The Mavs won and Dirk Nowitzki spent most of the game narrowly escaping sexual advances made by Jeff Green (22), as the above picture clearly illustrates. Nowitzki finished with a game-high 32 points.(AP Photo/LM Otero)For the first time in three games, the Dallas Mavericks (26-13) held an opponent below 100 points and under 48 percent shooting to snap a two-game skid. The Mavs held the Oklahoma City Thunder (21-18) to 42 percent shooting and the NBA's third leading scorer, Kevin Durant, to 6-18 shooting on the night.
But, knowing the Mavs, it wasn't an easy win at home. Dallas trailed by as many as 11 points (42-31) in what was a sloppy and turnover-filled first 24 minutes in which they had 10 turnovers.
The Mavericks went on a 20-8 run to end the third quarter as they captured their first lead of the game (70-68 after two Nowitzki free throws) and had a 76-71 lead to start the fourth. Shawn Marion had six rebounds and a block as he led the charge defensively during the Mavs run. Marion finished the game with six points, seven rebounds, a steal and a block.
The Thunder came back late in the fourth, tying the game at 93-93 with 1:05 remaining. Nowitzki then scored the Mavericks next six points including what was the game winner (over the above-pictured Jeff Green) with :06 seconds left in regulation. Jason Terry and Nowitzki combined to score 16 of the last 18 Dallas points and the Mavs committed only four turnovers in the second half.
"I was happy to get the win," said Terry, who had 21 points and five assists. "Although we didn't put an outstanding performance together, we were back out there having fun on the floor."
(Portions of this article were taken from The Associated Press)
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