NBA scores 2015: the Mavericks refuse to fade into the darkness and 3 other things we learned

The Mavericks won their sixth in a row to prove they are still a playoff team while the Warriors extended their streak to 14.

by Jeje Gomez

Nov 21, 2015, 1:01 PM UTC

Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

When DeAndre Jordan spurned them in free agency, the Mavericks were supposed to fade into obscurity in the cutthroat West. Up-and-coming teams like the young and athletic Jazz are looking for a playoff spot and they would happily to take the one Dallas had last season. On Friday, the Mavericks proved they are not ready to be taken out to pasture yet with a 102-93 win over Utah, their sixth in a row.

Dirk Nowitzki has been the engine driving the streak, averaging 20 points in the past six games. He had 19 in 12 shots against the imposing Jazz's frontcourt, at times looking like his old dominant self. Without a rejuvenated Nowitzki, the injury-ravaged Mavericks would have been lost to start the season. No one thought the Big German had another great year in him but he has delivered when needed the most.

He's not doing it alone, of course. The platoon of point guards Rick Carlisle deploys -- sometimes three at a time -- have provided much-needed supplemental scoring. Deron Williams led the way on Friday with 23 points but J.J. Barea pitched in 12 off the bench. On a game in which Wesley Matthews and Chandler Parsons were available, that's all that was needed from their emergency replacements to get the win.

While there were several solid performances, it was Zaza Pachulia, the consolation prize the Mavericks had to settle for in free agency, who made the biggest difference against Utah. Pachulia battled Derrick Favors and Rudy Gobert on his way to 15 points and 12 rebounds, and his defense was instrumental in keeping the Jazz below their average on points in the paint. The Mavericks have the ninth-best defense in the league and that wouldn't be possible without Pachulia.

As important as every individual is in his role, the Mavericks are winning by playing like a team. Everyone knows what’s expected of them, they do it without complaining and someone is always ready to step up when a teammate struggles. As a result, a roster of rejects who everyone left for dead have a 9-4 record, the third-best in the West. If the defense holds, the challengers that wanted to usurp Dallas’ place in the postseason will have to look elsewhere.

3 other things we learned

The Warriors are still in the running for the best start ever

The Warriors once again edged out an opponent at home to remain undefeated. It was a close game throughout against the streaking Bulls but in the end the best team in the league pulled away thanks to fierce defense and a couple of Harrison Barnes three-pointers.

The Warriors are now one of five teams in league history to start 14-0. The other four are the 1948/49 Washington Capitols, the 1957/58 Boston Celtics, the 1993/94 Houston Rockets and the 2002/03 Dallas Mavericks. One more win means tying the 15-0 record only the 1948/9 Washington Capitols and 1994/94 Rockets. Two more wins would give the Warriors the best start in NBA history. Considering their next two games are against the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Lakers, it's very much an attainable record.

The 76ers are still in the run for the worst start ever

With their 113-88 loss to the Hornets, the 76ers are now 0-13 and looking worse with every passing game. Jahlil Okafor is really struggling on defense, Nerlens Noel is not adjusting quickly enough to the power forward position and the guard play is atrocious. They are bad but not talking typical rebuilding team bad. This Philadelphia team is potentially historically terrible.

The worst start in NBA history belongs to the 2009/10 New Jersey Nets, which lost the first 18 games of the season. Philadelphia's next five games are against three teams with records above .500 and the Rockets and Timberwolves. If they lose all of those games -- and they probably will -- , they will have to beat the Lakers on Dec. 1 in order to avoid making history for the wrong reasons. Even the most faithful believers in The Process would like to be spared of that.

The Celtics twisted the knife

The Celtics destroyed the Nets at home. It was a 25-point beatdown that exposed every Brooklyn weakness and continues to prove the Celtics are a playoff team. It was also particularly painful for the Nets because they owe the Celtics their next draft pick, which right now is slated to be the third overall, going by record.

It’s just a terrible situation for the Nets. They have one of the worst rosters in the league but they can’t find solace in the draft because they still owe two of their next three picks to the Celtics, which also have the option to swap in 2017. It’s sad that the fans have to suffer through it. Having to endure blowout losses against the team that benefits the most from their terrible present is downright cruel.