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NBA: Mavs find there is life after Nowitzki
By The Associated Press
Wednesday, March 26, 2008 | No comments posted.
Josh Howard’s performance assured the Dallas Mavericks that all is not lost without Dirk Nowitzki.
Howard scored 32 points, Jerry Stackhouse had 20, Erick Dampier had 19 points and 17 rebounds and Jason Kidd neared a triple-double, lifting the Mavericks past the Los Angeles Clippers 103-90 on Tuesday night.
With Nowitzki out indefinitely with a sprained ankle and knee, Howard had a simple game plan to pick up the slack for the Mavericks’ leading scorer and rebounder.
“If everyone goes up four or five points, that’ll cover it,” Howard said.
In the third quarter, Dallas was up only 60-58 and in need of a Nowitzki-like surge. Howard provided it, scoring 20 of the team’s next 26 points for a 16-point lead early in the fourth quarter.
The win kept Dallas (45-26) in the seventh spot in the West, two games ahead of Golden State and 2 1/2 ahead of Denver. The Mavericks are headed on the road for games against those two teams, and will play five of their next six against teams in the playoff chase.
“We’re up to the challenge,” Stackhouse said. “We don’t have to win out, but we all have to pick it up a little.”
At Dallas, Howard struggled early, going 2-of-11 and getting to the line only once in the first half. Dampier stepped in and got 12 points and 12 rebounds over the first two quarters.
“Damp obviously was very inspired,” coach Avery Johnson said. “We need him to do what he did tonight, not necessarily the numbers but being aggressive going to the basket.”
Howard finished 8-of-22, made all 15 of his free throws, had seven rebounds and four steals, while Kidd had 10 points, eight assists and six rebounds.
Corey Maggette had 21 points for the Clippers, who lost their eighth straight.
“We did a good job as long as we could,” coach Mike Dunleavy said. “I thought we played hard. We didn’t give up. We didn’t bow out.”
Hornets 114, Pacers 106
At Indianapolis, David West had 35 points and 16 rebounds, and New Orleans beat the Pacers in their first game since CEO Donnie Walsh announced he was leaving the team at the end of the season.
Chris Paul had 31 points and 14 assists as the Hornets won their fourth straight to maintain the best record (48-21) in the Western Conference.
Danny Granger led Indiana with 26 points and nine rebounds.
Spurs 107, Magic 97
At Orlando, Fla., Manu Ginobili scored 28 points and Michael Finley added 24 as the Spurs won their fourth straight.
Dwight Howard had 24 points and 21 rebounds, his eighth game this season with at least 20 in both categories for Orlando. Rashard Lewis added 24 points, Keyon Dooling 19 and Carlos Arroyo 17.
Tim Duncan had 19 points and 15 rebounds for San Antonio.
Bulls 103, Hawks 94
At Chicago, Drew Gooden scored a season-high 31 points and matched a season best with 16 rebounds as the Bulls held on in the fourth quarter.
The Bulls, one of several teams chasing the Hawks for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, led by 12 after three quarters before Atlanta rallied within two with just more than six minutes left.
Josh Childress scored 22, including eight in the final quarter, to lead Atlanta.
Jazz 128, Bobcats 106
Carlos Boozer had 28 points and 13 rebounds, and Deron Williams added 14 points and 15 assists to lead host Utah.
Mehmet Okur also had a double-double for Utah with 20 points and 10 rebounds, and the Jazz pulled away after letting a 20-point lead slip to three early in the fourth quarter.
Jason Richardson scored 26 points and Gerald Wallace added 21 for the Bobcats, who lost their sixth straight road game.
Howard scored 32 points, Jerry Stackhouse had 20, Erick Dampier had 19 points and 17 rebounds and Jason Kidd neared a triple-double, lifting the Mavericks past the Los Angeles Clippers 103-90 on Tuesday night.
With Nowitzki out indefinitely with a sprained ankle and knee, Howard had a simple game plan to pick up the slack for the Mavericks’ leading scorer and rebounder.
“If everyone goes up four or five points, that’ll cover it,” Howard said.
In the third quarter, Dallas was up only 60-58 and in need of a Nowitzki-like surge. Howard provided it, scoring 20 of the team’s next 26 points for a 16-point lead early in the fourth quarter.
The win kept Dallas (45-26) in the seventh spot in the West, two games ahead of Golden State and 2 1/2 ahead of Denver. The Mavericks are headed on the road for games against those two teams, and will play five of their next six against teams in the playoff chase.
“We’re up to the challenge,” Stackhouse said. “We don’t have to win out, but we all have to pick it up a little.”
At Dallas, Howard struggled early, going 2-of-11 and getting to the line only once in the first half. Dampier stepped in and got 12 points and 12 rebounds over the first two quarters.
“Damp obviously was very inspired,” coach Avery Johnson said. “We need him to do what he did tonight, not necessarily the numbers but being aggressive going to the basket.”
Howard finished 8-of-22, made all 15 of his free throws, had seven rebounds and four steals, while Kidd had 10 points, eight assists and six rebounds.
Corey Maggette had 21 points for the Clippers, who lost their eighth straight.
“We did a good job as long as we could,” coach Mike Dunleavy said. “I thought we played hard. We didn’t give up. We didn’t bow out.”
Hornets 114, Pacers 106
At Indianapolis, David West had 35 points and 16 rebounds, and New Orleans beat the Pacers in their first game since CEO Donnie Walsh announced he was leaving the team at the end of the season.
Chris Paul had 31 points and 14 assists as the Hornets won their fourth straight to maintain the best record (48-21) in the Western Conference.
Danny Granger led Indiana with 26 points and nine rebounds.
Spurs 107, Magic 97
At Orlando, Fla., Manu Ginobili scored 28 points and Michael Finley added 24 as the Spurs won their fourth straight.
Dwight Howard had 24 points and 21 rebounds, his eighth game this season with at least 20 in both categories for Orlando. Rashard Lewis added 24 points, Keyon Dooling 19 and Carlos Arroyo 17.
Tim Duncan had 19 points and 15 rebounds for San Antonio.
Bulls 103, Hawks 94
At Chicago, Drew Gooden scored a season-high 31 points and matched a season best with 16 rebounds as the Bulls held on in the fourth quarter.
The Bulls, one of several teams chasing the Hawks for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, led by 12 after three quarters before Atlanta rallied within two with just more than six minutes left.
Josh Childress scored 22, including eight in the final quarter, to lead Atlanta.
Jazz 128, Bobcats 106
Carlos Boozer had 28 points and 13 rebounds, and Deron Williams added 14 points and 15 assists to lead host Utah.
Mehmet Okur also had a double-double for Utah with 20 points and 10 rebounds, and the Jazz pulled away after letting a 20-point lead slip to three early in the fourth quarter.
Jason Richardson scored 26 points and Gerald Wallace added 21 for the Bobcats, who lost their sixth straight road game.
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