NBA Preview: Mavs, Spurs In Lone Star State Showdown

Dallas Mavericks (26-11) at San Antonio Spurs (33-6)

For the last 10 years, these two in-state rivals have been battling for top spot in the Southwest Division. Tonight, things will be a little different — the Mavs will just be looking to keep pace with the Spurs. And they’ll have to do it without the services of Dirk Nowitzki.

Nowitzki missed his eighth straight game with a sprained knee Tuesday as Dallas fell 102-89 at Indiana. The Mavericks are now 2-6 without Nowitzki, who is averaging 24.1 points per game. It’s clear the Mavs miss Disco Dirk’s scoring punch — they eclipsed 100 points in 13 of 16 with him in the lineup this season, but have been held to fewer than 100 in six of eight without him. That includes a 99-93 loss to the Spurs at the end of December.

San Antonio, meanwhile, has won four straight and eight of 10 to increase its lead over Dallas to six games. While the Mavericks are waiting for someone to step up their play, the Spurs seem to be getting contributions from everyone.

The scoring balance on the Spurs is downright scary. While the big three have been doing their usual thing — Manu Ginobili is averaging 19.1 ppg, Tony Parker 17.1 and Tim Duncan 13.7 — it’s the cast of reserves that have staked San Antonio to top spot in the Western Conference. In addition to the big three, the Spurs have six players averaging seven points or more (Richard jefferson, George Hill, Gary Neal, Matt Bonner, DeJuan Blair and James Anderson) and can confidently go 11 deep on the bench. The 11th man, former European league standout Tiago Splitter, is averaging a shade over 11 minutes per game as he adjusts to the NBA game.

The Mavericks don’t have a similar balance, thanks in large part to the injury bug. Aside from Nowitzki, the Mavs also lost Caron Butler for a knee injury and are still waiting for Rod Beaubois to return from a fractured left foot. As a result, players have been asked to step up and provide in departments they’re not necessarily fit for, like Shawn Marion. Marion’s a talented rebounded and high-energy athlete, but he’s not a scorer — and that’s what Dallas has asked of him in temporarily replacing Nowitzki. Marion is averaging 11.7 points per game in 27:25 per game, fine numbers for a fourth or fifth scorer, but not a No. 1 guy.

Mavericks Notes:

— Beaubois (broken foot) hasn’t been cleared to practice. He was injured in August and no official timetable has been set for his return.

Spurs Notes:

— G/F James Anderson suffered a stress fracture in his right foot on Nov. 10 and is expected to be out until February.