After a tough outing against his former team, the New Jersey Nets, Jason led Dallas to back-to-back-to-back victories over the holidays.
Last Friday night, No. 2 and Co. fell, 121-97, on the road to New Jersey. As Jason (17 points, seven assists) admitted after the game to the Associated Press, returning to face the team he played for most of his career sent many thoughts spiraling through his mind.
“The first time I was in New Jersey, that’s what the crowd looked like, about 3,000 people. That was the first thought, and then just all the good and bad times we had.”
BACK ON TRACK
In the three games that followed, however, Jason helped return Dallas (17-11) to its winning ways.
Against the Wizards on Sunday, J-Kidd scored only a single point, but his 11 assists, four rebounds and three steals were the difference in a 97-86 victory.
As recounted by Yahoo.com:
On a night when Jason Kidd took over the game in the fourth quarter, the Wizards again imploded in the fourth. Kidd had 11 assists—six in the game’s final 6:05 as Dallas sent Washington to its sixth straight loss, 97-86 Sunday night.
“The something that was going on was Jason Kidd,” Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said. “It was beautiful basketball to watch.”
After Caron Butler hit on a 3-point play and hit a 3-pointer to cut the lead to 81-76 with 6:22 to play, Terry made two field goals and Devean George a dunk — all assisted by Kidd for a 87-76 lead with 5:09 left.
“The greatest point guard in the world. The best who’s ever done it,” Terry said. “He can always impact the game even if he doesn’t score any points. He had so many assists. In the last four minutes of the game, he totally controlled the game.”
Kidd, whose welcome back to New Jersey on Friday night was one to forget, focused on working his team through their shaky start. At one point in the third quarter, they had missed 18 of 19 3-pointers.
“We were still in the ballgame. If we make some of those shots, it would be a different ballgame,” Kidd said. “We kept plugging away—getting stops on the defensive end. In the fourth quarter, we kept getting stops and getting baskets on the other end.”
On Christmas Eve, Jason turned in a deja vu inducing performance, finishing with three points, 11 assists, five rebounds and four steals in a 100-82 home thumping of the Memphis Grizzlies.
“We got off to a slow start offensively, but defensively we were pretty good,” said Jason Kidd, who had 11 assists and four steals for the Mavericks.
CHRISTMAS DAY GIFT
The victory over Memphis was a precursor to an intense, physical game on Christmas Day between Dallas and the Portland Trailblazers.
After Josh Howard was ejected in the third quarter and Dirk Nowitzki found himself in foul trouble, Jason piloted his team to a 102-94 road win.
No. 2 (six points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists) told the Associated Press:
“I don’t think anybody panicked, even with all the Ts. We kept plugging away, keeping it close down the stretch to see if we could get a win on the road.”
RELATED STORIES
Harris scores 41 as Nets romp (AP, Dec. 19, 2008)
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/recap?gid=2008121917
Terry, Nowitzki help Dallas beat woeful Washington (Yahoo.com, Dec. 21, 2008)
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/recap?gid=2008122127
Nowitzki’s 21, Terry’s 17 lead Mavs over Grizzlies (AP, Dec. 24, 2008)
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/recap?gid=2008122306
Feisty, not festive: Dallas Mavericks battle past Blazers (Dallas Morning News, Dec. 25, 2008)
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/basketball/mavs/stories/122608dnspomavslede.3dc19f4.html