Mavericks-Nuggets: Dirk Nowitzki Keeps Dallas Alive, Puts Pressure on Denver

Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki was in complete control—even if he didn’t appear to be.

The seven-footer sized up Denver Nuggets forward Kenyon Martin, albeit awkwardly, lifted his feet ever so slightly off the floor, and hoisted a high-arcing midrange jumper.

The ball took forever to come down, but when it did—swish.

Nowitzki jogged nonchalantly down to play defense as the crowd cheered deliriously. The Mavericks led for the first time since scoring the first basket.

It was a lead they wouldn’t lose. Staring elimination in the eye, Dallas had lived to see another day.

That jumper gave Nowitzki 17 points in the final period. Two free throws that sealed the victory increased that total to 19, and his final offensive tally to 44 points. He shot 14-49 from the field, made 16 of 17 free-throws, grabbed 13 rebounds, dished three assists, collected two steals, and had one rejection.

Nowitzki wasn’t going to let his team get swept away at home by the Nuggets. Now, thanks to his Oscar-worthy performance, the series is winnable for the Mavericks.

Dallas needs three more victories over Denver to accomplish a first in the NBA—recovering from a 3-0 deficit to win a playoff series.

This may be easier said than done, but it is not all that far-fetched.

The Mavericks know how to beat the Nuggets. They needed to shoot 50 percent, have Nowitzki score 44 points, receive 33 bench points, and out-rebound Denver by sixteen to do it.  But though it took near perfection to pull it off, they get a chance to repeat this performance.

To keep on playing, Dallas has to beat Denver on the road. This will be a tough task, but anything is possible—especially when the team is riding high, has one of the top players and arguably the best bench in the league.

They don’t necessarily need a virtuoso performance by Nowitzki to accomplish this, either. They just need to play some defense (they allowed 117 points, luckily they scored 119), continue to receive a balanced attack from their endless amount of talent, and play with the same confidence they possessed in Game Four.

If the Mavericks think they can win, instead of delaying the inevitable, they have more than just a fighting chance. Though such a comeback has never happened in the NBA, it has happened in other sports.

The most memorable, perhaps, transpired in the 2004 American League Championship Series, when the Boston Red Sox defeated the New York Yankees. After the fact, many of the Red Sox players divulged what their mindsets were prior Game Four of that infamous series—saying, collectively, that “if we win one, we’re winning them all.”

This is the exact mindset the Mavericks have to have. Once the Red Sox won that first game, the pressure was back on the Yankees. Instead of trying to win, New York was hoping not to lose. They were flustered, tense, and nervous, while Boston played relaxed, without a care in the world.

Watching the scene of pandemonium that transpired after Nowtizki’s shot swished through, I sensed that Dallas not only wanted to play a Game Five, but also a Game Six, and Game Seveb, and move on to the Western Conference Finals.

Momentum, confidence, heart, and determination can carry over, Mavericks. Just ask the 2004 Red Sox.