Free throws can make a big difference in close basketball games. Head coach Rick Carlisle doesn’t get fired up about things, but he felt that a lack of foul calls and thus free throws for the Mavericks was worthy of argument.
Ironically, in the end, six free throws, four from Dirk Nowitzki and two from Jason Kidd, would put the final seal on a 108-100 victory over the Sacramento Kings, the 10th in a row for the Mavericks.
With 6:37 remaining in the second quarter, Carlisle was called for two consecutive technical fouls and asked to leave the floor. At that point, the Mavericks had not yet attempted a single free throw, although the Mavs’ would say that the officiating crew missed several calls on Kings’ players who made too much contact with Dirk Nowitzki.
The ejection brought the Mavs a new wave of energy and a buzz that may have been lacking due to Jason Terry’s absence. Terry underwent a surgerial procedure Friday morning to repair a broken orbital bone. The break is on the outer part of the bone, which means it should heal quicker than an interior fracture. If all goes well, Jet could return to action in seven to 10 days.
After a 15-5 run to complete 24 minutes, the Mavs were only looking at a one-point deficit at halftime with a score of 53-52. Rodrique Beaubois finished the half with two 3-pointers, two layups and a free throw, the first of the game for the Mavericks. For the game, Beaubois bucketed 22 points in 24:29 minutes. The 22 was a new career high for the rookie and surpassed his previous high mark of 17 that he set just two days ago. J.J. Barea racked up three of his seven assists during the rally.
Beaubois, Barea and DeShawn Stevenson will try to cover for the injured Terry.
The rally spilled over into the third quarter when the Mavs outscored the Kings 33-19. An immediate dunk by Beaubois set a vigorous tone to the quarter. Seven different men scored in the third, and 10 of the points came from the free throw line.
Nowitzki scored 23 of his team-high 31 points in the second half, and he saved 13 for the fourth when it became a one-basket game with 1:36 to go.
Carlisle’s efforts and emotion did not go to waste as free throws – what he was fighting for - provided the Mavs’ the necessary cushion to win.
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