Jason and the Mavericks got their revenge against the Utah Jazz for last month’s tough loss, shooting a blistering 50.6 percent from the field to pull off the 115-108 victory.
The Mavs got a game they needed to have, picking up the pace and outrunning the Jazz to end a four-game skid.
J-Kidd helped the team to get aggressive, as his team-high 15 assists spread the ball around to open players and got the ball movement going early. Great on the break as always, Jason pushed the Mavs up the court, helping them to get 23 fast break points.
In a tough game where there were 16 lead changes and 12 ties entering the 4th quarter, the team needed all of Jason’s veteran leadership, as Carlisle told the Star-Telegram.
“Look, it’s a game we had to get. Our veteran guys showed major-league guts. Utah was firing on all cylinders offensively and our guys, Jason Kidd, Jason Terry and Dirk just made play after play, offensively and defensively, down the stretch.”
ATTACKING THE BASKET
Aggressiveness was the key to the Mavericks victory, as the team’s 40 points in the paint prove.
Jason displayed that aggressiveness all night, finishing with a team best +21 with 11 points, 7 boards, and 4 steals. He talked about the team forcing their way to the basket with the Dallas News:
“Make or miss, we attacked the basket and got some second and third opportunities. That’s something we have to continue to keep doing.”
NEXT UP
The Mavericks head on the road, which is a place they haven’t fared exactly well. Having lost their last 4 games away from the friendly confines of American Airlines Center by an average of 14.2 points, the Mavs look to change that trend with a victory over the 76ers on Monday, which takes place at 11 am.
Jason talked about playing the 76ers with the Dallas News:
“We’ve just got to take one game at a time, focus on Philly and make sure we bring some warm clothes. It’s cold where we’re going.”
RELATED STORIES
Jazz at Mavericks Boxscore (NBA.com, Jan. 17th, 2009)
http://www.nba.com/games/20090117/UTADAL/boxscore.html
Dirk Nowitzki helps Mavericks hold off Jazz (Star-Telegram, Jan. 18th, 2009)
http://www.star-telegram.com/287/story/1150181.html
Dallas Mavericks end skid, hope to build on win vs. Jazz (Dallas News, Jan. 18th, 2009)
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/basketball/mavs/stories/011809dnspomavslede.4891cdb.html
For Dallas Mavericks, travel hasn’t been pleasure (Dallas News, Jan. 19th, 2009)
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/basketball/mavs/stories/011909dnspomavslede.3b75494.html