaving both teams waiting for their playoff seed and
first-round foe to be determined.
Dallas will be seeded second or third in the Western Conference. The Mavs
get No. 2 if the Lakers lose their finale against the Kings later Wednesday.
Dallas would be No. 3 if Los Angeles wins; the teams actually would have the
same record, but the Lakers own the tiebreaker. Whoever finishes third will open
against Portland. The second seed will play either New Orleans or Memphis,
whichever finishes seventh.
The Grizzlies were going to settle that with its finale against the Clippers
in Los Angeles later Wednesday. The Hornets would be No. 7 if the Grizzlies
lose, No. 8 if the Grizzlies win. Whoever winds up eighth will open against
top-seeded San Antonio.
Considering all the scenarios, both teams came in focused mostly on trying
to feel better about themselves going into the postseason. Dallas had lost nine
straight to West playoff teams, and New Orleans had lost its last two games by
12 and 22 points.
The Hornets had the better start, but the Mavericks took it to them in the
second half. Using a newfound intensity on defense and Nowitzki’s shooting
touch, Dallas scored the first seven points to grab the lead and kept building
on it.
New Orleans scored only 13 points in the quarter, just one more than
Nowitzki. The Mavericks went into the fourth quarter leading by 12. Then Jason
Terry(notes) hit a pair of quick 3-pointers and the result was never again in doubt.
The Hornets wound up scoring just 28 in the second half, letting the Mavs
roll to their most lopsided win of the year.
Nowitzki made 10 of 21 shots on his way to his most points in nearly a
month. He was four shy of his season best when he went out for good with about
six minutes left. His 32 points came in 31 minutes.
J.J. Barea(notes) scored 14 points, Terry had 13 and Jason Kidd(notes) had 12 points and
eight assists. Shawn Marion(notes) added 10 points, eight rebounds and four assists.
While the Hornets didn’t get the feel-good performance they wanted, at least
they got some rest. No starter played more than 26 minutes.
Jarrett Jack(notes) led New Orleans with 22 points. Marco Belinelli(notes) had 14 points
and Chris Paul(notes) had seven points and eight assists.
Dallas guard Roddy Beaubois, who had started the last 26 games, came off the
bench—then sprained his left foot in the second quarter and didn’t return.
X-rays showed no break, which is significant because a fracture in that foot
kept him from making his season debut until Feb. 16.
Peja Stojakovic(notes) was not with the Mavs for personal reasons. He’s expected
back for the playoff opener.
NOTES: Before tipoff, Dallas backup center Brendan Haywood(notes) spoke to the
crowd, saying, “Y’all are the best fans. We expect the same thing in the
playoffs. Actually, the playoffs start tonight.” … The Mavs actually clinched
at least the No. 3 spot with about three minutes left, when Oklahoma City lost.
… New Orleans knew it would be seventh or eighth, but had four potential
first-round foes. … This was the 399th consecutive regular-season sellout for
Dallas.
Original post:
Mavs rip Hornets, await 1st-round foes (AP)