DENVER -- Shawn Marion is pretty sure his lower back tightened up just before tip-off because he was overcompensating for a sore groin.
Marion said he tweaked the groin during Sunday's practice.
"It was bothering me a lot," he said.
The back started acting up this afternoon. It got worse during warmups, making Marion a last-minute scratch.
Marion doesn't believe the injuries will be long-term issues. He's hoping the ailments are nothing that an All-Star weekend spent relaxing on a Mexican beach can't heal.
Marion said he tweaked the groin during Sunday's practice.
"It was bothering me a lot," he said.
The back started acting up this afternoon. It got worse during warmups, making Marion a last-minute scratch.
Marion doesn't believe the injuries will be long-term issues. He's hoping the ailments are nothing that an All-Star weekend spent relaxing on a Mexican beach can't heal.
DENVER -- The white flag's name is Matt Carroll, who started the fourth quarter along with four other down-the-bench dudes.
For some reason, Carmelo Anthony was on the court to begin the quarter. Denver coach George Karl wisely subbed for his star, who had missed the previous eight games with an ankle injury, after a couple of minutes.
If JJ Barea gets hot, the Mavs might be able to lose by less than 30. Stay tuned.
For some reason, Carmelo Anthony was on the court to begin the quarter. Denver coach George Karl wisely subbed for his star, who had missed the previous eight games with an ankle injury, after a couple of minutes.
If JJ Barea gets hot, the Mavs might be able to lose by less than 30. Stay tuned.
Mavs' defense getting progressively worse
February, 9, 2010
Feb 9
9:56
PM CT
DENVER -- The Nuggets scored 32 points in the first quarter.
They scored 33 points in the second quarter.
They scored 38 points in the third quarter.
Do I hear 40?
They scored 33 points in the second quarter.
They scored 38 points in the third quarter.
Do I hear 40?
DENVER -- Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway, the NFL comeback king, provided some entertainment during the timeout by firing a couple of passes to the Nuggets' mascot.
Rocky, who is some sort of yellow furry creature, made a pretty nice catch on the second one after running about a 20-yard crossing route. Of course, the dude danced like he just caught a Super Bowl-clinching touchdown pass.
Then along came Jason Terry with a textbook form tackle.
Hey, the Mavs will take their stops any way they can get 'em.
In other news, the Nuggets are clinging to a 30-point lead.
Rocky, who is some sort of yellow furry creature, made a pretty nice catch on the second one after running about a 20-yard crossing route. Of course, the dude danced like he just caught a Super Bowl-clinching touchdown pass.
Then along came Jason Terry with a textbook form tackle.
Hey, the Mavs will take their stops any way they can get 'em.
In other news, the Nuggets are clinging to a 30-point lead.
DENVER -- You could call this improvement.
The Mavs allowed 70 points in the first half last night, their worst for any half in over a year. The Nuggets have only scored 65 in the first two quarters.
To make matters worse, the Mavs keep chipping paint off the Pepsi Center rims. They're firing away at a 32-percent clip.
Nuggets 65, Mavs 39 at halftime.
The Mavs allowed 70 points in the first half last night, their worst for any half in over a year. The Nuggets have only scored 65 in the first two quarters.
To make matters worse, the Mavs keep chipping paint off the Pepsi Center rims. They're firing away at a 32-percent clip.
Nuggets 65, Mavs 39 at halftime.
DENVER -- We got a glimpse of the good, ol' version of Josh Howard in last night's win over Golden State.
The guy we've seen most of the season showed up in Denver.
Howard has four points (1-4 FG) and a whopping one rebound in 16 first-half minutes. Rick Carlisle gave Howard a seat on the bench after Denver guard Ty Lawson outhustled him to a loose ball.
The guy we've seen most of the season showed up in Denver.
Howard has four points (1-4 FG) and a whopping one rebound in 16 first-half minutes. Rick Carlisle gave Howard a seat on the bench after Denver guard Ty Lawson outhustled him to a loose ball.
DENVER -- The Mavs managed to come back from a double-digit deficit last night in Oakland.
Don't see it happening in Denver less than 24 hours later.
It's a 48-27 game with six minutes remaining in the second quarter. The Mavs' minds might already be on All-Star weekend. Their legs look like they were left by the bay.
Don't see it happening in Denver less than 24 hours later.
It's a 48-27 game with six minutes remaining in the second quarter. The Mavs' minds might already be on All-Star weekend. Their legs look like they were left by the bay.
DENVER -- Dirk Nowitzki, considering how the Mavs could possibly win the butt end of a back-to-back in Denver, came to a conclusion.
"We're going to need our bench," Dirk said.
That message apparently didn't get across to the Mavs' reserves. The depleted bench -- Josh Howard had to start due to Shawn Marion's back problems -- has a grand total of one bucket midway through the second quarter.
Bench scoring: Nuggets 15, Mavs 2.
Total scoring: Nuggets 41, Mavs 27.
"We're going to need our bench," Dirk said.
That message apparently didn't get across to the Mavs' reserves. The depleted bench -- Josh Howard had to start due to Shawn Marion's back problems -- has a grand total of one bucket midway through the second quarter.
Bench scoring: Nuggets 15, Mavs 2.
Total scoring: Nuggets 41, Mavs 27.
DENVER -- The Mavericks had the Clippers' playoff series win over the Nuggets several years ago in their minds when they signed Quinton Ross.
Ross harassed Carmelo Anthony throughout that series, holding him to numbers well below his norm.
Melo might have been reminded of that series a moment ago, when Ross drew a charge on him, sending the Nuggets star to the bench with two fouls.
Ross harassed Carmelo Anthony throughout that series, holding him to numbers well below his norm.
Melo might have been reminded of that series a moment ago, when Ross drew a charge on him, sending the Nuggets star to the bench with two fouls.
DENVER -- The Mavs' defensive dominance in the fourth quarter of last night's win over the Warriors didn't have a carryover effect.
The Nuggets shot 59 percent from the floor in the first quarter, building a 32-21 lead.
Nene (12 points, 4-5 FG) did a bunch of the damage. The Mavs actually did a decent job on Carmelo Anthony, who has double-teamed several times. Melo scored six points on 2-of-5 shooting.
The offense isn't coming easily on the other end. The Mavs are shooting 33 percent from the floor.
The Nuggets shot 59 percent from the floor in the first quarter, building a 32-21 lead.
Nene (12 points, 4-5 FG) did a bunch of the damage. The Mavs actually did a decent job on Carmelo Anthony, who has double-teamed several times. Melo scored six points on 2-of-5 shooting.
The offense isn't coming easily on the other end. The Mavs are shooting 33 percent from the floor.
DENVER -- Drew Gooden isn't having any more success defending Nene than Eduardo Nahera did.
Nene is now 4-of-4 from the floor for 10 points.
At least the Mavs have managed to cool down Malik Allen, who is stuck on four points.
Nene is now 4-of-4 from the floor for 10 points.
At least the Mavs have managed to cool down Malik Allen, who is stuck on four points.
DENVER -- It should come as no surprise that Eduardo Najera is having trouble defending Nene.
Nene, who dominated home games during the Mavs-Nuggets playoff series last season, blew by Najera on the baseline for two easy buckets. Nene has outscored the Mavs, 4-3, three minutes into the game.
A bit of a surprise: Malik Allen also has four points.
Not exactly a great start for the visitors.
Nene, who dominated home games during the Mavs-Nuggets playoff series last season, blew by Najera on the baseline for two easy buckets. Nene has outscored the Mavs, 4-3, three minutes into the game.
A bit of a surprise: Malik Allen also has four points.
Not exactly a great start for the visitors.
DENVER -- The Mavericks won't have Shawn Marion to match up with Carmelo Anthony.
Marion is out due to lower back tightness. His back must have locked up on him during pregame. He looked fine while walking to the court about 90 minutes before tipoff.
Josh Howard, who had a season-high 25 points last night, takes his place in the starting lineup.
That means the Mavs are down two starters. The last time that was the case Dallas rolled to a franchise-record 50-point win over the Knicks.
Of course, the Nuggets ain't the Knicks.
Marion is out due to lower back tightness. His back must have locked up on him during pregame. He looked fine while walking to the court about 90 minutes before tipoff.
Josh Howard, who had a season-high 25 points last night, takes his place in the starting lineup.
That means the Mavs are down two starters. The last time that was the case Dallas rolled to a franchise-record 50-point win over the Knicks.
Of course, the Nuggets ain't the Knicks.
DENVER -- Eduardo Najera will be the Mavericks' starting center for the second straight night.
It's not an assignment the 6-8 veteran earned with his performance. He was a three-trillionaire in last night's win against the Warriors.
In other words, Najera played three minutes and didn't record a single stat.
Coach Rick Carlisle wants to keep Drew Gooden (24 points, 10 rebounds vs. Warriors) in a reserve role.
It's not an assignment the 6-8 veteran earned with his performance. He was a three-trillionaire in last night's win against the Warriors.
In other words, Najera played three minutes and didn't record a single stat.
Coach Rick Carlisle wants to keep Drew Gooden (24 points, 10 rebounds vs. Warriors) in a reserve role.
DENVER -- The Mavericks arrived at their hotel at about 4 a.m. this morning. Or 15 hours before tip-off.
The Denver Nuggets are tough to beat at home, where they are 22-4 this season, no matter what. It's almost impossible to win at the Pepsi Center on the butt end of a back-to-back. And that's especially true if you expend as much energy as the Mavs did to come back against Golden State last night.
"It’s probably one of the tougher ones," Rick Carlisle said of the West coast/Denver back-to-back. "But, hey, a lot of teams in the West have to do it. You’ve got to accept it and I think you have to embrace the challenge. If you just talk about why it’s so tough, it’s going to be awful hard to win."
You want hard to win? Only one of the last 22 Nuggets foes that played on the West Coast the previous night have won at the Pepsi Center.
The Denver Nuggets are tough to beat at home, where they are 22-4 this season, no matter what. It's almost impossible to win at the Pepsi Center on the butt end of a back-to-back. And that's especially true if you expend as much energy as the Mavs did to come back against Golden State last night.
"It’s probably one of the tougher ones," Rick Carlisle said of the West coast/Denver back-to-back. "But, hey, a lot of teams in the West have to do it. You’ve got to accept it and I think you have to embrace the challenge. If you just talk about why it’s so tough, it’s going to be awful hard to win."
You want hard to win? Only one of the last 22 Nuggets foes that played on the West Coast the previous night have won at the Pepsi Center.
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Tim MacMahon
Tim MacMahon joined ESPNDallas.com in September 2009. Tim covers the Cowboys and Mavericks. He has covered the local sports scene from high schools to colleges to pros during his six-year tenure at The Dallas Morning News. MacMahon is a graduate of UNT.
Marc Stein
Marc Stein began writing for ESPN.com in 2000 and signed on full-time in 2002 as Senior NBA Writer. He also makes regular appearances on "SportsCenter," "NBA Shootaround," "NBA Fastbreak," "NBA Coast To Coast," ESPNEWS, ESPN "First Take" and ESPN Radio.
Jeff Caplan
Jeff Caplan joined ESPNDallas.com in December 2009. Jeff covers the Mavericks, Stars and colleges. He has a wealth of experience in the area, covering multiple beats in his 11-plus years with the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
Jeff "Skin" Wade
Jeff Wade joined ESPNDallas.com in November 2009. He is one half of "The Ben & Skin Show," heard weekdays from 11a-2p on 103.3 FM ESPN.
