The fact that the now 54-27 Dallas Mavericks were going to beat the 28-53 LA Clippers was never ever in doubt. The question was how emphatically would they do it and what would the game mean for the Mavs’ playoff seeding.
With a 37-point opening quarter and in the fourth quarter leading by that same number at 106-69 after a DeShawn Stevenson 3-pointer, the win was definitely empathic. With the victory, the Mavs’ will be no lower than the #3 seed in the Western Conference playoffs. If they come out on top in their final regular-season game against the Spurs at home Wednesday, they will be the #2 team.
Shawn Marion returned to the court Monday after missing the previous three games with a strained oblique muscle. He tallied 21 points for the game and 12 in the first half. Marion’s final two points of the half were by far the most memorable. They came as Marion was airborne and Jason Kidd passed him the ball off the backboard for the dunk.
Already leading 64-43 at halftime, the Mavs put another explosive 35-point quarter together in the third. As a result, Dirk Nowitzki, who finished with 25, and Jason Kidd with 12, rested the entire fourth quarter. Every player who dressed saw time on the floor. Caron Butler did not suit up as he was bothered by a strained hip flexor that is not considered serious. Rodrique Beaubois showed off a well-rounded performance in his place with 11 points, six rebounds and five assists in 18:03 minutes. Stevenson recorded 12 points off the bench, a new season high for him.
With four made free throws on the night, Nowitzki’s active team record for consecutive made free throws now stands at 72.
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