For the fifth straight time, J-Kidd notched a double-digit assist total, and the Mavs moved closer to securing the seventh playoff spot with a win Wednesday night.

Dallas dominated the Utah Jazz, 130-101, using strong defense and quick ball movement, and scored more than 125 points for the second straight game — the first time that’s happened in the Big D since 2004. In the process, the Mavericks pulled into a tie with the Jazz in the postseason standings for the 7th spot in the West.

A season-high 16 steals highlighted the Mavs defensive intensity, led by No.2 hounding Deron Williams to disrupt the Jazz’s offensive flow.

Jason, who finished with five points, 10 assists, and six boards, talked with the Mavs Blog about how his team is peaking at the right time:

“We’re starting to play some pretty good basketball here late in the season. There’s no better time than right now to start getting ready for that next step, and that’s the playoffs.”

NEXT UP
The Mavs face the New Orleans Hornets Friday night at 7:30 pm CST.

After a loss to the Suns Wednesday night, the Hornets are now only one game ahead of the Mavs for the 6th playoff spot. With back-to-back games against each other coming up, sweeping the two-game series would go a long way towards the Mavs clinching a higher playoff seed.

RELATED STORIES
Jazz 101, Mavericks 130 (ESPN.com, Apr. 8th, 2009)
http://espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=290408006
Dirk steps up against Jazz to deliver Mavs the West’s last playoff spot (ESPN.com, Apr. 8th, 2009)
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=290408006
Mavs just might be peaking at the perfect time (Mavs Blog, Apr. 9th, 2009)
http://mavsblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2009/04/mavs-just-might-be-peaking-at-the-perfec.html
Mavs 130, Utah 101: A Ninth-Straight Playoff Year- But Bigger Goals (Dallasbasketball.com, Apr. 9th, 2009)
http://www.dallasbasketball.com/fullColumn.php?id=1502