Dirk Nowitzki hit big shot after big shot, keeping Dallas in the game, and nailed the game-winner for the Mavericks with 1.7 seconds left.The Dallas Mavericks (17-7) should have lost this game. They shot 39.8 percent from the field, 16.7 percent from behind the arc and provided a lackluster performance for most of the game. Luckily for Dallas they were playing the Charlotte Bobcats, oh, and they have some guy named Dirk Nowitzki.
After making only one of his first 11 attempts and making only three of 13 going into halftime, Nowitzki took over in the fourth quarter and overtime, scoring 18 of his game-high 36 points. Nowitzki made two free throws and his last two shots of regulation; the overtime forcing shot a fall-away jumper that touched every part of the rim before going down.
"I had a couple of good bounces down the stretch," Nowitzki said.
Nowitzki continued his late-game heroics in the overtime period, where he scored six points on three of five shooting. Dirk hit two shots in the final 24 seconds of regulation including the game winner on which he drove left, caught Boris Diaw off-balance, pulled up and the faded back; swishing the ball in the basket for the victory. Diaw was the victim on both the game tying shot in the fourth and the game winner in overtime, and was no match defensively for Nowitzki down the stretch.
"He's a 7-footer who can shoot fadeaways pretty high," the 6'8 Diaw said. "It's tough to get up there."
Damp Does It Again
Erick Dampier is playing the best basketball he has played in a Mavericks' uniform (one-year contract after this year anyone?). Damp had his second consecutive double-double with 14 points (on a perfect 7 of 7 from the field), 18 rebounds, while also controlling the paint to the tune of three blocked shots. Registering 40 minutes for the first time all season, it was hard to get Damp off the court for long as the defense was notably improved with the big man in the game.
The Matrix
Shawn Marion had arguably his best game in a Mavericks' uniform. The Matrix contributed his highest rebound total of the season with 15 as he collected the many Dallas clangs off the rim while also chipping in 15 points. It was his second double-double of the season and Marion also made some noise defensively with two blocks and two steals along with some clutch defense on Gerald Wallace.
JET Stuck On The Runway
Jason Terry missed 15 of his 19 attempts from the floor, including all six of his three-point attempts. Dallas missed 11 straight three-point attempts after halftime, before wising up and not taking another one in overtime. Terry also had 0 assists, only one rebound, and two turnovers on the night. Easily his least-effective game this season off the bench.
Two-PG Starting Backcourt
Jason Kidd didn't shoot very well (1-6) but did create many game-changing steals that allowed Dallas to keep this one close at the end. Kidd finished with nine assists and a season-high six steals as he spent much of his time chasing Stephen Jackson around for the majority of the fourth quarter and overtime. Barea did well in his third consecutive start, scoring 10 points in the first quarter to give the Mavericks' a spark to start the game. However, JJ didn't score the rest of the game and finished with 10 points and five assists as he didn't play much to end the game with Terry out there clanging three's.
Thank-You Terrible Bobcats Team
Charlotte committed 18 turnovers on the night, mostly in the most crucial situations, as they basically gave Dallas the game. The Bobcats led 85-79 with 1:26 left in the fourth quarter and then allowed the Mavericks' best player to score six straight points. An offensive foul and two consecutive missed shots (one by Jackson and one by Raymond Felton) led to overtime. Jackson led Charlotte with 28 points and seven rebounds, but missed his last two shots of the fourth quarter and three of his four overtime attempts. Overall, a good defensive team but careless with the ball despite a starting lineup that averages 27.4 years old.
"We deserved to win this game," Jackson said, "We competed and did everything we're supposed to do to win this game. For some reason, it didn't happen that way."
Jackson thinks he and his teammates did everything to win this game except for, well, actually winning the game. All kidding aside, he is right in a sense. But the Dallas defense held when it needed to and that was the difference.
What's Next?
Dallas was lucky to come out of this game with a win, and a back-to-back sweep. Dallas' next game is against a New Orleans Hornets team that lost it's last game, to the New York Knickerbockers by 17 points. The Hornets are 3-1 in their past four games, but their wins were against Sacramento (10-12) and the Minnesota Timberwolves (3-21) twice. New Orleans 10-12 on the year but only 2-9 on the road. Josh Howard should return to action for this one after missing this game due to precautionary reasons.
Tip-off is at the AAC at 7:30 p.m. Monday (Dec.14).
News and Notes:
- Dallas has now won every game it has played against the Charlotte Bobcats since their inaugural season in 2004-2005 (11-0).
- Charlotte is now 1-10 on the road this season.
- With 36 points, Dirk Nowitzki had his eighth such 30+ point game this season. Nowitzki is averaging 27.3 points per game this season, fifth in the NBA.
- Dallas is now 4-3 on the second night of a b-2-b this season.
- Dallas is 4-0 in games decided by two-points or less this season.
(Portions of this article were taken from The Associated Press)
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