Jason Kidd and the Dallas Mavericks snagged the inside advantage on the No. 2 playoff seed in the Western Conference after defeating the Nuggets, 109-93, last night.

Jason started the game aggressively, soaring above Carmelo Anthony to grab a defensive rebound with just seconds left in the first quarter. No. 2 finished the night with 10 assists, eight rebounds and six points.

Teammate Dirk Nowitzki grabbed a triple-double, something Jason is infamous for in the NBA. Nowitzki trails J-Kidd by 102 triple-doubles and jokingly told the Dallas Morning News he’s after Jason’s triple-double total.

"They were joking around that if I get a triple double every single game I play for the rest of my career I’ve got a chance to get him," Nowitzki said. "I don’t know if that’s going to happen or not."

The active triple-double king himself commended his teammate, as he told ESPN.

"

[Nowitzki] did everything," Kidd said. "He set the table, he accepted double-teams, he moved the ball and hit shots."

EXTRA PASS EQUALS POINTS
Jason’s flair for assists has inspired his teammates to be more generous with the ball. In last night’s win over the Nuggets, the Mavs dished out 27 assists to Denver’s 12.

Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle told DallasBasketball.com he likes the way his team distributed the ball.

"It just goes to show where our team’s head was at tonight," Carlisle said. "It was an extra-pass game. Guys were moving it and doing the right things at both ends."

NEXT UP
The No. 2 playoff seed Mavs face the Memphis Grizzlies Wednesday night. Tip-off is at 7:30 p.m. CST on Fox Sports Network.

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Dirk Nowitzki trails Jason Kidd only by 102 in triple-double race (Dallas Morning News, March 29, 2010)
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Mavericks keep hold of West’s second seed behind Nowitzki’s triple-double (ESPN.com, March 29, 2010)
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