The Dallas Mavericks (25-32) are a sub-.500 team, but they're always dangerous with sharpshooter Dirk Nowitzki in the lineup.
The Nets would be foolish to take them lightly.
Friday night's tilt offers coach P.J. Carlesimo's squad a chance to build on the momentum from Tuesday night's 101-97 road win over the New Orleans Hornets (20-39). It's also an opportunity for the Nets to play well against a good team in front of their fans.
The Nets are 10 games above .500, but they need to show more consistency. After two emotional wins over the Milwaukee Bucks (28-28) following the All-Star break, they lost back-to-back games to the Houston Rockets (31-28) and Memphis Grizzlies (38-18).
The Nets and Mavericks have yet to face off this season, but Friday night's game won't be without headlines. As SB Nation reported, Dallas was Brooklyn's main competition for Deron Williams in the offseason. Mavericks' owner Mark Cuban and Williams will be eager to have the last laugh.
Nowitzki, a seven-footer who can shoot from anywhere on the floor, is a matchup nightmare. The German giant has the size of a center, plays like a small forward and is listed as a power forward. He'll be a tough assignment on the perimeter for Reggie Evans, 6'8", and Gerald Wallace, 6' 7".
Brooklyn will have three days of rest before Friday's game, a rarity in the 82-game NBA schedule. Williams, who finished with a season-high tying 33 points against the Hornets, should be fresh, and Joe Johnson expects to play, according to the New York Post.
The Nets have only four home games in March, and this is the most important of the bunch.
PREDICTION: Nets 96-86
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