Mavs at Suns 8:30 TNT

[FArting]

The Phoenix Suns will wait another week before their big trade acquisition makes his debut. The Dallas Mavericks hope the same is true for them.
While Shaquille O'Neal remains sidelined for the Suns (36-16), the Mavericks (35-17) wait to see if their deal for Jason Kidd can be finalized, leaving their roster in a state of flux Thursday heading into Phoenix.A week after the Suns acquired O'Neal from Miami, the Mavericks are trying to swing their own blockbuster trade before the All-Star break. On Wednesday, it was announced the New Jersey Nets were expected to deal Kidd to the Mavericks along with forward Malik Allen in exchange for Devin Harris, Jerry Stackhouse and reserves DeSagana Diop, Devean George and Maurice Ager, cash and draft picks.The deal hit a snag later Wednesday night, however. George blocked the trade, unwilling to give up his "early Bird rights," a provision earned by being in his second year and on his second contract with the Mavericks."We're not trying to hold things up or be difficult, but just like teams make tough decisions all the time -- about cutting players or making trades -- they do what's best for their team, and it's my obligation to do what's best for Devean," his agent, Mark Bartelstein, said Wednesday night."You don't want to stop teams from doing their business, but we don't feel like it makes sense at this time. He's starting right now and things are going pretty good."George started Wednesday in Dallas' 96-76 win over the Portland Trail Blazers while Diop came off the bench. Harris and Stackhouse were inactive because of injuries, and Ager is in the NBDL.George, struggled through a terrible game -- going 0-for-11 in 33 minutes without a point -- and admitted hearing it from the home fans, who held up signs jeering him for holding up the trade."All the finger-pointing is at me," he said. "I'm the bad guy. I'll take that."Kidd and Allen were with the Nets in Toronto on Wednesday, but inactive.Provided the deal goes through, Kidd will return to the team that chose him second overall in the 1994 draft. Dallas went 36-46 in 1994-95, and traded him early the following season to Phoenix. He's spent the last seven seasons with New Jersey.The 34-year-old Kidd, who is one triple-double shy of 100 for his career, is averaging 11.3 points, 10.4 assists and 8.1 rebounds this season. He's been the constant subject of trade talks after being outspoken about his unhappiness in New Jersey, where the Nets are 23-30.Stackhouse, who believes the Nets will buy out his contract -- allowing him to re-sign with Dallas in a month -- believes the trade of the 24-year-old Harris for the veteran point guard will provide immediate advantages in a tightly contested Western Conference race."I think Devin has a lot of upside, but Jason Kidd is the type of all-league point guard our teams needs," Stackhouse said. "We just need a jolt. Adding a player like him can re-energize a team, hopefully."Dallas is in third place in the Western Conference, 1 1/2 games behind the New Orleans Hornets and one game behind the Suns. The Mavs avoided a third straight loss on Wednesday as Dirk Nowitzki had 37 points and 12 rebounds, and Jason Terry added 24 points."It was a weird day for everybody, having to play a game after all the talk," Nowitzki said. "But everybody was a professional and put on the uniform for the organization."While the Mavericks aren't certain what is going to happen with their possible trade, the Suns are a bit more settled following their big deal.O'Neal worked out before the Suns' 120-118 loss to Golden State on Wednesday, but the 7-foot-1 center said he was going to hold off playing a little longer until after the weekend. O'Neal has played just 32 games -- four since Dec. 28 -- and he has been sidelined since Jan. 21 because of a hip injury."The hip feels pretty good," O'Neal said. "I have to get the wind up a little bit more and get in tune with what's going on. You want to fit in. You want to be a piece of the puzzle that fits in. You don't want to be a piece of the puzzle that's too small or too big. You want to just slide right in like I've been here for a while."Wednesday's loss kept Phoenix from winning its third straight. Amare Stoudemire scored 29 points, but Leandro Barbosa's potential game-winning 3-pointer bounced off the front rim."That's the play I know we can get," D'Antoni said. "He hit a couple of 3s and was pretty hot. He got a good look and it just didn't go in."The Mavericks beat the Suns 108-105 on Dec. 19 for their fifth win in the last seven games between the teams -- including two postseason victories. Dallas has won four of the last six regular-season games in Phoenix.

http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/preview?gameId=280214021

Mavs 108
Suns 114

 

[BeeBeard]

The Mavs have no idea who is even playing for them right now, let alone who should suit up tonight. Dirk will go off tonight, but in general, I think the-trade-that-wasn't has wrecked their chemistry and will lead to an easy Phoenix win.

 

[abomb]

I wonder who suits up for DAL tonight.

 

[Hat]

Yeh I expect a lot of unhappy Dallas players tonight, doubt they will even have 6 or 7 to play.

Suns 120
Dallas 100

 

[Cheesewater]

I wonder who suits up for DAL tonight.

I got a call from Avery Johnson to show up in a blue t-shirt, black shorts and sneaks.

 

[Hat]

lol

 

[green machine]

Whoever decided to give the Suns this game on a back to back after a road game at Golden State is a horrible human being.

That said, the Mavs played last night and may be very shorthanded, so it should be a good game.

 

[green machine]

I got a call from Avery Johnson to show up in a blue t-shirt, black shorts and sneaks.

Are you sure it was Avery Johnson and not a 12 year old boy screaming into the phone?




Sorry, cheap shot.

 

[Cheesewater]

Are you sure it was Avery Johnson and not a 12 year old boy screaming into the phone?

Sorry, cheap shot.

Hey, cheap shot away. I'm a Suns fan.

 

[mjb21aztd]

I think the suns will be very tired from their close loss to the warriors last night, and they lose another close on to the mavricks tonight hope i'm wrong for sure and the suns win though.

Mavs 115

Suns 109

Leading Scorer Amare

 

[Kody Rumin]

I hope they can get that Kidd done this afternoon, or I imagine the Mavs will keep a full roster.

 

[jbeecham]

Even if they don't trade for Kidd.....how are those 5 players gonna feel knowing Dallas is trying to trade them? How will Devean George play after nixing the trade? Or will he even play? I wouldn't be surprised if they buried him on the bench for being an assclown.

 

[Chaplin]

Only Devean George and Diop could play tonight, so it's not that big of a deal.

 

[Skumbag]

wish i could see a couple minutes out of Shaq... this wait is killing me.

 

[Bufalay]

please let Biz Markie put up another 0-11 shooting night tonight.

 

[GorrilaLips]

I'm never going to be one of those people who just say...."easy win" for the suns against teams like Dallas (even with there current disarray).

I'll definitely be listening to this game, GO SUNS!

 

[mojorizen7]

Even if they don't trade for Kidd.....how are those 5 players gonna feel knowing Dallas is trying to trade them? How will Devean George play after nixing the trade? Or will he even play? I wouldn't be surprised if they buried him on the bench for being an assclown.

Or buried him out behind the arena somewhere.

 

[BigShtank]

Will be an interesting first half. I won't watch the second half. It'll be past my bedtime. I effin hate when they are on TNT. Why can't the East game start at 6:30pm their time so ours can start at a normal time? Wait, that'd make too much sense. Sorry I brought it up.

 

[TJ]

Suns are 16-15 in the western conference. By far the worst of any western playoff team. Need to start beating the teams that matter, like the Mavericks.

 

[arwillan]

mavericks 110
suns 108

Dirk

 

[BeeBeard]

In your FACE on that switch, Devean George.


edit: Anybody else notice Amare getting pushed on that dunk?

 

[tobiazz]

They just said the Mavs are too small to match up with the Suns (when Shaq is back). Being a Suns fan for almost 20 years, that just sounds weird.

 

[mjb21aztd]

good start for the suns early, nash is looking good on his jumpshots, and that was one sick dunk by amare

 

[tobiazz]

Diaw is such a ******.

 

[mjb21aztd]

dang only up two now terry starting to heat up