Meaningful rout over Pistons

Routs don’t mean a thing in themselves during the preseason, but the Mavs found plenty of value in beating Detroit by 28 points. Even if the Pistons were going through the motions.

Dirk Nowitzki and Josh Howard appear to be in regular-season form, even if Howard’s regular season will be delayed two games. Brandon Bass and Trenton Hassell continue to impress, while Gana Diop looked healthy, especially on the boards, after a two-game hiatus with the flu.

Ball movement was also at its healthiest, as the Mavs led by as many as 38 points, shot 54.4 percent and had 26 assists on 49 baskets.

“We hadn’t been a really big assist team and we are trying to get more people involved, and you see more of the three and four passes,” Avery Johnson said. “When you have guys that are making better decisions and the shots go in, it makes everybody look good. You see big guys making better passes and our point guards are really familiar with what we are doing. We definitely played our game tonight and it made things a lot easier.”

Nowitzki was crisp during an efficient 27-minute stint, leading all scorers with 25 points on 10-of-14 shooting. He added eight rebounds, three assists and two steals.

“He looks pretty good to me,” Johnson said. “He looks strong. Dirk is a big-time competitor. He has improved his post game more than last year and he has more space to operate. The guys that are out there on the floor with him are at least a threat and that gives him more room.”

Johnson worked out Diop personally in the morning and pronounced his only healthy center fit. Diop responded with 10 rebounds in only 18 minutes.

Bass (18 points and 10 boards) continues to show a quicker-than-expected first step and shooting touch, to go along with his obvious strength and toughness.

“That’s one of my strong points, to be strong around the goal and that’s what I’ve got to bring every night,” he said after his second straight double-double. “I always try to go strong to the basket with both hands and try to dunk it. I’m not into the layup thing. I’ve just got to go up strong.”

The Mavs (3-3) return home Sunday night in the next-to-last preseason affair against New Orleans.