Full-Court Press

Mavericks win big, 108-88

MINNEAPOLIS _ Josh Howard returned and so did the spring in the Mavericks' step.

They dismantled a Minnesota team that pretty much has been torn apart for the last couple months since Al Jefferson went down. With Dirk Nowitzki pumping in 23 points, Jason Terry adding 21 and the defense stifling the Wolves most of the night, the Mavericks cruised to a 108-88 whipping of the Timberwolves at Target Center.

The Mavericks ended a two-game losing streak and moved four games full games ahead of Phoenix in the race for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

They return to American Airlines Center tonight to play Miami.

Howard had 14 points and six rebounds in 22 minutes of action. He was particularly sharp in the third quarter, when he had eight points and three rebounds. He was seeing his first action after missing 10 games with a left ankle injury.

The Mavericks took care of business by bolting ahead 34-18 late in the first quarter with an 11-0 surge.

From there, it was a matter of how much they won by. The lead never dipped below double digits.

Jason Kidd handed out 13 assists in barely three quarters of work and none of the heavy lifters had to over-extend themselves going into tonight's game against the Heat.

--Eddie Sefko

Keeping the Wolves away from the door

Minnesota has lost seven of eight and it looks like it will be eight of nine.

The Mavericks played a solid third quarter and take a 16-point lead into the fourth.

There is nothing notable about this, other than the Mavericks need the win a whole lot more than the Wolves, who are looking for all the lottery balls they can get.

By the way, Dirk Nowitzki has 21 points, the 17th in a row he's topped 20.

--Eddie Sefko

Of all the ways to end a half

The Mavericks destroyed the Timberwolves in the first half, leading by as much as 20 points and holding the Wolves to 34-percent shooting.

And yet, the end of the half was about as bad as it could be.

What's the one thing you don't want to let happen when you're cruising along with a 17-point lead in the last seconds of the half?

That's right. Don't let Mike Miller shoot a 3-pointer.

But that's exactly what the Mavericks did. He made it and the lead was hacked to 61-47.

They're still in command. But given the Mavericks' third-quarter problems this season, it's fair to wonder whether that flicker of momentum will grow into a fire hazard for the Mavericks.

--Eddie Sefko

Where's the motivation

Before the game, Rick Carlisle had this to say about the Timberwolves, who blew a 29-point lead to the Mavericks in Dallas on Dec. 29:

"We know there's going to be motivation and its another one of those challenges of being on the road and playing the season and having those things happen. At the time, it was an important win for us and in many ways it may have gotten their season jump-started. They won 10 of 12 after that. It's extra motivation for them. We'll have to be ready for it.''

Carlisle, by the way, was pitched out of the game that night. Assistant Dwane Casey was coaching the Mavericks to their record comeback.

Asked if that was going to happen again against the Wolves, Carlisle said: "You never know. It's a little expensive, though.''

--Eddie Sefko

All of the sudden, it's a butt-kicking

The Mavericks are rolling, up 36-21 at the end of the first quarter. The lead went from 5 to 16 in less than two minutes as they got a 3-pointer by Jason Terry and two 3-point plays the old-fashioned way.

But don't get too excited just yet. Two days ago, the Mavericks were up 30-20 at the end of the first quarter against Cleveland. They got outscored 82-44 the rest of the way.

Of course, LeBron James is nowhere to be seen on the Minnesota bench.

If you add this score to the 29-point comeback the Mavericks had against the Wolves Dec. 29, the Mavericks have outscored the Wolves by ... well, my math's not that good.

But it's a huge advantage.

--Eddie Sefko

Dishing it out

At shootaround today, Jason Kidd said it was "on me'' to get the Mavericks easier baskets.

So far, he's clearly making that effort as he has given out seven assists in the game's first nine minutes.

The Mavericks also have 12 points in the paint.

--Eddie Sefko

Big Love hates the Mavs

At least, he's playing like it in the early going.

Kevin Love has six points and three rebounds in the first six minutes and has been the most active player on the court.

Meanwhile, Josh Howard's return has gone well with four points and three rebounds, but he's missed three long-range jumpers -- not a good sign for a team that needs to work on attacking the basket.

--Eddie Sefko

Calipari all the rage pregame

Nobody was more excited that John Calipari signed on to be the University of Kentucky basketball coach than Mavericks' basketball-communications manager Scott Tomlin.

A proud Wildcat alum from 2002, Tomlin was bouncing off the walls after news leaked out of Calipari's signing.

Actually, there may have been one Maverick who was more excited: Dirk Nowitzki.

"We're back baby,'' Nowitzki yelled in the locker room before the game against Minnesota. "Kentucky is back on the map.''

Kentucky, of course, was where Nowitzki was going to attend college had he not bypassed college to go straight from Germany to the NBA.

Of course, the best line came from a Maverick who shall remain unnamed, who said: "Dirk was only at Kentucky long enough to pick up the envelope with the payment inside.''

--Eddie Sefko

Watch for early looks to Josh

Josh Howard was bouncing around shootaround this morning with tons of energy, which the Mavericks will welcome back with open arms - and hopefully open jump shots - tonight against Minnesota.

The first thing Jason Kidd will try to do is get Howard, who has been out 10 games with a left ankle injury, rolling early in the game.

"Just try to get him an easy shot, a wide-open shot the first go-round,'' Kidd said of the game plan for the early moments of tonight's game. "We'd like to get him an easy one going to the basket. Should that not happen, maybe just make sure it's not a stressful shot.''

Kidd added that the return of Howard could be the catalyst for gaining some positive vibes in the final nine games of the season heading into the playoffs.

"If he's healthy going into the playoffs, it's big,'' Kidd said. "But also if he brings some scoring and defense, he kind of balances us out. And we get more of our bench back. We were trying to get Jet (Terry) some minutes under his belt with him coming back and now with Josh coming back Jet can get back to his role off the bench.''

--Eddie Sefko

Jason for mid-level _ you've got to be Kidd-ing

Speculate all you want about where Jason Kidd will wind up after this season. But keep one thing in mind: do you really think he will take a one-year contract at the mid-level exception?

No.

Kidd has said he's not interested in a one-year deal or becoming a rent-a-player at this stage of his career. He's wants a commitment. One year isn't a commitment. It's a lease.

Can he change his mind? Sure. Who doesn't change their mind? But when assessing what the off-season holds for Kidd, don't dismiss what he's stated.

And don't underestimate the level at which he performs. His impact is well-beyond that of someone who earns the mid-level exception.

_ David Moore