There was growing speculation over the Dallas Mavericks’ nine-day layoff between series whether or not rust would be a deciding factor in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Jason Kidd and his Mavs teammates answered that speculation with a resounding "NO" on Tuesday night at the American Airlines Center.

The Mavs got stellar performances all over the floor and handled home court in Game 1, defeating the Thunder 121-112 to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

"The big thing is we’re playing as a team," Jason told Dallas Basketball after the game. "Everybody is touching the ball. Defensively, everybody is helping out.

"But we all understand that we have to win three more games

[in this series] if we want to have the chance to win a championship. This is a long series that just started."

After the Game 1 win, Tim MacMahon of ESPN Dallas immediately called for an end to any questions regarding the Mavs being rusty after their time off
and pointed out that winning Game 1 bodes well for
Dallas in a historical sense.

"What it means: The rest vs. rust debate can be put to rest. As was the case in the finale of the sweep over the Lakers more than a week ago, the Mavs were an efficient offensive machine. They seized control of the West finals against their young foe with a convincing Game 1 win. Teams that win the opener have won 79.6 percent of the series in NBA history."

To get that Game 1 win, No. 2 piled on the assists, finishing with a game-high 11 on the evening. He also racked up three steals and three rebounds along the way. J-Kidd took just three shots, one of which he drained from beyond the arc late in the third quarter. For Jason, the priority in Game 1 was not to shoot, but rather feed his teammates— especially Dirk Nowitzki—and lead the Mavs to victory.

Jason got Nowitzki going just moments after the opening jump as he fed the seven-footer for a mid-range jumper to put Dallas ahead 2-0. After two Dirk free throws, J-Kidd grabbed a defensive board, got the ball to Dirk again, and Nowitzki finished with a dunk. On the ensuing possession, after grabbing another rebound, No. 2 handed the ball to Shawn Marion, who finished by nailing a floater, which put the Mavs ahead 8-2.

After a surge by the Thunder, Jason helped to extend the lead back to six points by finding Dirk once again. It was Nowizki’s fourth basket in the first four minutes as he piled up 10 of Dallas’ first 12 points. After the game, Dirk noted that getting early looks helped build the confidence that allowed him to score a game-high 48 points.

"I was really looking to shoot early and really was able to get my rhythm," Nowitzki said. "I made the first couple of shots and that is always big for a shooter, and after that I just kept attacking.

"My teammates were feeding me the ball and we got some matchups with smaller guys and were able to take advantage."

Much of the credit, in that regard, might go to J-Kidd. No. 2 fed Dirk on five shots—nearly half of his assist total for the game, including three in the first quarter to help get Nowitzki in rhythm. But Jason said the credit belongs to Dirk, who makes the game easier for everyone around him.

"He’s playing at such a high level and he’s one of those players that, as he gets older, he gets better because he can extend the defense and he can shoot the three," J-Kidd said. "He believes we can win. Any time you believe your team can win and believe in your teammates, you tend to play at a high level.

"He’s done that his whole career and I think everybody has jumped on board. Giving him the ball or playing off of him makes the game so much easier. Just like it has been all season. Everybody knows that Dirk is going to get the ball at some point, but I think he’s grown in being able to pass the ball out of the double team and trusting guys."

SPREADING THE WEALTH
Dirk wasn’t the only Mav that Jason was helping to put up big numbers.

The Thunder went on a 24-10 run in the last eight minutes of the first to put Dallas behind 27-20 at the end of one quarter. But Jason and the Mavs poured in 35 points in both the second and third periods, while holding the Thunder to just 21 in the second and 31 in the third, to take a commanding lead that would carry them to victory.

After the tough first quarter, head coach Rick Carlisle knew that his players would get back on track.

"I don’t have to preach much,” Carlisle said. "These guys are very experienced. We’ve all been humbled too many times not to respect where we’re at and how we got here and how we need to proceed."

Following a short breather, Jason re-entered the game midway through the second and immediately got to work. He found Jason Terry for a three, pulling Dallas to within one, 45-44. That trey started a 16-3 run, which gave the Mavs a 55-48 lead at the break. During the run, Tim MacMahon of ESPN Dallas wrote that Jason made the play of the game when he started a fast break that ended with a Nowitzki slam.

"Play of the game: Jason Kidd rebounded a Durant miss and threw a three-quarters-court outlet pass to Shawn Marion, who fed Nowitzki streaking down the lane for an and-1 layup. That gave the Mavs the lead for good with 2:19 remaining in the second quarter and was part of a 16-3 run to finish the half."

In the third, Jason and the Mavs continued to pile on. No. 2 hit DeShawn Stevenson for three in the early moments of the period, pushing the lead to 11. Minutes later he squelched a Thunder run when he found Jason Terry and Dirk back-to-back to put the Mavs back in front by double digits.

BRINGING IT HOME
With 3:37 to go in the third, J-Kidd added his only triple of the game, giving his team a 14-point lead, 79-65.

Soon thereafter No. 2 took a seat, giving way to teammate JJ Barea who put on a show in the fourth, scoring 12 consecutive Mavericks points over a three-and-a-half minute stretch, to help put the game away.

"He’s playing at a high level and we all expect that," No. 2 said of Barea. "His confidence is high, and we’re going to need him to play like this."

Oklahoma City pulled to within seven late in the fourth, but J-Kidd hit Dirk for back-to-back assists that expanded the lead. Mike Fisher of Dallas Basketball wrote about the way the Mavs closed Game 1:

When it was time to execute in the clutch, the Mavs – with so much experience at this level and the eight days of rest leading up to this game, time well-spent fine-tuning the plan – did what they do best: Jason Kidd at the throttle. The ball going through Nowitzki, who nailed back-to-back jumpers. Through Dirk again a third time, on this possession getting an assist on a corner 3 to Jet that made it 119-110 with 28 seconds left.

Thunder forward Kevin Durant, who scored 40 points himself in a losing effort, could only tip his hat to the Mavericks on a job well done:

"They’re a great team,” Durant said. "They’re playing right now like they’re young, just like us. They do a great job of playing together, moving the basketball."

A SPECIAL CONNECTION
Before the Mavs could get the series started on Tuesday, there were honoring the people who made it all possible on Monday night.

Norm and Carole Sonju were honored for their invaluable contributions to the Dallas community in a reception and dinner on Monday. It was Norm Sonju who co-founded the Mavericks in 1980 and he and his wife continue to be an important part of the Dallas community.

Jason recorded a special video tribute for the reception in which he thanked Norm, the man who drafted him and then helped him along the way, as Brad Townsend of the Dallas Morning News wrote:

"In his video tribute, Kidd thanked Sonju for drafting him in 1994 and giving him a nine-year contract, "Which at the time was unheard of," Kidd said. "And I want to thank Norm and Mr. Carter for believing in my talents and giving me the security to perform at a high level."

Kidd said Sonju also taught him about giving back to the community "and the impact you can have on kids." In the mid-90s, Kidd donated funds used to purchase West Dallas Community School’s basketball court."

NEXT UP
Jason and the Mavs will be looking to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the Western Conference Finals when the play host to the Thunder for Game 2 on Thursday. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. CST and the game will be televised nationally on ESPN.

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