Back home at the American Airlines Center, Tuesday after a 2-1 road trip by beating upstart Portland 103-96 on Sunday night at the Rose Garden; the Dallas Mavericks face an Eastern Conference team for the first time this season, the Chicago Bulls. Dallas has beaten the Bulls in 15 of the last 16 games. The Mavericks seem to be back on track after losing their first four games this season.
The Chicago Bulls (3-3) have been unsteady during the first two weeks of the season but will get an instant reminder that things could be worse. Dallas, the Western Conference champion last season, started 0-4 before finally beating the Phoenix Suns.
The Bulls struggled for three quarters to score points Saturday but managed to turn up the volume when it counted. They outscored Indiana 30-14 in the fourth quarter to post a hard-fought 89-80 victory at the United Center.
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Center Ben Wallace played the entire game and collected 18 rebounds along with eight points. Forward Luol Deng produced 21 points and 12 rebounds, and guard Kirk Hinrich scored a game-high 23 points.
The Bulls trailed 62-50 with five minutes left in the third quarter. They didn't take the lead for good until Wallace's put back basket with 2:14 remaining. About a minute later, guard Chris Duhon scored off an offensive rebound and the Bulls led 81-77.
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A 3-point shot by Indiana's Danny Granger brought the visitors within one point with 34 seconds left, but Hinrich answered with a 3-pointer of his own to make it 84-80 with 19 seconds on the clock. Ben Wallace had one of his best games since signing with the Bulls in the off-season, grabbing a season-high 18 rebounds and scoring eight points. Bulls guard Kirk Hinrich scored a game-high 23 points. Wallace had 10 of Chicago's season-high 24 offensive boards.
The Bulls haven't won on the road since a 42-point victory over Miami in their season opener. Tuesday’s match up will be against a Mavericks team that seems to be back on track after losing its first four games this season. The Mavs have bounced back from their poor start to win two straight, including a 103-96 victory at Portland on Sunday.
Dirk Nowitzki had 26 points and 10 rebounds, and Jason Terry added 24 points for Dallas. Sunday was just the second time this season the Mavs have held an opponent to fewer than 100 points. Last year, they allowed 93.1 points per game.
Nowitzki scored 26 and pulled down 10 rebounds. Jason Terry added 24 points, including four three-pointers. Stackhouse had 16 points and a Mavs' season-high nine assists. The Blazers (4-3) rallied from an 83-68 deficit in the fourth quarter to pull to 86-85 with 2:21 left.
Dallas will most likely continue its dominance of the baby Bulls, but not without a fight. Although we think this will be a tight game, at home the Mavs should win and cover. Total is 200 but we say bet the under. Good Luck!!
