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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
DALLAS (AP) – Wang Zhizhi has a lot to learn about playing in
the NBA.
But he's already got down one key ingredient about playing in
Dallas: The Chalupa Shot.
|  | | Wang Zhizhi gives the crowd a little fist pump after scoring his first basket.
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The first NBA player born in China overcame some early
communication problems to score six points and grab three rebounds
as the Dallas Mavericks beat the Atlanta Hawks 108-94 Thursday
night.
Juwan Howard led Dallas with 20 points and reserve Shawn Bradley
had 16 points and 15 rebounds as the Mavericks moved into a tie
with Utah for the fourth spot in the Western Conference. The Jazz
play in Dallas on Saturday night.
Wang's eight-minute debut was highlighted by a top-of-the-key
jumper for his first basket and two free throws.
However, it was a short shot by the 7-foot-1, 255-pound forward
that put the Mavericks over 100 points that meant to the most to
the fans because it earned them a free chalupa from Taco Bell. The
basket drew the loudest roar in a night filled with cheers for
Wang.
"He went from the new guy from China to the Chalupa Boy, and
that's pretty special around here," said Mavericks owner Mark
Cuban, who earlier this season ran on the court to break up a
chalupa-related brawl.
Wang, who said he'd been told about the Mexican food promotion,
finished 2-for-5, including a miss on a 3-pointer.
"I felt so happy I could score," Wang said. "It made me feel
I can score more in the future."
His first shot attempt was ruled a block, although it was as
much a strip as the ball never came above his waist.
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“ |
He went from the
new guy from China to the Chalupa Boy, and that's pretty special around
here. ” |
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— Mavericks owner Mark Cuban |
"I was a little nervous," said Wang, whose parents and an
estimated 300 million Chinese were watching on television. "I was
trying to score as soon as possible, and that's why I got the
turnover."
There were some other rocky moments. Such as with 5:55 left in
the second quarter when Wang took off his warmup clothes because he
thought he was being called into the game. Instead, coach Don
Nelson was asking for "Juwan" Howard, not Wang (pronounced
"Wong").
Then, with 26.8 seconds left in the first half, Wang really did
get the call. He went in to a standing ovation.
His teammates wanted him to break the ice immediately. Michael
Finley tried running a pick-and-roll, but Wang was too excited and
lost the ball.
He didn't return until there was 7:40 left and Dallas was up
91-71.
Befitting the Mavericks' international flavor, he replaced Dirk
Nowitzki, a 7-footer from Germany. And he was covering Atlanta's
Hanno Mottola, the first NBA player from Finland.
Wang grabbed his first rebound immediately, but needed more than
a minute before getting the ball on offense.
The Mavs again tried setting something up for Wang, so he
huddled briefly with point guard Steve Nash and Nelson. They spoke
in English and when Nelson walked away, he laughed and shrugged,
unsure of whether his words got through.
It apparently worked as Wang ran another pick-and-roll, this one
with Howard Eisley. He took a pass just inside the 3-point line and
got nothing but net with his smooth left-handed stroke. The crowd
erupted again and the usually blank-faced Wang even gave a
mini-fist pump.
Wang was fouled on Dallas' next possession and time out was
called. During the break, the song "Everybody Wang Chung Tonight"
was played. Then Nash drove the lane, dished to Wang and he flipped
in the magical 100th and 101st points.
"It's crazy to come all the way from China and get into an NBA
game, and he did great," Nash said. "He's very talented."
Wang didn't feel totally out of place. There were two signs in
Chinese, one that read "Your buddies are here," and another that
read "China is proud of you," which was attached to a Chinese
flag. Four kids painted Wang's name on their chests and chants of
"We want Wang!" began in the second quarter.
"Thank you to all Dallas basketball fans for supporting me so
much," Wang said. "This will help me to play harder."
Nazr Mohammed, who led Atlanta with 23 points, said he was
impressed with Wang.
"The kid can play," he said. "You can tell he has good
basketball skills. He has a nice soft touch."
Said Hawks coach Lon Kruger: "He's got the actions of a good
basketball player. It was pretty courageous of him to make that
first jump shot, then those two free throws."
Dallas won for the sixth time in seven games. The Mavericks
finished 23-7 against the East, easily the best in franchise
history. This is their 49th victory, leaving them seven games to reach
50 for the third time in their history.
Atlanta, which had won two in a row, lost its 10th in a row on
the road.
Game notes
Another sign of the Mavericks' growing popularity: Michael
Finley is throwing out the first pitch at the Texas Rangers game
Friday night. ... Brevin Knight scored 12 points after being
blanked in his previous game. ... Dallas has won 14 of 17 at
Reunion Arena.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Atlanta Clubhouse
Dallas Clubhouse
Maverick signing: Wang first Chinese player in NBA
Stein: Adding Wang fitting for Team World
Dr. Jack: Wang blazes a trail
Fred's Points: Bucks, Stack and Wang
RECAPS
New York 93
Washington 80
Sacramento 92
Utah 86
LA Lakers 100
Chicago 88
Dallas 108
Atlanta 94
Houston 91
Seattle 88
San Antonio 101
Denver 80
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