--Shots at the end of a quarter are usually forgotten over the course of a season, unless they come at the end of the fourth. But those points are significant, often shifting momentum and the lead. In two of Dallas' losses, its opponent nailed a 3-pointer on its last possession in five of the eight quarters. Three times it cost the Mavericks the lead and another shot forced overtime. "They're always important," Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said. "Closing quarters is a big part of success in this league, particularly when you give up a 3-point basket when you've really fought to hang in.
"Sometimes an offensive player just makes a great play. When that happens, you tip your hat. If you've done what you can do, then you've done what you can do, but the breakdowns are the things we have to avoid. And we're going to keep working on all that stuff."
--The Mavericks went into Sunday shooting 80.8 percent (185-229) from the line. Dallas is perennially one of the league's best free throw shooting teams.
Since 2000-01, the first of nine consecutive 50-win seasons, the Mavericks have shot an NBA-best 80.3 percent, have led the league four times (2001-02, 2002-03, 2003-04 and 2007-08) and have finished in at least the top six each year.
"We're a good free throw shooting team," coach Rick Carlisle said. "We've been a good crunch-time free throw shooting team.
Dirk Nowitzki has shot 87.7 percent (seventh in NBA) and has hit 4,432 free throws (fourth) over the last nine years.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "He's such a great offensive player and he's such a great shooter that you know if he's getting the touches and he's in rhythm, he's going to make some shots." -- Coach Rick Carlisle on Dirk Nowitzki scoring nine of his 25 points in the last six minutes Sunday at Detroit.
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