The 2011âÂÂ12 Dallas Mavericks season was the 32nd season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Mavericks entered the season as the defending NBA champions, having defeated the Miami Heat in six games in the 2011 NBA Finals. They were attempting to win back-to-back NBA Finals, but were swept in the first round of the NBA Playoffs by the Oklahoma City Thunder (the team that the Mavericks defeated in last year's Western Conference finals in five games) in four games. The Thunder would go on to lose to the Heat in the Finals in five games.
The season officially began once NBA players and owners signed a new collective bargaining agreement to end the 2011 NBA lockout.
At the Draft night the Mavs acquired Rudy Fernández for their 26th pick, Jordan Hamilton, who was sent to Denver.
Following their championship-winning 2010âÂÂ2011 season, the Mavericks entered the offseason with six free agents; only one of those six players returned to play with the team in 2011âÂÂ2012. Starting center Tyson Chandler was traded to the New York Knicks in a three-team sign-and-trade deal; the Mavericks received guard Andy Rautins in return(in addition to a 2012 second-round pick and a traded player exception) and waived him shortly thereafter. Forward Caron Butler signed a three-year deal worth $24 million with the Los Angeles Clippers. On December 14, reserve guard José Juan Barea announced that he would join the Minnesota Timberwolves. On December 19, reserve forward Peja Stojakoviàannounced his retirement. Guard DeShawn Stevenson signed a one-year deal with New Jersey. Backup forward Brian Cardinal re-signed with the Mavs.
The Mavericks acquired several new players during the offseason. On December 9, the Mavs signed power forward Brandan Wright. Vince Carter signed a contract on December 11, while Lamar Odom came to the Mavs through a trade with the Los Angeles Lakers. Drew Neitzel and Jerome Randle were signed on December 11; Neitzel and Randle were both waived on December 21 after playing in the D-League for the Texas Legends. The Mavs signed guard Delonte West on December 12 to a one-year deal. The Mavericks traded Rudy Fernández and Corey Brewer to the Denver Nuggets for a future second-round pick (and a traded player exception). The Mavericks signed Sean Williams on December 21 to a two-year deal. Free agent Yi Jianlian was signed on January 6 to a one-year deal.
The Mavericks lost their first preseason game to the Oklahoma City Thunder, with both Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd sitting the game out. With Kidd and Nowitzki back in the lineup but without Jason Terry (illness), Vince Carter and Delonte West they also lost the second and last preseason matchup against the Thunder. The Mavericks ended the preseason with a 0âÂÂ2 record.
The 2011âÂÂ12 NBA season began on December 25, 2011, and ended on April 26, 2012. Due to a lockout agreement, the season consisted of 66 games, rather than the standard 82. The Mavericks entered the season as defending champions. At the conclusion of the season, their record consisted of 36 wins and 30 losses. They finished seventh in the Western Conference and third in the Southwest Division.
The Mavericks opened their series against Oklahoma City Thunder on the first day of the playoffs. The game was close throughout and the Mavs took the lead by seven with 2 minutes to go. Dirk Nowitzki turned the ball over several times in the crucial stretch and the team stayed scoreless on four straight possessions. With nine seconds to go, the Mavs had a one-point lead, when Kevin Durant hit a shot that bounced a couple of times on the rim and backboard and fell through with 1.5 seconds to go. Shawn Marion's attempt for a half court shot came too late and the Thunder took Game 1. Game 2 was closeout again, even though the Mavs were down by 16 in the first half. They came back and took the lead in the third quarter. The fourth quarter was much of a freethrow contest, James Harden made all of his late in the game and both, Nowitzki and Jason Terry missed his threes. Terry had two tries to send it to overtime, but missed. Thunder were up 2âÂÂ0. The Thunder took a commanding 3âÂÂ0 lead after their blowout win in Game 3. Despite having a 13-point lead going into the fourth quarter the Mavs lost by six in Game 4 and were swept.
|- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 1 | December 18 | Oklahoma City | | Rodrigue Beaubois<br>Dominique Jones (17) | Lamar Odom (7) | Dominique Jones (9) | American Airlines Center<br />19,287 | 0âÂÂ1 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 2 | December 20 | @ Oklahoma City | | Jerome Randle (17) | Ian Mahinmi (9) | Dominique Jones<br>Brian Cardinal (4) | Chesapeake Energy Arena<br />18,203 | 0âÂÂ2 |-
|- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 1 | December 25 | Miami | | Jason Terry (23) | Shawn Marion (6) | seven players (3) | American Airlines Center<br />20,421 | 0âÂÂ1 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 2 | December 26 | Denver | | Dirk Nowitzki (20) | Lamar Odom (7) | three players (4) | American Airlines Center<br />20,408 | 0âÂÂ2 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 3 | December 29 | @ Oklahoma City | | Dirk Nowitzki (29) | Dirk Nowitzki (10) | Jason Terry (9) | Chesapeake Energy Arena<br />18,203 | 0âÂÂ3 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 4 | December 30 | Toronto | | Ian Mahinmi (19) | Brendan Haywood (9) | Jason Kidd (6) | American Airlines Center<br />20,307 | 1âÂÂ3
|- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 5 | January 1 | @ Minnesota | | Dirk Nowitzki (21) | Shawn Marion (6) | Jason Kidd (5) | Target Center<br />15,115 | 1âÂÂ4 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 6 | January 2 | Oklahoma City | | Dirk Nowitzki (26) | Ian Mahinmi (9) | Jason Kidd (9) | American Airlines Center<br />20,108 | 2âÂÂ4 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 7 | January 4 | Phoenix | | Dirk Nowitzki (20) | Brendan Haywood (12) | Dirk Nowitzki (7) | American Airlines Center<br />19,885 | 3âÂÂ4 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 8 | January 5 | @ San Antonio | | Jason Terry (12) | Ian Mahinmi (9) | Jason Kidd<br>Delonte West<br>(3) | AT&T Center<br />18,581 | 3âÂÂ5 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 9 | January 7 | New Orleans | | Vince Carter<br>Ian Mahinmi<br>(13) | Ian Mahinmi (7) | three players (4) | American Airlines Center<br />20,409 | 4âÂÂ5 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 10 | January 10 | @ Detroit | | Dirk Nowitzki (18) | Dirk Nowitzki<br>Lamar Odom<br>(7) | | The Palace of Auburn Hills<br />10,073 | 5âÂÂ5 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 11 | January 11 | @ Boston | | Jason Terry (18) | Brendan Haywood (11) | Dirk Nowitzki (4) | TD Garden<br />18,624 | 6âÂÂ5 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 12 | January 13 | Milwaukee | | Jason Terry (17) | three players (6) | Delonte West (4) | American Airlines Center<br />20,112 | 7âÂÂ5 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 13 | January 14 | Sacramento | | Jason Terry (21) | Shawn Marion (8) | Jason Kidd (6) | American Airlines Center<br />20,313 | 8âÂÂ5 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 14 | January 16 | @ L.A. Lakers | | Dirk Nowitzki (21) | Ian Mahinmi (10) | Jason Terry (7) | Staples Center<br />18,997 | 8âÂÂ6 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 15 | January 18 | @ L.A. Clippers | | Dirk Nowitzki<br>Delonte West<br>(17) | Shawn Marion (10) | Jason Kidd (10) | Staples Center<br />19,252 | 8âÂÂ7 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 16 | January 19 | @ Utah | | Shawn Marion (22) | Shawn Marion (7) | Jason Kidd (11) | EnergySolutions Arena<br />19,911 | 9âÂÂ7 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 17 | January 21 | @ New Orleans | | Lamar Odom<br>Delonte West<br>(22) | Shawn Marion (12) | Delonte West (6) | New Orleans Arena<br />15,471 | 10âÂÂ7 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 18 | January 23 | Phoenix | | Shawn Marion (29) | Ian Mahinmi (9) | Jason Kidd<br>Lamar Odom<br>(6) | American Airlines Center<br />19,944 | 11âÂÂ7 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 19 | January 25 | Minnesota | | Jason Terry (17) | Brendan Haywood (10) | Jason Kidd (7) | American Airlines Center<br />20,150 | 11âÂÂ8 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 20 | January 27 | Utah | | Rodrigue Beaubois (22) | Brendan Haywood (12) | Rodrigue Beaubois (7) | American Airlines Center<br />20,096 | 12âÂÂ8 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 21 | January 29 | San Antonio | (OT) | Jason Terry (34) | Dirk Nowitzki (13) | Rodrigue Beaubois (7) | American Airlines Center<br />20,262 | 13âÂÂ8 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 22 | January 30 | @ Phoenix | | Delonte West (25) | Brendan Haywood (8) | Rodrigue Beaubois (7) | US Airways Center<br />13,132 | 14âÂÂ8
|- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 23 | February 1 | Oklahoma City | | Jason Terry (25) | Shawn Marion (10) | Rodrigue Beaubois (4) | American Airlines Center<br />20,316 | 14âÂÂ9 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 24 | February 3 | Indiana | | Dirk Nowitzki (30) | Shawn Marion<br>Dirk Nowitzki<br>(7) | Vince Carter (5) | American Airlines Center<br />20,146 | 14âÂÂ10 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 25 | February 4 | @ Cleveland | | Dirk Nowitzki (24) | Dirk Nowitzki<br>Brandan Wright<br>(8) | Delonte West (7) | Quicken Loans Arena<br />17,443 | 14âÂÂ11 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 26 | February 8 | @ Denver | | Dirk Nowitzki (25) | Dirk Nowitzki (9) | Vince Carter (8) | Pepsi Center<br />15,970 | 15âÂÂ11 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 27 | February 10 | @ Minnesota | | Dirk Nowitzki (33) | Shawn Marion (8) | Jason Kidd (10) | Target Center<br />17,119 | 16âÂÂ11 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 28 | February 11 | Portland | | Dirk Nowitzki (20) | Shawn Marion (12) | Jason Kidd (8) | American Airlines Center<br />20,457 | 17âÂÂ11 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 29 | February 13 | L.A. Clippers | | Dirk Nowitzki (22) | Brendan Haywood (9) | Jason Kidd (4) | American Airlines Center<br />20,436 | 18âÂÂ11 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 30 | February 15 | Denver | | Shawn Marion (16) | Shawn Marion (10) | Shawn Marion<br>Dominique Jones<br>(6) | American Airlines Center<br />20,075 | 19âÂÂ11 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 31 | February 17 | @ Philadelphia | | Dirk Nowitzki (28) | Dirk Nowitzki (12) | Jason Kidd (8) | Wells Fargo Center<br />19,369 | 20âÂÂ11 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 32 | February 19 | @ New York | | Dirk Nowitzki (34) | Shawn Marion<br>Jason Terry<br>(7) | Jason Terry (6) | Madison Square Garden<br />19,763 | 20âÂÂ12 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 33 | February 20 | Boston | | Dirk Nowitzki (26) | Dirk Nowitzki (16) | Jason Kidd (8) | American Airlines Center<br />20,364 | 21âÂÂ12 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 34 | February 22 | L.A. Lakers | | Dirk Nowitzki (25) | Dirk Nowitzki (12) | Shawn Marion<br>Jason Terry<br>(5) | American Airlines Center<br />20,577 | 21âÂÂ13 |- align="center" |colspan="9" bgcolor="#bbcaff"|All-Star Break |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 35 | February 28 | New Jersey | | Dirk Nowitzki (24) | Brendan Haywood<br>Dirk Nowitzki<br>(10) | Jason Kidd (8) | American Airlines Center<br />20,170 | 21âÂÂ14 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 36 | February 29 | @ Memphis | | Jason Terry (18) | Shawn Marion (8) | Jason Terry (5) | FedExForum<br />17,023 | 21âÂÂ15
|- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 37 | March 2 | @ New Orleans | | Rodrigue Beaubois (25) | Dirk Nowitzki (9) | Jason Kidd (6) | New Orleans Arena<br />15,568 | 21âÂÂ16 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 38 | March 3 | Utah | | Dirk Nowitzki (40) | Ian Mahinmi (8) | Jason Kidd (8) | American Airlines Center<br />20,560 | 22âÂÂ16 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 39 | March 5 | @ Oklahoma City | | Dirk Nowitzki (27) | Shawn Marion (10) | Jason Terry (7) | Chesapeake Energy Arena<br />18,203 | 22âÂÂ17 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 40 | March 6 | New York | | Dirk Nowitzki (28) | Shawn Marion (9) | Jason Kidd (6) | American Airlines Center<br />20,605 | 23âÂÂ17 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 41 | March 8 | @ Phoenix | | Vince Carter<br>Dirk Nowitzki<br>(18) | Shawn Marion (8) | Vince Carter (4) | US Airways Center<br />15,498 | 23âÂÂ18 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 42 | March 9 | @ Sacramento | | Jason Terry (23) | Dirk Nowitzki (9) | Jason Kidd<br>Rodrigue Beaubois<br>(4) | Power Balance Pavilion<br />16,857 | 23âÂÂ19 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 43 | March 10 | @ Golden State | | Dirk Nowitzki (22) | Ian Mahinmi (9) | Dominique Jones<br>Jason Terry<br>(5) | Oracle Arena<br />19,596 | 23âÂÂ20 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 44 | March 13 | Washington | | Dirk Nowitzki (27) | Shawn Marion (13) | three players (4) | American Airlines Center<br />20,319 | 24âÂÂ20 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 45 | March 15 | Charlotte | | Dirk Nowitzki (27) | Brendan Haywood (8) | Dirk Nowitzki (5) | American Airlines Center<br />20,507 | 25âÂÂ20 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 46 | March 17 | San Antonio | | Dirk Nowitzki (27) | Brandan Wright (9) | Jason Kidd (10) | American Airlines Center<br />20,528 | 26âÂÂ20 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 47 | March 19 | @ Denver | | Dirk Nowitzki (33) | Dirk Nowitzki (11) | Jason Kidd (10) | Pepsi Center<br />20,528 | 27âÂÂ20 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 48 | March 21 | L.A. Lakers | | Dirk Nowitzki (26) | Dirk Nowitzki (10) | Rodrigue Beaubois (5) | American Airlines Center<br />20,664 | 27âÂÂ21 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 49 | March 23 | @ San Antonio | | Jason Terry (18) | Ian Mahinmi (10) | Rodrigue Beaubois (5) | AT&T Center<br />18,581 | 27âÂÂ22 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 50 | March 24 | @ Houston | | Dirk Nowitzki (31) | Shawn Marion (15) | Jason Kidd (4) | Toyota Center<br />18,193 | 28âÂÂ22 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 51 | March 27 | Houston | | Dirk Nowitzki (21) | Shawn Marion (11) | Rodrigue Beaubois (5) | American Airlines Center<br />20,359 | 29âÂÂ22 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 52 | March 29 | @ Miami | | Dirk Nowitzki (21) | Jason Kidd<br>Dirk Nowitzki<br>(6) | Jason Kidd<br>Jason Terry<br>(4) | American Airlines Arena<br />20,096 | 29âÂÂ23 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 53 | March 30 | @ Orlando | | Dirk Nowitzki (28) | Shawn Marion (9) | Jason Kidd (6) | Amway Center<br />18,951 | 30âÂÂ23
|- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 54 | April 2 | L.A. Clippers | | Dirk Nowitzki (19) | Shawn Marion (9) | Delonte West<br>Jason Terry<br>(4) | American Airlines Center<br />20,479 | 30âÂÂ24 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 55 | April 4 | Memphis | | Dirk Nowitzki (23) | Ian Mahinmi<br>Dirk Nowitzki<br>(10) | Rodrigue Beaubois (5) | American Airlines Center<br />20,233 | 31âÂÂ24 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 56 | April 6 | Portland | | Dirk Nowitzki (23) | Dirk Nowitzki (14) | three players (5) | American Airlines Center<br />20,544 | 31âÂÂ25 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 57 | April 7 | @ Memphis | | Dirk Nowitzki (17) | Shawn Marion (11) | Jason Terry (8) | FedExForum<br />18,119 | 31âÂÂ26 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 58 | April 10 | Sacramento | | Dirk Nowitzki<br>Rodrigue Beaubois<br>(15) | Shawn Marion (14) | Jason Kidd (7) | American Airlines Center<br />20,241 | 32âÂÂ26 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 59 | April 12 | @ Golden State | | Dirk Nowitzki (27) | Shawn Marion (12) | Jason Kidd (12) | Oracle Arena<br />17,929 | 33âÂÂ26 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 60 | April 13 | @ Portland | | Dirk Nowitzki (24) | Shawn Marion (14) | Delonte West (7) | Rose Garden<br />17,929 | 34âÂÂ26 |- |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 61 | April 15 | @ L.A. Lakers | | Dirk Nowitzki (24) | Dirk Nowitzki (14) | Jason Kidd (7) | Staples Center<br />18,997 | 34âÂÂ27 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 62 | April 16 | @ Utah | | Dirk Nowitzki (40) | Vince Carter (12) | Jason Kidd<br>Dirk Nowitzki<br>(6) | EnergySolutions Arena<br />19,363 | 34âÂÂ28 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 63 | April 18 | Houston | | Dirk Nowitzki (35) | Shawn Marion (6) | Jason Kidd (8) | American Airlines Center<br />20,508 | 35âÂÂ28 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 64 | April 20 | Golden State | | Vince Carter (21) | Vince Carter<br>Ian Mahinmi<br>(9) | three players (4) | American Airlines Center<br />20,547 | 36âÂÂ28 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 65 | April 21 | @ Chicago | | Dirk Nowitzki (17) | Dirk Nowitzki<br>Brandan Wright<br>(7) | Rodrigue Beaubois (5) | United Center<br />20,547 | 36âÂÂ29 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 66 | April 26 | @ Atlanta | | Dirk Nowitzki (22) | Shawn Marion (8) | Rodrigue Beaubois (6) | Philips Arena<br />14,595 | 36âÂÂ30
|- bgcolor=ffcccc | 1 | April 28 | @ Oklahoma City | | Dirk Nowitzki (25) | Shawn Marion (8) | Jason Kidd<br>Jason Terry (5) | Chesapeake Energy Arena<br />18,203 | 0âÂÂ1 |- bgcolor=ffcccc | 2 | April 30 | @ Oklahoma City | | Dirk Nowitzki (31) | Shawn Marion (8) | Jason Kidd (7) | Chesapeake Energy Arena<br />18,203 | 0âÂÂ2 |- bgcolor=ffcccc | 3 | May 3 | Oklahoma City | | Dirk Nowitzki (17) | Shawn Marion (10) | Jason Terry (6) | American Airlines Center<br />20,640 | 0âÂÂ3 |- bgcolor=ffcccc | 4 | May 5 | Oklahoma City | | Dirk Nowitzki (34) | Vince Carter (8) | Jason Kidd (8) | American Airlines Center<br />20,533 | 0âÂÂ4
Shawn Marion fractured his left little finger during the opening game against the Miami Heat but did not miss a game. Marion was ill but played against the Phoenix Suns. In a game against San Antonio, Jason Kidd was subbed out with under a minute to go in the first quarter and went straight into the Mavs' locker room and was diagnosed with a lower back injury and did not return to the game. He missed the game at New Orleans and two more games. He then missed the game at home against Milwaukee before returning versus the Sacramento Kings. Vince Carter injured his left foot, x-rays showed that it was a sprain. He missed the next four games. He returned against Utah. Dirk Nowitzki sat four games because of a sore knee. Delonte West was out against Utah due to a harmstring injury. Kidd left the Game versus Utah due to a strain calf and missed more than a week. Marion injured his knee against Oklahoma but did not miss a game. He, Lamar Odom and Brendan Haywood, the latter two missed the game against Oklahoma, returned to play against Indiana. Jason Terry and Rodrigue Beaubois were out against the Denver Nuggets. Terry joined the team at New York. West went out against the Nuggets before halftime and had fractured, dislocated finger and missed 4âÂÂ6 weeks. Nowitzki left the game against Memphis with a back injury and was listed day-to-day but returned for the next game. Brandan Wright missed the game against Utah due to a concussion. Haywood sprained his ankle at Oklahoma. He sprained his knee against Charlotte and missed five games. Marion missed three games with a sore left knee. Kidd and Odom both missed the Game against the Clippers, Kidd with a groin injury which kept him out for a week and Odom was ill. Odom returned against Memphis, one game later. Beaubois missed the games at the Los Angeles Lakers and Jazz due to a right calf strain. He returned the next game against Houston. He dislocated his finger against Chicago but was able to return to the game.