|
RECAP
|
BOX SCORE
|
GAME FLOW
DALLAS (AP) -- The Dallas Mavericks are serious about earning
their first playoff berth in a decade. They proved it by taking
care of the Golden State Warriors.
|  | | Warriors center Erick Dampier, center, battles Juwan Howard, left, and Dirk Nowtizki for a first-period rebound. |
Dirk Nowitzki shot 14-for-17 from the line and scored 32 points
as the Mavericks beat the Warriors for the eighth consecutive time,
102-73 on Friday night.
Juwan Howard added 15 points and Shawn Bradley had 12 points, a
season-high 20 rebounds and five blocked shots as the Mavericks won
for the fifth time in six games and opened a six-game homestand
with a victory.
"This is just what the doctor ordered," Mavericks coach Don
Nelson said. "What looks like an easy win wasn't as easy as that
score. But it was a good start to the homestand. I hope we keep it
rolling."
Steve Nash and Michael Finley each had 12 points for the
Mavericks, who won their fifth in a row against the Warriors in Reunion Arena.
"We have to take care of the teams that are sub-.500 and are
out of the playoff race," Nash said. "You can't afford to lose
one of these games."
Nelson thought the Mavericks won the game on defense as 24
Golden State turnovers led to 31 Dallas points. Golden State shot
31.6 percent (25-for-79) from the field.
"To me, it was on the defensive end that we were really good
and found something that was working," Nelson said. "We were
trapping the ball and Shawn was a big factor defensively, keeping
people from the rim."
Antawn Jamison had 16 points and 12 rebounds for the Warriors,
who have lost 18 of their past 20. Marc Jackson finished with 15
points and 12 rebounds as the Warriors fell to 6-27 on the road.
Jamison said Bradley was the difference.
"People say, 'Oh, he's not tough, he's not this, he's not
that,' " said Jamison. "But he's a great player in my opinion.
You're intimidated before you walk on the court. He's a presence."
Golden State closed to 54-49 early in the third quarter, but
Dallas countered with a 15-4 spurt. Nowitzki scored seven points in
the run.
Nash converted a free throw off a Golden State technical foul
and added a basket, then Nowitzki capped the decisive spurt by
hitting one of two free throws for a 70-53 lead with 2:55 left in
the third quarter.
Dallas led 73-58 at the start of the fourth quarter.
Golden State was unable to cope with Dallas' trapping defenses in the
second half.
"We were doing all right until they pressed us," Warriors
coach Dave Cowens said. "The press took us out of everything we
wanted to do. We played a pretty good game. We were hard-nosed. But
the end was just embarrassing."
The Warriors never got closer than 12 points in the fourth.
Dallas put the game out of reach with a 17-0 run, highlighted by 10
consecutive points from Nowitzki, including two three-point plays.
Mark Bryant's layup with 2:30 left punctuated the run and built
the Mavs' lead to 96-67.
"They made a run at us and we didn't come back and make a run
on them," said Jamison. "That's what great teams do. When they
make a run on you, you come back and make a run on them and we
didn't do that."
The Mavericks were in front by as many as 17 in the second
quarter and led 52-43 at the half. Nowitzki scored 15 points in the
first half.
Game notes
The Mavericks were without guard Greg Buckner, who missed
his third consecutive game due to a sprained left foot. ... Larry
Hughes sat out for the Warriors due to a strained left shoulder.
...Dallas has won eight of its past 10 at home.
 Send this story to a friend
|
|
ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Golden State Clubhouse
Dallas Clubhouse
RECAPS
Indiana 99
Cleveland 84
Philadelphia 108
Atlanta 103
Boston 104
Washington 72
Miami 86
Minnesota 79
New Jersey 96
New York 83
Detroit 108
Chicago 75
Dallas 102
Golden State 73
Utah 107
Phoenix 95
Toronto 110
Seattle 99
Vancouver 95
Portland 85
San Antonio 93
LA Lakers 89
Sacramento 110
Denver 104
|
