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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- The Dallas Mavericks gave Del
Harris an easy one in his first game since taking over as interim
coach for cancer-stricken Don Nelson.
|  | | The Mavs' Michael Finley tries to shoot over New Jersey's Aaron Williams. |
Dirk Nowitzki had 31 points, Michael Finley added 21 and the
Mavericks allowed their fewest points this season in defeating the
New Jersey Nets 99-73 on Sunday night.
"Nelly and I are of the same mind," Harris said. "If you are
going to have a good team, it starts with defense. That doesn't
come easily to this team, but they have really been working hard on
it this year. We are playing defense with a lot of pride."
In Dallas' current three-game winning streak, opponents have
averaged 81 points.
The Mavericks' performance would have pleased Nelson, who was in
Salt Lake City, Utah, on Sunday undergoing tests for prostate
cancer. There is a chance he will rejoin the team on the current
six-game road trip, Harris added.
Harris had little to worry about as the Mavericks took the lead
for good late in the first quarter in sending the injury-plagued
Nets to their 10th loss in 11 games.
"We got a little complacent after getting the win over Phoenix
(on Friday)," forward Aaron Williams said. "We thought we could
go out and play the same way and get the same results without the
same efforts. They just played harder than us tonight."
The 26-point loss was the Nets' worst of the season. New Jersey
dropped a 24-point decision to Indiana on Tuesday. Five of New
Jersey's last six losses have been by 20 or more points.
Dallas shot 53 percent from the field, hitting 37 of 70 shots.
"When we shoot like we did tonight, there's not too many teams
who can stay with us," said Finley, who was 9-for-17 from the
field.
Nowitzki, who scored a career-high 35 points against Houston on
Tuesday, was even better. He shot 9-for-13, including 4-for-6 from
3-point range.
"I was wide open most of the night," Nowitzki said. "That's
my game, shooting the ball, and the guys did a great job of finding
me for the open shot."
Rookie Kenyon Martin had 18 points for the Nets, who played
without point guard Stephon Marbury for the fourth straight game
and guard Kendall Gill for the third straight. Sherman Douglas
added 13 and Stephen Jackson had 12 points and 10 rebounds.
"There ain't too much you can do when they shoot like that,"
Jackson said.
The Nets shot 3-for-19 in the fourth quarter, finishing the game
shooting 32.9 percent. New Jersey scored only 11 points in the
quarter and didn't get a basket until Martin dunked with 5:43 to
go.
Nowitzki got a rare three-point play for his final points early
in the fourth quarter. He was fouled by Jackson on a drive, and got
the extra free throw when Williams was called for a flagrant foul
as he continued to the basket.
The Mavs retained possession and Finley hit a jumper to make it
five points off the play.
Game notes
Harris got to clear his bench in his first game as coach,
with everyone playing at least five minutes. ... Loy Vaught and
Mark Bryant did not score for the Mavs. ... The Mavs built a
31-point lead in the final minutes. ... Dallas is now 7-5 on the
road. ... Dallas' current road trip is against all Eastern
Conference teams. The Mavs are 6-0 against Eastern Conference
clubs. ... Mavs guard Howard Eisley sprained his right ankle in the
third quarter and did not return.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Dallas Clubhouse
New Jersey Clubhouse
RECAPS
Phoenix 95
Toronto 87
Boston 104
Denver 102
Dallas 99
New Jersey 73
Sacramento 101
Miami 97
LA Lakers 112
Detroit 88
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