The Los Angeles Lakers and the Dallas Mavericks have established a rich history over the past decade, but these two rivals are both bringing in new-look rosters into the 2012-13 season. The season opener in Los Angeles is going to be a showcase of the two new rotations, and it will be broadcast for the national audience to see on the first night of the new season.
The Dallas Mavericks were on top of the world following their 2011 NBA Championship, but they came crashing back down to earth last season when they lost in the first round of the playoffs for the fifth time in the last seven years. In the lockout-shortened season, Dirk Nowitzki came in and put up unexpectedly low numbers.
The San Diego Chargers will aim to build on their preseason success when they host a not so equally charged Dallas Cowboys team on Saturday in sunny San Diego.
The Thunder have a 2-0 lead in this series, but in both wins at Oklahoma City the Mavs only lost by a total of 4 points. Kevin Durant struggled with his shot in Game 2, but Russell Westbrook really stepped up with a big scoring night.
While the injury-plagued Magic are locked into the 6th spot in the Eastern Conference the Grizzlies have a lot on the line in this home game.
Both of these teams are squarely into the playoffs, so they are set in that regard. Nevertheless, these two teams also each have something to play for on this shortened season’s last day.
Time is running out for the Portland Trail Blazers who are hoping to grab as many wins in their few remaining games, starting with a big win over the visiting Dallas Mavericks who will play game two of a critical four-game road trip over a five-day span on Friday night.
Until someone knocks them off, the Dallas Mavericks are still the defending NBA Champions. Dallas has struggled all year, and they aren’t even guaranteed a playoff spot quite yet.
By record, the Charlotte Bobcats are the worst team in the league. They have just 16 more games this season and the way they are playing they might not break double digits in wins something every other team has already done – even in a short season that is pretty bad.
The Knicks have a 2.5 game lead over the Bucks, who they beat in their last game, for 8th and final playoff spot in the East, but can they hold on? Amare Stoudemire is out, and may be for the season, and both Jeremy Lin and Carmelo Anthony are questionable for tonight’s game.
It’s a rematch of the 2011 NBA Finals in Miami Thursday night on TNT.
In that game, Dirk Nowitzki had 23 points and 12 rebounds, and Shawn Marion and Jason Terry added 21 points for the Mavericks, who completed a four-game season sweep over the Rockets for the first time since 2002-03.
In the battle of over the Lone Star State, the Dallas Mavericks will be looking to keep from embarking on another losing streak after falling to the Lakers on Wednesday, when they travel south to take on San Antonio on Thursday.
The Dallas Mavericks who have won four in a row, will be well-rested and waiting for the Los Angeles Lakers to roll into the Big D on Wednesday.
While the Mavs have won 3 straight games, including an impressive win over the Spurs in their last game, they have lost 7 straight on the road.
After playing well heading into the All Star break the Mavs have hit the skids, as they have lost 2 straight and 7 of their last 10 games.
