Final: Mavs 106, Timberwolves 94

Box Score | Highlights

Behind the Box Score

The Mavs went small for a period of time in the second quarter, rolling out Chandler Parsons at the 4 alongside JaVale McGee at the 5. Dallas scored 1.238 points per possession in the second frame, a huge improvement after somewhat of a stale opening stanza in which Dallas scored 0.958 points per possession.

The Mavs’ “Pace21” offense worked beautifully tonight, generating 1.27 points per possession when the club got the ball across midcourt in three seconds or less. When it took four seconds or more, Dallas scored just 0.77 points per possession. Given there are typically between 90-100 possessions in a game, a half-point margin is significant when it comes to the difference over 48 minutes.

This was the fourth straight overtime game at the AAC. That must be some sort of record. I know I’m the stat guy, but not even I can figure it out.

Notebook

  • Parsons had one of his more productive offensive outings of the season, finishing with 30 points to lead the Mavericks, also setting a new season-high mark in the process. He looked aggressive from the opening tip, attacking the rim at every opportunity. When he can play major minutes at the 4-spot — or at the 3 in a wide-open offense — he becomes the dynamic player we saw last season. He appears to be returning closer and closer to his form last spring, when he was really blossoming as a player.

  • It’s uncanny how the Mavericks consistently erupt in crunch time. Dallas trailed by 3 when we entered the clutch tonight, and with under a minute left in OT the Mavs built a lead which reached 11 points. When the game clock winds down, the Mavericks turn up. Death, taxes, and good crunch-time basketball.
  • With no Raymond Felton, the Mavs’ small-ball second unit included rookie Justin Anderson alongside J.J. Barea, Devin Harris, Parsons, and JaVale McGee. Anderson’s playing time has been on an upward curve this month, as the Mavs’ volume of games has increased dramatically. But this was the first time I can remember him playing key minutes in a game in which the healthy Dallas starters were all playing. The Mavericks could certainly use his athleticism, explosiveness, and defense, so if Anderson can impress with his play on both ends, playing time shouldn’t be hard to come by.

  • With no Dirk Nowitzki, Charlie Villanueva got the start at the power forward position. Villanueva has struggled from the field lately, but he hit his first shot of the game and scored 6 points in the first quarter, finishing the game with 14 points, his most since Dec. 23. Nowitzki missed the game with a right knee effusion — a.k.a. “water on the knee,” or swelling — and his timetable for return is unknown. The vibe from Rick Carlisle is that it will be a day-to-day thing, with Dallas learning more about his condition in the coming few days as the swelling either subsides or continues. At any rate, Villanueva is likely to see the starting 4 minutes in Nowitzki’s stead.

  • You see something new every time you watch a game. Tonight, both teams were whistled for a pair of delay of game violations, resulting in technical foul free throws. The Mavs’ second infraction came as Anderson left his spot on the block while McGee was at the charity stripe, thinking he was about to be subbed out of the game. Whether or not the offensive side should be required to keep two players on the block is better left for another discussion, but nevertheless, it cost the Mavs a point… and they’d already scored one themselves off a T earlier in the same quarter.

    What’s Next

    The Mavs (25-19) play the Oklahoma City Thunder (31-12) Friday at American Airlines Center. Tip-off is at 7:30 p.m. Central.

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