RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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 GAME FLOW
DALLAS (AP) -- The Dallas Mavericks want the ball in the hands of
clutch-shooting swingman Michael Finley in crunch time.
|  | | Michael Finley celebrates his buzzer-beating, game-winning jumper Friday night. |
Finley delivered Friday night, hitting an off-balance 22-foot
jumper as time expired to lift the Mavericks to a 79-77 victory
over the San Antonio Spurs.
"He can make a shot out of nothing," Mavericks guard Steve
Nash said. "We're always confident he can get a good look."
San Antonio's Avery Johnson had tied the game at 77 with a
3-pointer from the right corner with 4.1 seconds left.
Finley, who finished with 20 points, took Greg Buckner's inbound
pass, dribbled to his left and launched a fallaway jumper over Sean
Elliott with just over a second left. The shot swished as the final
buzzer sounded, and Finley was mobbed by his teammates.
"It's a play we work on quite a bit in practice," said Finley.
"Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. The ball felt good when
it left my hands. Luckily, it went in."
Playing with a bruised left shoulder, Dirk Nowitzki added 18
points and 10 rebounds for the Mavericks, who wanted to put on a
good show for free agent forward Joe Smith. Dallas owner Mark Cuban
spent the afternoon trying to convince Smith to sign with the
Mavericks.
Smith and his agent, Dan Fegan, sat beside Cuban in baseline
seats. Smith visited the Mavericks locker room before the game and
at halftime.
The Reunion Arena public address announcer introduced Smith to
the crowd, and Smith smiled as he was cheered when his image was
shown on the arena's big screen.
Fegan has said Dallas, Chicago, Atlanta, Miami and the New York
Knicks are all in the running for Smith.
Cuban said he wanted Smith to come to Dallas to see the city and
meet with the players.
"I didn't want to put on the hard sell," said Cuban. "Joe
wanted to see what Dallas is all about. We just want to let him
know we want him to be here."
Finley said the players were receptive to Smith.
"What more could you ask for?" said Finley. "A packed house,
we win at the buzzer, that's the best selling you can do. We'd love
to get him."
Derek Anderson had 17 points to pace the Spurs, who were coming
off a victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night. Tim
Duncan had 11 points and 14 rebounds, despite a third-quarter head
injury.
Sean Elliott and Johnson added 11 points each for the Spurs, and
David Robinson finished with nine points and 14 rebounds.
Finley's 20-foot jumper with 36.9 seconds left gave Dallas a
76-74 lead. The Mavericks' Greg Buckner made one of two free throws
with 18.8 seconds remaining, then Johnson tied it to set up
Finley's heroics.
"Both teams were in a position where one shot was going to do
it for somebody, and Finley hit a heck of a shot," said Spurs
coach Gregg Popovich. "It was just one of those miracle shots.
Sean Elliott had it guarded real well."
Dallas led 73-67 with 5:05 remaining. But San Antonio went on a
7-0 run, capped by Robinson's layup with 1:24 left, and took a
74-73 lead.
Duncan left the game with 3:10 left in the third quarter
bleeding from a cut to the head.
Duncan struck his head on the court as he wrestled for a loose
ball with Finley. Duncan was on the floor for about a minute, then
got to his feet and walked to the bench without assistance. Duncan
pressed a towel to his head to cover a small cut.
Duncan returned to the game to start the fourth quarter wearing
a large bandage on his head. After the game, he said he was fine.
Dallas took a 61-56 lead into the fourth quarter.
The Mavericks held a 40-35 halftime lead, taking advantage of
the Spurs' 34 percent (14 for 41) first-half shooting. Dallas
wasn't much better, hitting only 36 percent (18 for 50).
Game
notes
Nowitzki, listed as doubtful due to a strained left
shoulder, was in the starting lineup. ... Shawn Bradley had a
season-high eight blocked shots for Dallas. ... Buckner came off
the bench after missing three straight games due to a sprained
right foot. Buckner was limping in the fourth quarter ... Mavericks
rookie Courtney Alexander made his first career start. ... The
Spurs got off to a 14-5 start, but the Mavericks answered with a
16-2 run. ... The Mavericks rebounded from a 27-point loss to
Vancouver two nights earlier.
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NBA Scoreboard
San Antonio Clubhouse
Dallas Clubhouse
Smith leaving T-Wolves? Arbitrator paves way
RECAPS
Toronto 115
Cleveland 88
Indiana 86
Washington 74
New York 103
Boston 101
Dallas 79
San Antonio 77
Miami 87
Utah 80
Sacramento 114
Golden State 107
LA Clippers 115
Atlanta 106
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