The Jump-Shooting German – Dallas beats OKC in Game 1

Dirk Nowitzki torched the basket
for 48 big ones.
(image by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Nobody could stop Kevin Durant.

Nobody could stop Dirk Nowitzki.

The difference?

The jump-shooting German had more help, and from the littlest guys too.

Jason Terry played big off the
bench once again
(image by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Jason Terry scored 24 points, JJ Barea finished with 21 and Jason Kidd dished out 11 assists to highlight the balanced attack of coach Rick Carlisle.

It was evident Oklahoma had trouble figuring out who’d take on Dirk. Trading away Jeff Green for Kendrick Perkins was a move many saw as an effort to prepare for possible match-ups with LA and San Antonio, but we all know what happened to those two teams. The Perk-Serge Ibaka partnership just doesn’t measure up to someone as versatile as Nowitzki.

Carlisle mentioned earlier that he thought Dirk was one of the top 10 players ever, and if the Deutschman continues playing this way then he’ll make believers of a lot more people.

Though Durant scored well in this contest too, but his team just didn’t measure up to the Texan onslaught. I’m not sure if the Thunder’s 7-game slugfest with Memphis tired them out a bit, but the Mavs just seemed a bit quicker to the ball at times.

Or maybe it was just a case of Dallas shooting a hell of a lot better than Oklahoma. It wasn’t exactly reminiscent of Game 4 against LA, but when a team shoots 53% from the field and 94% from the line (with 36 attempts), it usually ends well.

The Mavs are still unbeaten at home
in the postseason
(image by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

This one ended with Mark Cuban enjoying a 1-nil series lead.

But this early it’s pretty evident this has the makings of a titanic match-up. Perkins inadvertently leveled Shawn Marion’s nose in the 1^st half. Terry jawed and jawed throughout. Tyson Chandler had some things to say too. There’s definitely mutual respect here, but don’t expect any quarter to be given in the next few games.

The keys for Game 2 are OKC’s Russell Westbrook and James Harden. KD did his job, and more. Ditto for Ibaka, despite his mark dropping 48. Westbrook shot just 3-of-15 from the field. And Harden will have to pump in more than his “just okay” 12 points in 35 minutes. This back court tandem has to balance out Terry and whoever will step up for Dallas. And, this is certain, someone will definitely step up for Dallas. It has been that kind of playoff run from them.

Can the Mavs follow through in Game 2, or will Oklahoma thunder back in?