The Mavericks are making a habit of getting off to slow starts. They did it again Friday at Denver by sending the Nuggets to the free throw line 11 times, a theme that would continue throughout the game.
In the last two games, the Mavs have sent the Spurs and Nuggets to the foul line 60 times for 51 points while they've made just 19 of 21, a disparity that makes it hard to believe they beat the Spurs handily and had several chances to take the game in Denver. "It seemed like they went to the line a hundred times," Mavs forward Dirk Nowitzki said. "We couldn't get there enough."
The line the Mavs did shoot from enough, in fact too much, was the 3-point line. They hoisted 35, a number coach Rick Carlisle said is way too high and one they'll try to bring down with better execution Sunday afternoon in Los Angeles against the winless Clippers.
"When we get behind we spread it out and shoot more 3-pointers," Carlisle said. "We've got to get more of a driving mentality."
NUGGETS 108, MAVERICKS 105: The Mavs launched 35 3-pointers, and while they made 13 of them for a decent percentage, those points were wiped out by Denver's 37 made free throws on 40 attempts. Jason Kidd had 22 points and made six 3-pointers, but he couldn't convert his only free throw attempt, which would have tied the game with 19.9 seconds left. That allowed the other point guard who is back with his old team, Chauncey Billups, to celebrate a victory.
