Final
Mavericks pay a visit to Pistons
Dec 17, 2014 - 3:36 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Dallas Mavericks will try to sweep a short road trip against some of the worst in the Eastern Conference Wednesday night when they travel to The Palace of Auburn Hills to meet the Detroit Pistons.The Mavs toppled the New York Knicks on Tuesday night, then face the Pistons. Save for the Philadelphia 76ers, those two squads own the worst records in the Eastern Conference.
On Tuesday, at Madison Square Garden, Dirk Nowitzki registered 16 points with five rebounds and five assists to lead a balanced effort in the Mavericks' 107-87 win.
Monta Ellis and Chandler Parsons scored 14 and 13 points, respectively, while Devin Harris tallied 11 points off the bench and J.J. Barea added 10 in a reserve role for the Mavs.
Tyson Chandler, who was acquired by Dallas along with Raymond Felton in an offseason trade with the Knicks, notched eight points and pulled down a game- high 14 rebounds in his return to Madison Square Garden.
"To get a positive response (from the fans) felt great because I feel that way about them," Chandler said of his return.
Dallas came out firing on all cylinders in the first quarter. The Mavs shot at a scorching 73-percent clip, including a 57-percent rate from 3-point range, leading by as many as 19 and taking a 36-24 lead into the second.
The Mavs return home Saturday for a huge matchup with Texas rivals, the defending champion San Antonio Spurs.
After a two-game winning streak, during a western road no less, the Pistons crashed back to earth in the finale of the odyssey Monday night. Detroit lost to the Los Angeles Clippers, 113-91.
The Pistons committed 18 turnovers and trailed by as many as 27 in this one. The two-game winning streak came to a crashing halt for a team that dropped 13 in a row before its spurt of good play.
Jodie Meeks netted a game-high 20 points while Andre Drummond donated 18 points and 13 rebounds in a losing cause. Greg Monroe finished with 15 points and eight boards.
"We couldn't get stops," Pistons head coach Stan Van Gundy said. "They tore our defense apart. They're a good offensive team. They were at a quicker pace than we were defensively."
The Pistons have three of their next four in The Palace.
The Mavs have owned this matchup in recent history. Dallas has won five straight and 10 of the last 11. The Mavs have won three in a row in Detroit and five of their last six.
Dec 17 9:49 PM- DALLAS: 83
DETROIT: 73
End of 3rd
Dec 17 9:17 PM - DALLAS: 53
DETROIT: 51
Halftime
Dec 17 8:36 PM - DALLAS: 32
DETROIT: 30
End of 1st
Dec 17 8:05 PM - DALLAS: 0
DETROIT: 3
1st Quarter - 11:46
Dec 17 7:41 PM
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