The Dallas Mavericks exploded for 42 points in the fourth quarter to pull away from divisional rivals the San Antonio Spurs for a 112-103 victory on Friday.
Dirk Nowitzki led the charge by scoring 16 of his team-high 26 points in the final period as the Mavericks gained a three-game lead over the Spurs in the Southwest Division.
“We just kept hanging in there, as they played some tough defense on us,” Nowitzki told reporters. “I missed a lot of shots, so we had to learn how to buckle down defensively ... make it tough for [Tim] Duncan and keep [Manu] Ginobili out of the lane.”
Perennial All-Star Duncan powered to 31 points and 12 boards for San Antonio (21-13), who led 80-67 with 12 seconds remaining in the third quarter.
Dallas turned things around once Nowitzki got hot from the outside, leading a 20-5 stretch to give the visitors a 100-92 advantage with less than four minutes to go.
Nowitzki made just 10 of 28 field goals, but was unstoppable in the fourth, where he made a back-breaking three-pointer with 51 seconds left as the Spurs had pulled within four.
Jason Terry added 21 points and eight assists to help the Mavericks (25-11) improve to 13-6 on the road, the best record in the Western Conference.
Erick Dampier returned to the court after missing two straight games with a knee injury and had 14 points on a perfect 6-for-6 shooting.
“Damp is so important to us, especially against these guys because he’s the only guy that normally has the length to battle Duncan on the inside,” Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said.
San Antonio point guard Tony Parker had 21 points after having missed the previous two meetings with Dallas due to injury.
The Spurs entered the night having won 12 of their last 15 as they regain health and form since starting the year 9-9.
TRAIL BLAZERS 107, CELTICS 98
In Portland, the Trail Blazers extended their extraordinary home winning run against Boston by beating the Celtics there for the ninth straight time.
Brandon Roy scored 32 points for the Blazers, who have the longest home winning streak against the defending champions.
Kobe Bryant had 32 points and eight rebounds for the Lakers, who trailed by as many as 20 points in the fourth quarter but cut the margin to single digits in the final minutes.
NUGGETS 99, CAVALIERS 97
In Denver, the hosts overcame the absence of leading scorer Carmelo Anthony to pip Cleveland and remain a game clear atop the Northwest Division.
Kenyon Martin scored 19 points and grabbed 12 boards, playing tough defense on LeBron James in the closing stages. Chauncey Billups added 23 for Denver.
James, who sank a 3-pointer with 1.2 seconds left to pull Cleveland to 98-97, finished with 35 points.
HEAT 109, SUNS 105
In Phoenix, Jermaine O’Neal scored four points in the final 30 seconds, two on a pair of clutch free throws, to help Miami stave off Phoenix.
Dwyane Wade had 33 points, nine rebounds and eight assists for Miami.
Amare Stoudemire had 18 points and 18 rebounds for the Suns.
HAWKS 95, CELTICS 85
In Atlanta, the home team moved within half a game of the NBA Southeast Division lead by notching its second win this season against Boston this season.
Jamal Crawford scored 18 points, including two crucial 3-pointers in the fourth quarter. He converted a four-point play after being knocked into the seats on a 3-point shot. Then he swished an even longer shot from behind the arc that sealed it with 52 seconds left.
Paul Pierce scored 21 to lead the Celtics.
GRIZZLIES 91, JAZZ 89
In Memphis, Tennessee, O.J. Mayo hit a 21-foot jump shot with 5.2 seconds left to lift Memphis over Utah.
Utah’s last shot was then blocked, snapping the Jazz’s 11-game winning streak over the Grizzlies.
BUCKS 96, BULLS 93
In Milwaukee, Andrew Bogut had 27 points and 13 rebounds to rally Milwaukee to their third straight win. Michael Redd, who finished with 24 points, scored 14 and Bogut added eight, all in the final 7:09.
RAPTORS 108, 76ERS 106
In Philadelphia, Chris Bosh made the go-ahead three-point play with 8.4 seconds left as Toronto edged Philadelphia.
WIZARDS 104, MAGIC 97
In Washington, the last-placed and distracted Washington Wizards overcame a 10-point, fourth-quarter deficit to beat Orlando.
The Wizards, playing their first game since the suspension of Gilbert Arenas for gun offenses, earned ovations during the final period for their perseverance after a difficult week.
WARRIORS 108, KINGS 101
In Oakland, California, Golden State came back from an 18-point deficit in the second half to overrun Sacramento.
HORNETS 103, NETS 99
In New Orleans, Chris Paul hit a driving scoop as he was fouled with 7 seconds left, and New Orleans narrowly averted a stunning home loss to lowly New Jersey.
TIMBERWOLVES 116, PACERS 109
In Minneapolis, the hosts spoiled Danny Granger’s surprise return to the Indiana lineup. Granger scored 19 points in his return from a 16-game absence because of a heel injury. The Timberwolves won their first game in six.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
Taiwan’s Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Po-hsuan on Saturday won the men’s doubles bronze medal at the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, China, after they were bested by the hosts in their semi-final. The Taiwanese shuttlers lost to China’s Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang, who advanced to yesterday’s final against Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzudin. The Chinese pair outplayed Lee and Yang in straight games. Although the Taiwanese got off to a slow start in the first game, they eventually tied it 14-14, before Liang and Wang went on to blow past them to win 21-17. In the second game, Lee and