The Dallas Mavericks got their post-All Star Game season off to the right start. But most of the focus remains in the front office until Thursday's 2 pm CT trade deadline.
The Mavs cruised to a 111-96 win over the Orlando Magic Wednesday night at the American Airlines Center, with six players scoring in double figures, led by Shawn Marion and Elton Brand's 17. Orlando did rally from down 12 points to lead 82-20 with less than a minute to play, but Vince Cater's three-pointer put Dallas back up, and a 28-14 fourth quarter put the game away.
Meanwhile it remains to be seen if the Mavs will be buyers, sellers or neither as the hours tick away at the NBA's trade deadline. Dallasbasketball.com reports that the Mavs have been talking with the Sacramento Kings this morning about "little pieces." Reporters in Sacramento have said the Kings have been listening to interests in Tyreke Evans but followed up by saying Evans won't be dealt.
The Kings, who are are in the process of being sold and possibly moved to Seattle, already made a big move on Wednesday, sending Thomas Robinson, Francisco Garcia and Tyler Honeycutt to Houston for Patrick Patterson, Cole Aldrich and Toney Douglas.
That wasn't the only move the Rockets made, trading Marcus Morris to Phoenix for a future second-round pick.
The Rockets currently hold the eight and final playoff seed in the West by three games in the loss column over the Mavs, following Dallas' win and Houston's 122-119 shocker over Oklahoma City.
At 24-29, the Mavericks would need to go 19-10 to finish the season above .500. The Rockets would only need to go 14-12 to hang onto the playoff spot should that happen.
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