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Mavericks notch first victory
Source: Agencies |
January 1, 2012, Sunday
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THE defending NBA champion Dallas Mavericks beat the Toronto Raptors 99-86 on Friday for their first win of the season boosted by 56 points from their reserves.
The Mavs were the first champions to open their title defense with three consecutive losses since the Boston Celtics started the 1969 season losing four in a row.
Reserve center Ian Mahinmi sparked the Mavs with 19 points in 28 minutes of action as the bench players carried the team to victory.
"If I'm open, I'm going to shoot it. That's what coach has been telling me throughout the preseason," Mahinmi told reporters. "When I've got an open shot, I got to take it, which is something I've really worked on in the offseason."
Fellow reserves Jason Terry scored 18 points and former Raptor Vince Carter added 10 points. Mavs talisman Dirk Nowitzki was held to 18 points.
The Raptors trailed through much of the game until they surged ahead 68-61 in the third quarter with a 14-point run capped by a slam dunk by Amir Johnson. The Mavericks called timeout to break the momentum and pushed back to seize the lead for good with a 16-2 run at the end of the third quarter to lead 77-70.
"It's knowing how to win, we've got to understand how to beat a championship team," said Toronto coach Dwane Casey, who was an assistant coach with Dallas last season.
"You work hard to get a 68-61 lead and we have to learn how to close it out. It's a mark of a young team versus a veteran team."
Andrea Bargnani led the Raptors with 30 points, and Leandro Barbosa scored 20 points.
In Minneapolis, Miami's Dwyane Wade hit a jumper from the wing, then scored on an inbounds pass from LeBron James with 4.6 seconds to play, lifting the undefeated Heat to a 103-101 victory over the Timberwolves.
Playing on a sore foot, Wade finished with 19 points, while James had 34 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds on his 27th birthday. Kevin Love had 25 points and 12 boards for the Timberwolves, who led 100-99 with 55 seconds to play.
But Wade hit a jumper and then lost his opponent on an inbounds play to make the winning basket, one game after beating the Charlotte Bobcats with a last-second shot.
Also, Bulls 114, Clippers 101; Celtics 96, Pistons 85; Grizzlies 113, Rockets 93; Suns 93, Hornets 78; Pacers 98, Cavaliers 91, OT; Magic 100, Bobcats 79; Bucks 102, Wizards 81; Jazz 102, 76ers 99; and Hawks 105, Nets 98.
The Mavs were the first champions to open their title defense with three consecutive losses since the Boston Celtics started the 1969 season losing four in a row.
Reserve center Ian Mahinmi sparked the Mavs with 19 points in 28 minutes of action as the bench players carried the team to victory.
"If I'm open, I'm going to shoot it. That's what coach has been telling me throughout the preseason," Mahinmi told reporters. "When I've got an open shot, I got to take it, which is something I've really worked on in the offseason."
Fellow reserves Jason Terry scored 18 points and former Raptor Vince Carter added 10 points. Mavs talisman Dirk Nowitzki was held to 18 points.
The Raptors trailed through much of the game until they surged ahead 68-61 in the third quarter with a 14-point run capped by a slam dunk by Amir Johnson. The Mavericks called timeout to break the momentum and pushed back to seize the lead for good with a 16-2 run at the end of the third quarter to lead 77-70.
"It's knowing how to win, we've got to understand how to beat a championship team," said Toronto coach Dwane Casey, who was an assistant coach with Dallas last season.
"You work hard to get a 68-61 lead and we have to learn how to close it out. It's a mark of a young team versus a veteran team."
Andrea Bargnani led the Raptors with 30 points, and Leandro Barbosa scored 20 points.
In Minneapolis, Miami's Dwyane Wade hit a jumper from the wing, then scored on an inbounds pass from LeBron James with 4.6 seconds to play, lifting the undefeated Heat to a 103-101 victory over the Timberwolves.
Playing on a sore foot, Wade finished with 19 points, while James had 34 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds on his 27th birthday. Kevin Love had 25 points and 12 boards for the Timberwolves, who led 100-99 with 55 seconds to play.
But Wade hit a jumper and then lost his opponent on an inbounds play to make the winning basket, one game after beating the Charlotte Bobcats with a last-second shot.
Also, Bulls 114, Clippers 101; Celtics 96, Pistons 85; Grizzlies 113, Rockets 93; Suns 93, Hornets 78; Pacers 98, Cavaliers 91, OT; Magic 100, Bobcats 79; Bucks 102, Wizards 81; Jazz 102, 76ers 99; and Hawks 105, Nets 98.
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