Game Night: Calderon, Dalembert Return to Dallas with New York State of Mind

 

 

DALLAS, TX — Tonight, the Dallas Mavericks (10-5) will play host to the New York Knicks (4-11) at the American Airlines Center in a nationally televised game on ESPN. (Note: Early tip-off tonight at 6:30 PM Central Time.)

The Mavs will look to put an end to their two-game losing streak, their first of the season, before heading into the Thanksgiving holiday. The Mavs gladly welcome one of the worst road teams in the NBA (1-6) to town. The Knicks are coming off a 5-point defeat in Houston against the Rockets and could be without the services of Carmelo Anthony after he left the first half of Monday night’s game with back spasms.

 

	Mavericks Projected Starters	Knicks Projected Starters
PG	Jameer Nelson 7.6 PPG, 4.6 APG, 2.4 RPG	Jose Calderon 6.0 PPG, 4.0 APG, 2.0 RPG
SG	Monta Ellis 19.8 PPG, 4.7 APG, 2.7 RPG	Iman Shumpert 11.6 PPG, 3.5 APG, 3.9 RPG
SF	Chandler Parsons 14.2 PPG, 2.2 APG, 4.7 RPG	Quincy Acy 5.1 PPG, 1.3 APG, 6.0 RPG
PF	Dirk Nowitzki 19.0 PPG, 2.1 APG, 5.5 RPG	Amar’e Stoudemire 11.7 PPG, 1.1 APG, 7.4 RPG
C	Tyson Chandler 10.3 PPG, 1.3 APG, 10.3 RPG	Samuel Dalembert 3.3 PPG, 1.4 APG, 4.5 RPG

 

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The Return

Tonight marks the first game back in Dallas for former Mavericks Jose Calderon, Samuel Dalembert and Shane Larkin. This will be just the second game of the season for Calderon, who missed the first 13 games with a calf strain. In Calderon’s absence, former Maverick draftee Shane Larkin filled in decently in his first stint as a starter, posting 6.0 points and 2.9 assists per game on 40.6 percent shooting in 12 games. Meanwhile, former Mavs starting center Dalembert is having one his worst seasons as a pro, averaging career lows in points (3.3), rebounds (4.5) and shooting percentage (45.1).

 

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New York State of Mind

While the Knicks continue to carry the big, flashy names, their play on the court has been anything but. Carmelo Anthony continues to be a high volume shooter  at 18.4 attempts per game, but is having his lowest scoring output (23.2 PPG) in three years.  Amar’e Stoudemire is no longer Mr. “Stat.”  At 32 years-old, he’s succumbed to the role of sixth man in New York (11.7 points, 7.4 rebounds, 23.0 minutes) and is playing nothing close to the $23.4 million he is due this season.  First year head coach Derek Fisher has teamed up President Phil Jackson in an attempt to install Tex Winter’s triangle offense, but has all but failed, leaving the Knicks with 25^th best offensive in the league. And then there’s JR Smith who continues to be, well, JR Smith (10.0 PPG, 31.8% on three-point field goals).

 

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Injuries

Mavs: Felton tweaked his right ankle during Tuesday’s practice, Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News reports.  He is likely out tonight.

Knicks: Carmelo Anthony (back) is considered doubtful to play Wednesday against the Mavericks, Anthony Slater of The Oklahoman reports.

 

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All-Time Series

The Mavs lead the all-time head-to-head series versus the Knicks 34-32 (66 games). The Mavs and Knicks spilt the season series last year; including the memorable, last second game winner by Dirk Nowitzki on February 24, 2014 at Madison Square Garden, despite 44 points from Carmelo Anthony.

 

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Prediction

Look for the Mavs to get back to their dominating ways, and another 30-plus blowout performance, with Carmelo Anthony expected to be out.

 

Team Comparison	Mavericks	Knicks
Points	109.3 (1st)	94.8 (25th)
Rebounds	41.2 (23rd)	38.4 (28th)
Assists	24.1 (6th)	21.4 (14th)
Points Allowed	99.6 (15th)	99.0 (13th)

 

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Dirk Game Winner versus the New York Knicks on February 24, 2014

 

 

Photo Credit: Anthony Gruppuso/USA TODAY Sports)