Big Night for Damp

Only if Eric Dampier could play this well all the time. After a 111-99 win against a very good Chicago Bulls team, Big Damp looked like the $73 million center that the Mavericks invested in a two summers ago. Going against defensive player of the year Ben Wallace, Dampier set season highs for points and rebounds. He made 7-of-8 shots, with five thunderous dunks, and swatted three shots. Dampier made Ben Wallece work all night and outplayed him. Wallace, coming off an 18-rebound game, had only eight rebounds and six points.

But Dampier wasn't the only center with a big night, DeSagana Diop blocked five shots in 11 minutes. The Mavericks have never had one good center, but this year the Mavs have a powerful rotation of Dampier and Diop. Now a 3-4 team on the rise, the Dallas Mavericks are starting to tear it up again.