Dallas Mavericks Blog – Page 61 – NBA Blog

Jason Kidd steps up, but Knicks lose to Mavs

When the Knicks beat the Mavericks 12 days ago in New York, Jason Kidd said it was “just another win” and called Dallas “just another opponent.”

In his return to Dallas on Wednesday night, however, Kidd certainly didn’t play as though the Mavericks were just another opponent. He scored a season-high 17 points, pulled down six rebounds, had five assists and five steals.

After Dallas rallied for the 114-111 victory, though, Kidd claimed there was no extra motivation in facing the franchise that he helped win the 2011 NBA title. Kidd did, however, say it was nice to be back in the American Airlines Center.

“Oh, I love Dallas,” he said. “What we accomplished as a team will always be special to me, but now I’m in New York, trying to accomplish that again. That’s to win another championship.”

— Reported by Brad Townsend of the Dallas Morning News

Minnesota Timberwolves sign Josh Howard

The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced the team has signed unrestricted free-agent forward/guard Josh Howard.

The versatile swingman has had a solid NBA career, but in recent seasons has not had a big impact. At this point, Howard is currently considered NBA bench depth. Though, with all the Timberwolves injuries the team has suffered, there is an opportunity for Howard to rise up and really contribute, if he still has it in him to do so.

Howard’s signing brings the Wolves’ roster to 15 players.

“We’re pleased to add a proven veteran in Josh Howard to our team,” said David Kahn, Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations. “Josh has been a productive player in our league for nine years and will add to our depth at the wing position.”

Howard, 32, joins the Wolves with career averages of 14.5 points and 5.7 rebounds in parts of nine NBA seasons with three different teams (Dallas, Washington and Utah). Most recently he spent the 2011-12 season with Utah where he averaged 8.4 points and 3.1 rebounds per game in 43 games, 18 starts. His best season came in 2007-08 when he averaged 19.9 points and 7.0 rebounds per game en route to making his lone All-Star Game appearance.

Howard will wear No. 5 and is expected to be in uniform tonight when the Wolves take on the Golden State Warriors at Target Center.

Dallas Mavericks forward Shawn Marion out with MCL sprain

The Dallas Mavericks announced today that an MRI confirmed forward Shawn Marion has a sprained left medial collateral ligament (MCL). He will be listed as out tomorrow and will not travel with the team to New York and Charlotte later this week. He will be re-evaluated next week.

In four games this season, Marion has averaged 8.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.3 blocks in 27.0 minutes while shooting 51.9% (14-27 FGs) from the field.

Mavs coach Rick Carlisle is already a Damian Lillard fan

Count Dallas coach Rick Carlisle among the growing list in the NBA who are impressed with Trail Blazers rookie Damian Lillard.

Carlisle, whose Mavericks (2-1) face the Blazers (2-1) tonight in Dallas, called Lillard an “early Rookie of the Year candidate” after the point guard has opened the season with averages of 21.3 points, 9.0 assists and 4.0 rebounds in three games.

“He’s going to have that much impact on their team,’’ Carlisle said. “Plus, point guards have the abll more, so they are going to feature him even more. But I’m really impressed with his feel for the game. He has an air of confidence, and he does a really nice job involving his teammates. And his shooting ability – we haven’t seen a point guard come in like this that can shoot from 25-to-26 feet – easily – in some time.’’

— Reported by Jason Quick of The Oregonian

Troy Murphy makes sense for Mavericks

Because he is so familiar with coach Rick Carlisle’s system, Troy Murphy was the perfect fit for the Dallas Mavericks.

Thus, the Mavs signed the 6-11, 245-pound power forward to a one-year contract Friday in the hope that he can help stretch opponents’ defenses and also help the Mavs out on the boards.

“I think I can spread the floor, add some shooting and some rebounding as well,’’ Murphy said after this morning’s shootaround at American Airlines Center. “I’m ready to go.

“I’m still learning the plays and I’m just taking it as it comes.’’

Murphy played for Carlisle in Indiana after he was traded to the Pacers from the Golden State Warriors on Jan. 17, 2007.

— Reported by Dwain Price of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Mavericks waive Eddy Curry, sign Troy Murphy

The Dallas Mavericks announced today that they have signed free agent center Troy Murphy.

Murphy will replace Eddy Curry on the Mavericks’ 15-man roster. Curry was waived after playing in the first two regular season games for Dallas. Curry averaged 4.5 points, 2.0 rebounds and 12.5 minutes.

Murphy (6-11, 245) was the 14th overall pick in the 2001 NBA Draft by the Golden State Warriors and has played in 715 games (481 starts) with Golden State, Indiana, New Jersey, Boston and Los Angeles Lakers. He holds career averages of 10.9 points, 7.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 27.5 minutes per game.

Murphy has averaged a points-rebounds double-double four times in his career, most recently in 2009-10 when, as a member of the Indiana Pacers, he averaged 14.6 points and 10.2 rebounds. Murphy spent last year with the Lakers and played in 59 games during the lockout-shortened season.

The Morristown, N.J., native played collegiately at Notre Dame where he was a consensus All-America selection as a sophomore and a junior and was an early-entry candidate in the 2001 NBA Draft.

Dallas Mavericks set to add Troy Murphy

Free agent forward Troy Murphy has reached agreement on a one-year deal with the Dallas Mavericks, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.

Dallas is working to clear a roster spot to sign Murphy. The Mavericks, at the league limit of 15 players, have been unsuccessfully shopping third-year guard Dominique Jones.

Murphy, 32, played a sparing role in 59 games for the Los Angeles Lakers a season ago, but he’s still a capable perimeter shooter.

— Reported by Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports

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Dwight Howard discusses Lakers season-opening loss to Mavericks

The Lakers missed 19 free throws — Howard was 3 of 14 from the line — and turned the ball over 14, resulting in 17 points for Dallas.

“It happens,” Howard said. “But you have to remember, we have 81 more games to play and Rome wasn’t built in a day. Somebody told me that.”

Howard didn’t wave any white flags, but did caution against high expectations in the early going.

“You guys shouldn’t expect that just because we have a talented team, that everything is gong to click right away,” Howard said. “It’s going to take time. We have to be patient. I know everyone in Laker Nation wants us to win every game, but it takes time.

“We’re all learning something new.”

— Reported by Janis Carr of the Orange County Register

Mark Cuban wishes the Lakers well (not really)

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban heard plenty about how the Lakers’ made a splash this offseason. He tried to act unimpressed. “I don’t care,” Cuban said before the Lakers’ season opener Tuesday against Dallas at Staples Center. “I just hope they suck.”

Few pundits believe that will happen. The Lakers acquired an elite center (Dwight Howard), elite passer (Steve Nash) and an improved bench (Antawn Jamison, Jodie Meeks). By the way, Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol and Metta World Peace stay on the team…

“They’re like any other team,” Cuban said. “Obviously Nash is great.

Kobe’s phenomenal. But it takes a team. They have to come together and play as a team. Hopefully they don’t figure it out.”

— Reported by Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News

Eddy Curry expected to be Mavs starting center for season opener

Eddy Curry, who was waived by the Spurs last Tuesday and picked up by the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday, is expected to be the Mavs’ starting center in their regular-season opener against the Lakers on Tuesday, according to multiple media reports.

The 7-foot Curry is being pushed into service because Chris Kaman is still out with a calf injury, and the Mavs need some size in the middle to go against Lakers center Dwight Howard.

Curry, the No. 4 overall draft pick in 2001, has been a major disappointment in the pros.

— Reported by the Sports Xchange