Streak at 7, Mavs move back to second
BOSTON -- Remember that six-game losing skid, the dread and the slippage from second to fifth in the Western Conference standings?
Ancient history.
The Dallas Mavericks' 101-97 win at Boston Celtics Friday night, combined with the San Antonio Spurs' win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday, vaulted Dallas back into second place in the West. The Mavs' seventh consecutive win moved them to 34-15 and a half-game ahead of the Lakers, seven games back of the Spurs.
The win over Boston, Dallas' second of the season -- once with Caron Butler and once without -- also gave the Mavs 19 wins against teams with winning record, tied for best in the league with Spurs. Dallas is now 4-0 against the East's top two teams, Boston and Miami Heat. They have a winning record against each division leader except the Chicago Bulls (0-2) and San Antonio, but their two losses in three games to the Spurs both came with Dirk Nowitzki sidelined by a sprained right knee.
"At this point we've been beaten the top of the top," center Tyson Chandler said. "The thing we have to do is continue to be consistent. I love the way we're playing right now. We're playing great basketball at both ends of the floor."
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.
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Play Podcast ESPN NBA analyst Jalen Rose joins Fitzsimmons & Durrett to talk about the NBA playoffs.
Play Podcast Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle gives his take on the contrasting styles of the Pacers and Knicks, Carmelo Anthony, Bulls-Heat, Tom Thibodeau, the state of the West and more.
Play Podcast Chuck Cooperstein joins Fitzsimmons & Durrett to talk about who he would rather have if forced to choose between Dwight Howard and Chris Paul.
Play Podcast Tim MacMahon joins Fitzsimmons & Durrett to discuss the possibility of Chris Paul joining the Mavericks and break down what kind of pitch Mark Cuban would have to make to the NBA's best point guard.
Play Podcast ESPN.com senior NBA writer Marc Stein joins Fitzsimmons & Durrett to touch on the storylines in the NBA playoffs and offer a Mavs perspective.
Play Podcast Rick Carlisle joins Chuck Cooperstein and Tim MacMahon to discuss the Mavericks' disappointing season and what needs to happen for them to get back to the playoffs.
Play Podcast Donnie Nelson joins Chuck Cooperstein and Tim MacMahon to discuss the Mavericks' season and the importance of this summer.
Play Podcast Rick Carlisle joins Galloway & Company to discuss the Mavericks playing after being eliminated from playoff contention, whom he wants to keep for next season and much more.
TEAM LEADERS
| POINTS | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Dirk Nowitzki
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| OTHER LEADERS | ||||||||||||
| Rebounds | S. Marion | 7.8 | ||||||||||
| Assists | D. Collison | 5.1 | ||||||||||
| Steals | D. Collison | 1.2 | ||||||||||
| Blocks | E. Brand | 1.3 | ||||||||||
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