Mavericks-Timberwolves Preview
Back where they expect to be in the playoff race, one might forgive the
Dallas Mavericks for overlooking their next opponent given the series history
and the matchup that follows.
達拉斯小牛重回季後賽的競爭行列，但他們不能在任何一場比賽掉以輕心。
With a huge game looming against another postseason hopeful, the Mavericks
visit the slumping Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday seeking a season sweep
and seventh straight win in the series.
本季最重要的幾場比賽即將到來，小牛明天將要先前往明尼蘇達挑戰近況
糟糕的灰狼，希望達成本季的四場橫掃，以及對戰的七連勝。
Dallas and Utah hold matching 38-38 records for the final two playoff spots
in the Western Conference, while Wednesday opponent Houston sits one game
back.
小牛與猶他爵士目前都是38勝38敗，暫居西區第七跟第八，休士頓火箭落
後兩隊一場，小牛將在周四迎戰火箭。
A 2-10 slump threatened to knock the Mavericks out of the tight pack, but a
three-game win streak and a 2-5 slump from the Rockets has jumbled the back
end of the standings yet again.
一陣2勝10敗的低潮期讓小牛不得不上緊發條，還好最近的三連勝以及火箭
近期的2勝5敗又讓小牛將戰績超前。
Dallas closes the season with four games against current playoff teams -
Memphis, the Los Angeles Clippers, Utah and San Antonio - and may be missing
some key pieces for the stretch run.
小牛本季最後四場比賽都將對上西區的季後賽球隊，曼斐斯灰熊、洛杉磯
快艇、猶他爵士與聖安東尼奧馬刺，且小牛最近陣容吃緊。
While Deron Williams (sports hernia) missed his fifth straight game Friday
and Raymond Felton (groin strain) sat out, J.J. Barea ran the show and poured
in 29 points in a 98-89 win at Detroit.
Deron Williams因為運動型疝氣已經缺賽五場，Raymond Felton也因為鼠
蹊部拉傷缺陣，J.J. Barea成為小牛的依靠，昨天他攻下29分，幫助小牛
在客場以98-89打敗底特律活塞。
"We are where we need to be right now," Barea said. "We have six games left
and we're focused. We're in a good rhythm, so hopefully we can finish strong."
Barea說："我們打出應有的水準，季賽只剩六場，我們專心一致，打出了
我們的節奏，希望球隊可以在尾聲打出高潮。"
Barea's offensive workload has increased with no timetable for Williams'
return and Chandler Parsons (knee surgery) out until the second round of the
playoffs at the earliest. Barea has averaged 20.3 points - nearly double his
season average of 10.7 - on 52 percent shooting with 5.8 assists the last six
games.
Barea因為DWill歸期未定，Chandler Parsons的膝蓋手術而扛下進攻重擔，
近六場比賽他平均拿下20.3分，幾乎是賽季平均10.7分的兩倍，命中率52%，
外加5.8助攻。
He will try to help the banged-up Mavericks to their seventh straight win in
this series and a four-game sweep of the Timberwolves (25-51). Dallas has won
three in a row in Minnesota and is 14-3 there in the last nine years.
JJB希望再度幫助受傷兵所苦的小牛拿下對戰灰狼的七連勝，並且完成本季
的橫掃，灰狼本季25勝51敗，小牛目前在明尼蘇達拿下3連勝，最近九年也
有14勝3敗的好成績。
While the Timberwolves are 13-25 at Target Center, the Mavs are 17-21 on the
road.
灰狼本季的主場戰績是13勝25敗，小牛的客場戰績也僅有17勝21敗。
Dirk Nowitzki dropped 29 points in this season's first matchup, but the
Mavericks will have to make up for Parsons' production in the last two. He
torched the Timberwolves for 59 points on 65.7 percent shooting, including 7
of 13 from long range.
Dirk Nowizki在本季首度對上灰狼時拿下29分，不過Parsons的進攻火力要
靠其他人來填補，最近兩次對上灰狼時，CP一共拿下59分，命中率65.7%，
三分球投13中7。
The Mavericks' offensive numbers have taken a hit by failing to reach 100
points the last three games, but it's their defensive stinginess that has led
to their surge. Dallas held Denver, New York and the Pistons to fewer than 90
points after allowing an average of 124 while losing four of five games
previously.
小牛的進攻火力最近稍弱，連續三場比賽未達100分，但他們靠著防守拿
下連勝。小牛連續讓丹佛金塊、紐約尼克與活塞都拿不到90分，而在此之
前的五場比賽中，他們平均失掉124分，輸掉其中四場。
Minnesota has struggled mightily to score in consecutive losses to the
Clippers and Jazz, shooting 39.2 percent in losses of 99-79 on Wednesday and
98-85 on Friday.
灰狼最近的進攻火力更是淒慘，先以39.2%的命中率，79-99的比數敗給
快艇，又以85-98敗給爵士。
Andrew Wiggins scored 24 points against Utah, and Karl-Anthony Towns chipped
in 17 and 11 rebounds. Coach Sam Mitchell praised the effort of his players,
two days after blasting them.
Andrew Wigins對上爵士時拿到24分，Karl-Anthony Towns攻下17分11籃
板，灰狼教練Sam Mitchell在狠批兩位球員的兩天後，讚賞他們的表現。
"Our guys played hard, I thought they competed," Mitchell said. "I thought we
made some mental mistakes, but we didn't make shots and that team is long, so
you are not going to get a lot of second shots."
Mitchell說："我們的球員打得很拼，他們想要競爭，但我們犯了一些錯
誤，我們的手感不佳加上對方的高度優勢，讓我們很難有第二波進攻機會。"
Zach LaVine was red-hot in mid March, but he has made 1 of 15 shots for three
points the last two games combined. Ricky Rubio is 4 of 17 from the floor in
that time while averaging only 7.5 points and 5.0 assists.
Zach LaVine在三月中手感火燙，不過近兩場比賽他的三分球投15僅中1，
Ricky Rubio近兩場則是投17中4，平均僅7.5分5.0助攻。
The Timberwolves couldn't help the Mavericks with a win over the Jazz, but
they still have games left against Portland, which holds the West's sixth
spot, and the Rockets.
灰狼沒有辦法在昨天打敗爵士讓幫助小牛，不過他們還會對上西區第六
的波特蘭拓荒者及第九的火箭。
灰狼要跟西區6~9各打一場XD 希望我們明天先把握住啊~~
Let's Go Mavs!!