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NBA: Mavericks end five-game skid
By The Associated Press
Monday, November 17, 2008 | No comments posted.
Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks dug out of a big hole to snap a five-game losing streak — and leave the New York Knicks wondering what the heck happened.
Nowitzki scored seven of his season-high 39 points in overtime and grabbed 15 rebounds in the Mavericks’ improbable 124-114 victory Sunday at Madison Square Garden.
“We just told ourselves, ‘Stay with it and get some big stops and offensively keep attacking,”’ Nowitzki said. “We had to get off this losing streak, so whatever I had to do, the team told me to keep shooting and play aggressively.”
Dallas outscored New York 19-2 over the final 7:26. The Knicks were 0-for-14 after Quentin Richardson’s basket with 2:28 left in regulation that made it 112-105.
“We could have won the game,” Knicks forward Zach Randolph said. “We had a chance to win the game. But the ball won’t fall for us. There’s nights like this. We’ve just got to keep our head up and keep going.”
Josh Howard added season highs of 31 points and 14 rebounds, and Jason Terry scored 16 of his 20 points after halftime to help the Mavericks improve to 3-7. With the victory, Dallas avoided its first six-game skid since Feb. 29-March 9, 2000.
“We’ve been playing some close games and the fourth quarter has been a problem for us,” point guard Jason Kidd said. “This is a veteran group so nobody’s panicked.”
Randolph had 27 points and 18 rebounds for New York.
“We played well enough to win. We should have won in regulation and we didn’t,” Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni said. “We gave them a little hope. Nowitzki and Howard are very good basketball players. You’ve got to give them credit.”
Suns 104, Pistons 86
At Phoenix, Amare Stoudemire had 29 points and 11 rebounds on his 26th birthday and Phoenix overcame Shaquille O’Neal’s second-quarter ejection.
Steve Nash, back from a one-game suspension for his part in a skirmish with several Houston players, added 17 points and seven assists for the Suns, who already were without two players before O’Neal was tossed for a flagrant foul with 5:19 left in the first half. Boris Diaw had 13 points for Phoenix.
Richard Hamilton scored 19 for the Pistons.
Spurs 90, Kings 88
At Sacramento, Calif., Michael Finley scored 21 points and Tim Duncan had 20 for San Antonio, including two key baskets in the final minute.
Duncan’s short jumper tied it with 49 seconds left and his bank shot off a drive put San Antonio ahead for good at 90-88 with 15.5 seconds remaining.
John Salmons had a season-high 31 points for the Kings.
Nuggets 90, Timberwolves 84
At Denver, Chauncey Billups scored 26 points, J.R. Smith had eight of his 14 points in a decisive fourth-quarter stretch and Denver overcame poor shooting to hand Minnesota its eighth straight loss.
Carmelo Anthony added 14 points and 12 rebounds to help Denver improve to 5-1 since the Nuggets acquired Billups in the trade that sent Allen Iverson to Detroit.
Al Jefferson had 20 points and 14 rebounds for Minnesota. The Timberwolves haven’t won since beating Sacramento in their opener.
Magic 90, Bobcats 85
At Charlotte, N.C., Hedo Turkoglu scored 20 points to lead Orlando, Mickael Pietrus added 18, Rashard Lewis had 17 and Jameer Nelson 15.
Magic All-Star center Dwight Howard was shut down by Charlotte’s defense, scoring just four points and fouling out for the first time this season.
Gerald Wallace had 17 points for the Bobcats.
Raptors 107, Heat 96
At Toronto, Chris Bosh scored 27 points, and Jermaine O’Neal had 11 points and 18 rebounds to help Toronto snap a two-game losing streak.
Dwyane Wade scored 29 points for Miami.
Nowitzki scored seven of his season-high 39 points in overtime and grabbed 15 rebounds in the Mavericks’ improbable 124-114 victory Sunday at Madison Square Garden.
“We just told ourselves, ‘Stay with it and get some big stops and offensively keep attacking,”’ Nowitzki said. “We had to get off this losing streak, so whatever I had to do, the team told me to keep shooting and play aggressively.”
Dallas outscored New York 19-2 over the final 7:26. The Knicks were 0-for-14 after Quentin Richardson’s basket with 2:28 left in regulation that made it 112-105.
“We could have won the game,” Knicks forward Zach Randolph said. “We had a chance to win the game. But the ball won’t fall for us. There’s nights like this. We’ve just got to keep our head up and keep going.”
Josh Howard added season highs of 31 points and 14 rebounds, and Jason Terry scored 16 of his 20 points after halftime to help the Mavericks improve to 3-7. With the victory, Dallas avoided its first six-game skid since Feb. 29-March 9, 2000.
“We’ve been playing some close games and the fourth quarter has been a problem for us,” point guard Jason Kidd said. “This is a veteran group so nobody’s panicked.”
Randolph had 27 points and 18 rebounds for New York.
“We played well enough to win. We should have won in regulation and we didn’t,” Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni said. “We gave them a little hope. Nowitzki and Howard are very good basketball players. You’ve got to give them credit.”
Suns 104, Pistons 86
At Phoenix, Amare Stoudemire had 29 points and 11 rebounds on his 26th birthday and Phoenix overcame Shaquille O’Neal’s second-quarter ejection.
Steve Nash, back from a one-game suspension for his part in a skirmish with several Houston players, added 17 points and seven assists for the Suns, who already were without two players before O’Neal was tossed for a flagrant foul with 5:19 left in the first half. Boris Diaw had 13 points for Phoenix.
Richard Hamilton scored 19 for the Pistons.
Spurs 90, Kings 88
At Sacramento, Calif., Michael Finley scored 21 points and Tim Duncan had 20 for San Antonio, including two key baskets in the final minute.
Duncan’s short jumper tied it with 49 seconds left and his bank shot off a drive put San Antonio ahead for good at 90-88 with 15.5 seconds remaining.
John Salmons had a season-high 31 points for the Kings.
Nuggets 90, Timberwolves 84
At Denver, Chauncey Billups scored 26 points, J.R. Smith had eight of his 14 points in a decisive fourth-quarter stretch and Denver overcame poor shooting to hand Minnesota its eighth straight loss.
Carmelo Anthony added 14 points and 12 rebounds to help Denver improve to 5-1 since the Nuggets acquired Billups in the trade that sent Allen Iverson to Detroit.
Al Jefferson had 20 points and 14 rebounds for Minnesota. The Timberwolves haven’t won since beating Sacramento in their opener.
Magic 90, Bobcats 85
At Charlotte, N.C., Hedo Turkoglu scored 20 points to lead Orlando, Mickael Pietrus added 18, Rashard Lewis had 17 and Jameer Nelson 15.
Magic All-Star center Dwight Howard was shut down by Charlotte’s defense, scoring just four points and fouling out for the first time this season.
Gerald Wallace had 17 points for the Bobcats.
Raptors 107, Heat 96
At Toronto, Chris Bosh scored 27 points, and Jermaine O’Neal had 11 points and 18 rebounds to help Toronto snap a two-game losing streak.
Dwyane Wade scored 29 points for Miami.
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