On the rear end of a back to back, the Dallas Mavericks were missing numerous key players. Guard Rajon Rondo sat due to suspension (conduct detrimental to the team), SF Chandler Parsons sat out yet again due to his ankle, Back up big man Amar’e Stoudemire had a scheduled rest day, and starting center Tyson Chandler sat due to a hip contusion. The depleted and worn out Mavericks, who have played five games in the last seven nights, started off stronger than most, even I, expected. Especially against the Eastern Conference leading Atlanta Hawks. Dallas took a 53-47 lead going into the half, but the Hawks had different plans in the second, and quickly created separation in the 4th quarter to take the win 104-87

Turnovers killed the Mavericks tonight yet again, and they were lucky the Toronto Raptors were just as careless Tuesday night, The Hawks would not make the same mistake and that ultimately did the Mavs in in the 3rd quarter.

Dirk Nowitzki had a game to forget in regards to scoring, only coming up with 4 points to go along with his 5 rebounds and 4 assists, Kyle Korver shot 50% from the field and tallied 16 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 block shots in the winning effort, Korver, Paul Milsap, and Dennis Schroder were the Mavericks kryptonite tonight, combing for 48 points.

Let’s hope Rondo and Dick Carlisle can get along come Saturday. This team doesn’t need any sort of distractions as it enters the final sprint to the playoffs in a Western Conference where you can drop from the 4th seed to the 7th seed just by losing a single game.