The AP reports: Dirk Nowitzki, the NBA’s fourth-leading scorer, was 3-of-13 from the floor and scored 10 points, just two more than his season low… One of Nowitzki’s seven assists gave Dallas the lead for good… Eddy Curry entered with 2:42 left in the first quarter and scored on a layup just more than a minute later. That’s was Curry’s only shot attempt in 2 1/2 minutes of action. He also grabbed two rebounds… Chris Duhon hit his first nine shots and scored 24 points, and Wilson Chandler added 20 for the Knicks, who have lost two in a row since beating defending champion Boston on Sunday. New York’s David Lee had 13 points and 15 rebounds—his seventh consecutive double-double. Duhon finished 10-of-14 from the field… Josh Howard led six Dallas players in double figures with 19 points. Antoine Wright had 13 points, Brandon Bass added 12 and Jason Terry 10.
Category: Dallas Mavericks Blog
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Nowtizki leads Mavericks over hurting Clippers
The AP reports: Dirk Nowitzki made the game-saving plays on both ends of the court for the Dallas Mavericks. That was the easy part for the star forward. Just don’t ask the frustrated Nowitzki to explain how the Mavericks even got into the position that his blocked shot and go-ahead jumper were needed in the final minute against the short-handed and hurting Los Angeles Clippers. “Terrible. We had a good lead and we let up,” Nowitzki said. “They got whatever they wanted offensively. We couldn’t get any stops.” Until Nowitzki, who had 34 points, blocked a shot and then scored with 37 seconds remaining in a 107-102 victory Tuesday night… Eric Gordon, who scored 32 points, had a turnover on the next possession when the ball was knocked from his hands by Jason Kidd—though the rookie and his coach both thought there was a foul on the play.
Antoine Walker charged with DUI
The AP reports: Former NBA player Antoine Walker was charged with suspicion of drunk driving in Miami Beach early Monday morning, further hurting his chances of playing again this season. Walker was driving a black Mercedes without the lights on when he was pulled over at 5:39 a.m., according to the arrest report. Officers detected a strong odor of alcohol and wrote in the report that Walker had a sleepy look on his face. He refused a breathalyzer test… Walker was being held Monday on a $1,000 bond and jail officials said they did not immediately know if he has attorney.
InsideHoops.com reader Goose says: Any word on the secondary charge of making a career out of jacking up careless jumpers?
Mayo leads Grizzlies over Mavericks, 102-82
The AP reports: The Grizzlies came out determined to finally beat the Mavericks, and O.J. Mayo made sure they finished off the win. Mayo scored 18 of his 21 points in the second half, and Memphis snapped a 13-game losing streak to Dallas with a 102-82 victory Sunday… Marc Gasol had 19 points for Memphis, which ended a four-game skid overall. Rudy Gay and Warrick added 18 apiece. Dirk Nowitzki led the Mavericks with 28 points, hitting 11 of 21 shots. Jason Terry scored 18, and Josh Howard finished with 12 points, including 10 in the third period.
Mavericks rally from 29 down to stun Timberwolves
The AP reports: Jason Terry scored 24 of his 29 points in the second half, and Dallas rallied from a 29-point deficit to beat the Timberwolves 107-100 on Tuesday night. “The first half was ugly,” said Nowitzki, who had a bloody nose after being hit by Craig Smith on a drive to the basket in the third quarter… The Timberwolves led 70-41 early in the third quarter when the Mavericks started their comeback, the largest in franchise history… Al Jefferson scored 21 points, Ryan Gomes added 19 and Randy Foye had 18 for the Timberwolves, who blew the largest lead in franchise history… Josh Howard scored 23 and Kidd had 14 points and a season-high 16 assists for Dallas.
Mavericks hot but defense lacking
The Dallas Morning News (Eddie Sefko) reports: The Mavericks are 16-5 since the first 17 days of the season. But that crummy start still mars their overall record. At 18-12, they are on pace to win 49 games – not too shabby, given the 2-7 start. They have shown they are a good road team, with 10 wins already. They have embraced coach Rick Carlisle’s everybody-plays style, and the offense has gotten more fluid as the season has progressed. But if there’s one stamp on the Mavericks that is a sure-fire measure of success, it’s their defense. Yes, their defense.
Mavs beat Clippers 98-76 without Nowitzki
The AP reports: The Dallas Mavericks didn’t miss Dirk Nowitzki nearly as much as the Los Angeles Clippers missed Zach Randolph. Josh Howard had 29 points, nine rebounds and a career-best seven assists, leading Dallas to a 98-76 victory Sunday while Nowitzki served a one-game suspension… Despite the absence of Nowitzki and his 8.9 rebounds per game, the Mavericks held a 53-38 advantage on the glass. Five of their players had eight or more rebounds, including Erick Dampier, point guard Jason Kidd, James Singleton and reserve Brandon Bass… Marcus Camby returned to the Clippers’ lineup after missing the previous game due to his father’s death, scoring 16 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. Al Thornton also had 16 points.
Dirk Nowitzki suspended one game
ESPN.com (Marc Stein) reports: Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki has received a one-game suspension for striking Utah’s Matt Harpring in the face with a backhanded swipe Friday night. The league announced the suspension three hours before the Mavericks’ 12:30 p.m. PT Sunday tipoff against the Los Angeles Clippers at the Staples Center. The Mavericks were not informed of Nowitzki’s enforced absence until Sunday morning. The league office began reviewing Nowitzki’s flagrant foul/penalty 2 on Harpring on Saturday. The foul resulted in Nowitzki’s ejection early in the fourth quarter of Dallas’ 97-88 defeat on Friday night… Nowitzki was ejected for swinging his arm in response to under-the-basket contact from Harpring. Video replays confirmed that although it was a backhanded swipe, Nowitzki made a closed-fist connection with Harpring’s face on his follow-through.
Dec 26: Jazz 97, Mavs 88
The AP reports: Running out of forwards and centers, the Utah Jazz turned to rookie Kosta Koufos and seldom-used Kyrylo Fesenko. Both came through with career high scoring nights and anchored a patchwork lineup as Utah beat the weary Dallas Mavericks 97-88 on Friday night. Koufos scored 18 points and Fesenko added eight points as the short-handed Jazz pulled ahead early and never gave up the lead, ending Dallas’ three-game winning streak… With Utah missing its top three scorers and rebounders in Carlos Boozer (quad), Paul Millsap (knee) and Mehmet Okur (back), Koufos made his sixth career start and had his best game since leaving Ohio State after his freshman year… Koufos was 8-for-11 and also had eight rebounds and the Jazz outscored the Mavericks 52-34 in the paint and topped his previous career high of 12 points… Reserve Jason Terry led Dallas with 26 points. Nowitzki had 17 points and eight rebounds before he was tossed for backhanding Matt Harpring with 9:48 left in the game after Fesenko scored on an offensive rebound.
Dec 25: Mavs 102, Blazers 94
The AP reports: Dirk Nowitzki scored 24 of his 30 points in the first half, and Jason Terry had 19 to help the surging Dallas Mavericks beat the Portland Trail Blazers 102-94 on Thursday night. Nowitzki was 12-of-18 from the field and scored on power moves and jumpers despite playing the second half in foul trouble. Josh Howard added 15 points for Dallas, 15-4 in its last 19 games after opening 2-7. Portland’s Brandon Roy had 22 points, but went scoreless in the fourth quarter. Steve Blake added 14 points and seven assists, Travis Outlaw and Rudy Fernandez had 13 points each, and LaMarcus Aldridge finished with 12… Josh Howard was ejected after picking up a flagrant foul and two technical fouls in the third quarter.