Mavericks-Spurs Preview

The San Antonio Spurs and Dallas Mavericks renew their intense rivalry Tuesday night, but it's clearly a matchup that has lost plenty of luster.

San Antonio (0-2) and Dallas (1-2) played a memorable seven-game playoff series in 2006, with the Mavericks prevailing en route to the NBA finals. The next season, the Mavericks set a franchise record with 67 victories, but were knocked out in the first round of the playoffs, and the Spurs took advantage of not having to face their Southwest Division rivals by going on to win their fourth NBA title.

But it is unclear whether either team will contend for an NBA title this year. San Antonio lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in five games in the Western Conference finals last season, but will not have Manu Ginobili (ankle) available until December. The Spurs weren't picked as favorites to go to the finals in a preseason survey of league general managers for the first time in five years.

Dallas' credentials as contenders are even more dubious. The Mavericks, who lost 100-81 at home to Cleveland on Monday, suffered a second straight first-round exit last season, and gaining an eighth straight playoff spot could be a difficult task in the powerful West.

San Antonio went 3-1 against Dallas last season, including a 2-0 mark since Jason Kidd was acquired by the Mavericks.

"They're desperate for a win," new Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said about the Spurs after Monday's loss. "There's no time for us to mope."

The Spurs may get some help if Fabricio Oberto makes his season debut. Oberto missed the first two games after having an abnormal heartbeat last week, but he will play if he is cleared by doctors.

With Ginobili out, Tim Duncan and Tony Parker have been forced to shoulder the scoring load and have combined to average 57.5 points through two games. The Spurs have received a surprising scoring boost from Roger Mason, who has scored a total of 26 points off the bench.

San Antonio probably wishes it could get more production from former Maverick Michael Finley. The veteran shooting guard has scored a total of 24 points, and missed a jumper at the buzzer of Friday's 100-99 loss at Portland.

"I had a really good opportunity to knock it down," Finley said. "I had a great look at it. But I rushed it a little bit and it didn't feel good when it left my hands."

The Mavs turned in a woeful fourth quarter in Monday's loss. They trailed by six entering the period before allowing the Cavaliers to start it on a 13-0 run that put away the game.

Dallas star Dirk Nowitzki turned in a poor effort, making 3-of-11 shots for eight points. Nowitzki was much better in the first two games with 57 total points.

"It just wasn't one of my nights," Nowitzki said Monday. "We just never really got going. We looked slow, we looked sluggish."

Mavs guard Jerry Stackhouse did not play Monday because Carlisle said he is battling a foot problem.