The story appears on

Page A12

February 26, 2010

GET this page in PDF

Free for subscribers

View shopping cart

Related News

Home » Sports » Basketball

Nowitzki sparkles as Mavs turn back Lakers in Dallas

DIRK Nowitzki scored 31 points to guide the Dallas Mavericks to a 101-96 win over the Western Conference-leading Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday.

The German finished the game strongly with 13 points in the fourth quarter, while Jason Terry totaled 30 points as the Mavericks (37-21) rolled to their fifth win in a row.

"We knew they were going to keep coming. Our defense won us the game," Nowitzki told reporters.

"We made it tough for Kobe (Bryant) down the stretch. With great players you have to make them work for every point."

Bryant, who drained a game-winning three-pointer on his return from a five-game absence against the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday, missed a similar effort that would have tied the contest with 25 seconds left.

Bryant also misfired on his first five shots and finished 9-for-23 with 20 points. Lamar Odom led the Lakers with 21.

The victory gave Dallas a 2-2 split in the season series with Los Angeles (43-15).

It was the first matchup between the teams since the Mavericks traded for scoring forward Caron Butler, guard DeShawn Stevenson and center Brendan Haywood, a deal that has propelled the team to a 5-1 stretch.

Butler missed the game because of a negative reaction to medication while Haywood continued his steady play inside with 11 points and nine rebounds.

Elsewhere in the National Basketball Association, it was: Hawks 98, Timberwolves 92; Grizzlies 99, Wizards 94; Trail Blazers 101, Raptors 87; Bulls 120, Pacers 110; Bucks 115, Hornets 95; Magic 110, Rockets 92; Spurs 95, Thunder 87; Jazz 102, Bobcats 93; Suns 106, 76ers 95; and Clippers 97, Pistons 91.

In Dallas, the Mavericks were able to beat the Lakers on the glass with a 13-7 advantage in offensive rebounds, a key factor in helping the home team turn a close game into a 95-86 lead with 2:19 left.

Los Angeles responded with an 8-2 run but the Mavs clinched the game with four straight free throws.

"Free throws and offensive rebounds, those are the things that stand out statistically," said Los Angeles coach Phil Jackson.

"We would have loved to see Butler out there tonight, but they got it done without him anyway."

A jumper in the second quarter sent Bryant past Reggie Miller into 13th place on the NBA's career scoring list. Bryant has 25,298 points.




 

Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.

沪公网安备 31010602000204号

Email this to your friend