Dallas (3-1) at New Orleans (1-3)

Fair Currently: New Orleans, LA
Temp: 65° F
  • Game info: 9:30 pm EST Wed Nov 4, 2009
  • TV: ESPN

By MATT BEARDMORE, STATS Writer Nov 4, 1:24 am EST

Preview | Box Score | Recap

Coming off a record-breaking fourth-quarter performance, Dirk Nowitzki(notes) will try to help the Dallas Mavericks snap a four-game road losing streak against the Southwest Division rival New Orleans Hornets.

The way New Orleans has been playing defense, Dallas appears to have a good chance to end that skid.

The Mavericks look to ride Nowitzki to their fourth straight victory Wednesday night when they visit the struggling Hornets.

Nowitzki scored 40 points, including a team-record 29 in the fourth quarter, as Dallas (3-1) rallied from a 16-point deficit with 8:17 remaining to defeat Utah 96-85 on Tuesday night.

After totaling 52 points in the first three quarters, the Mavericks outscored the Jazz 44-18 in the fourth.

“It was an ugly game,” said Nowitzki, who hit 12 of 22 shots and made 15 of 16 from the foul line. “We couldn’t get anything going for three quarters. We were slow. We were looking for a spark offensively and I was able to do that tonight.”

Mark Aguirre held the Mavericks’ previous franchise record for points in any quarter with 24 against Denver on March 24, 1984.

“Twenty-five years in this, I’ve seen a lot of amazing things happen,” coach Rick Carlisle said. “To be honest, it wasn’t looking great, but we just needed a couple good things to happen offensively for us.”

Nowitzki, averaging 29.8 points this season, has scored 20 or more in 29 straight games - the longest current streak in the NBA.

The eight-time All-Star averaged 25.3 points and 10.3 boards versus New Orleans last season. He could be even more prolific against a Hornets defense that’s allowing 104.8 points per game.

New Orleans (1-3) held opponents to 94.3 points per game last season, the fifth-best mark in the league. There were no signs of that stingy defense Monday, when the Hornets fell 117-11 at New York.

“We played a pretty good game but our biggest issue right now is we can’t stop anybody,” said point guard Chris Paul(notes), who had 32 points and 13 assists while going 12 for 18 from the field.

The Mavericks weren’t able to stop Paul last season as they dropped three of four to the Hornets, including both games in New Orleans.

Paul averaged 33.3 points, 12.5 assists and 8.0 rebounds against Dallas in 2008-09. He had a triple-double in the teams’ first meeting and fell a rebound shy of another one in the last matchup April 12.

“He’s always one of the top players in the league, and we’re going to have our hands full on the road,” Mavericks point guard Jason Kidd(notes) told the team’s official Web site.

Dallas is looking to open 3-0 on the road for the first time since 2002-03. The Mavericks, though, have lost four straight road games against the Hornets since a 105-89 victory on March 27, 2007, in Oklahoma City.

Dallas will get its first look at Emeka Okafor(notes) in a Hornets jersey. Okafor, acquired from Charlotte in the offseason, scored a season-high 24 points with 10 rebounds Monday.

Hornets forward David West(notes), still looking for his first double-double of the season, averaged 25.0 points and 8.0 boards in two home games against Dallas last season.

Since dropping 21 straight to the Mavericks from Feb. 3, 2000-March 27, 2007, the Hornets have won five of eight in this series.

Updated Nov 4, 1:24 am EST
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Team Comparison

Team Record Standings PF PA Road/Home Streak L10
Dallas 10-4 1st Southwest / 4th West 101.4 96.3 Road 5-2 Lost 1 7-3
New Orleans 6-9 4th Southwest / 10th West 99.5 103.1 Home 5-2 Lost 1 4-6

Notes

G Jason Terry finished with 16 points for Dallas, which suffered one of the worst losses in the playoff rivalry. ... Dallas failed to send the Spurs to consecutive home playoff losses for the first time since 2002.

Apr 21, 12:38 am EDT

C Tyson Chandler, who had played just 20 minutes since inflammation in his left ankle forced him out of the Hornets' lineup on March 2, started and logged 27 minutes, scoring six points and pulling down five boards while committing five fouls. Chandler missed all four games against Denver this season, and the teams split 2-2.

Apr 20, 1:52 am EDT
NBA

19 Comments

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  1. GO BACK TO IRELAND STUPID BOSTON KELTICS
    19. Posted by GO BACK TO IRELAND STUPID BOSTON KELTICS Fri Nov 6 12:06am EST

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    Dirk the Jerk is a NAZI
  2. paa
    18. Posted by paa Thu Nov 5 1:17pm EST

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    Good game by coach Scott & his boys.
  3. The Lord Humungus
    17. Posted by The Lord Humungus Thu Nov 5 9:25am EST

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    15. Damp kept us in this game. Watch it next time before commentating.

    12-13. This isn't a Celtics string, so go hump each others legs on a Boston site.

    Last nights loss was ridiculous. Dirk fouled out, so who got the lions share of the shots? A player who shouldn't even be in an NBA uniform: JJ Berea. Beaubois may not be 100% ready, but I'll take his mistakes with his upside over the failed experiment of the Puerto Rican AI. He's just not a good player. He missed 2 free throws at the end, and came nowhere near making anything the rest of the way.

    Marion needs to get in game shape now. His calf injury has kept him shelved all preseason, but right now he's barely a shell of the player he was. His shot is getting blocked more than Shawn Kemp when he weighed 300+.
  4. Jason O
    16. Posted by Jason O Thu Nov 5 9:13am EST

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    First of all, don't knock the Mavs for losing that game. I am a huge Mavs fan but missing free throws happens to every team once in a while. It usually doesn't happen to them but last night it did. New Orleans is one of those teams that you can't let hang around because they have some great players. I do have to say that CP3 is way better than Rondo any given day and I hope he wins his championship so he can shove it in Rondo's face. I can't believe he even said that. He fell into that team. Hell even Jason Kidd could have won a championship with the Celtics as old as he is. Go Mavs. Tear Boston up CP3.
  5. Jeff W
    15. Posted by Jeff W Thu Nov 5 8:36am EST

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    Eric Dampier totally sucks. 'nuff said.
  6. Penny
    14. Posted by Penny Thu Nov 5 3:51am EST

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    excuse me, 10 points a game lol
  7. Penny
    13. Posted by Penny Thu Nov 5 3:50am EST

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    rondo has a ring because he has 3 hall of famers on his team. all he has to do is pass them the ball. you paid 55 million for a guy to pass the ball and score 7 points a game lol. and he isn't 6-0, the celtics are 6-0
  8. Earnest
    12. Posted by Earnest Thu Nov 5 3:06am EST

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    rondo is the man. cp3 is the best PG but he will never have a ring.LOL. rondo has a ring, fat 55 million and a 6-0 record.
  9. Joey
    11. Posted by Joey Thu Nov 5 1:51am EST

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    Whew nice game! Good job CP3! You are way better than Rondo!

    Go Mavs!
  10. Dchase24
    10. Posted by Dchase24 Thu Nov 5 1:07am EST

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    I think Chris Paul proved tonight that he is 1000 times the player and man that Rajon Rondo is...
  11. Obama
    9. Posted by Obama Thu Nov 5 1:06am EST

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    It was a set up....people put too much money on the MAVS!!!! just need to make ONE free throw and the Game's OVER!!!!!
  12. Big Tex
    8. Posted by Big Tex Thu Nov 5 12:54am EST

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    Free throws, Free throws, Free throws. I cannot believe we are first in free throw percentage in the entire league and missed about 5 out of 6 at the end. We blew this game, but I am glad for the Hornets because they need wins like this to stay motivated for the rest of the season. Chris Paul is a one man wrecking crew. He should get MVP honors this year. Mavericks should not hang their heads low. We did not play good, but at least we are competing better than ever now. Go Mavs!!! And don't miss critical free throws no more.
  13. danny
    7. Posted by danny Thu Nov 5 12:18am EST

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    You know this is the first time I can actually say a team gave a game away and its a fact. But hey my Hornets need it , so thanks refs for fouling out Dirk on a cheap call and thanks dallas for missing free throws lol.

    Go hornetsssssssssssssssss!!!
  14. William
    6. Posted by William Wed Nov 4 9:42pm EST

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    dirk will be on tonight.
  15. Nose TC
    5. Posted by Nose TC Wed Nov 4 5:29pm EST

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    Let's go mavs! Let's make some shots and play some D so dirks back won't be so sore from carrying the team!
  16. J.J.
    4. Posted by J.J. Wed Nov 4 12:44pm EST

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    anyone know when howard is coming back?
  17. Wes
    3. Posted by Wes Wed Nov 4 9:08am EST

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    lol 117-11...go mavs!
  18. Wes
    2. Posted by Wes Wed Nov 4 9:08am EST

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    lol 117-11...ouch
  19. Chris P
    1. Posted by Chris P Wed Nov 4 8:53am EST

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    go mavs
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