The Dallas Mavericks’ latest run has them feeling unbeatable. German juggernaut Dirk Nowitzki scored 26 points, Caron Butler had 16 and the red-hot Mavericks cooled off the Utah Jazz for their eighth consecutive victory, 93-81 on Friday night.
“We feel like we can beat anybody, anywhere,” Butler said. “We’re playing great basketball. The environment in the locker room is second to none. Up 10 or down 10 our attitude is not going to change.” Jason Kidd contributed 15 points for Dallas (15-4), which outscored Utah 54-38 in the second half and improved to 7-1 on the road this season.
“The first half, we were a bit sluggish,” Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said. “The second half, we just played with a lot more attitude.” Paul Millsap had 21 points while Al Jefferson added 18 for Utah (15-6), which had its own seven-game success stopped after shooting a frosty 39 per cent from the floor.
“They were very good defensively,” Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said.
“They made it difficult for us almost all the time.” After trailing by five at halftime, the Mavericks made 12-of-18 third-quarter shots and led 66-62 before dominating the final 12 minutes.
Nowitzki scored five points, and J.J. Barea’s driving layup capped an 11-1 burst at the start of the quarter that opened up a 77-62 cushion with 9:06 remaining. The Mavericks never let the lead dip below 12 for the rest of the way to break a five-game skid at EnergySolutions Arena, dating back to January 2007.
“We’re still one of the best teams,” said Jazz guard Deron Williams. “This is one of those nights. Things didn’t go our way. The Mavericks played better than us.” Elsewhere: LA Lakers 113, Sacramento Kings 80 Kobe Bryant scored 22 points, Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom added 16 apiece, and the host Lakers (14-6) snapped a season-high four-slide while sending the stumbling Kings (4-13) to their sixth straight loss.
Orlando Magic 104, Detroit Pistons 91 Brandon Bass scored a career-high 27 points on 11-of-12 shooting, Vince Carter had 25 and the Magic overcame a stomach virus to key players for their sixth straight victory.
Orlando (15-4) was without starters Dwight Howard, Jameer Nelson, J.J. Redick and fellow—reserve Mickael Pietrus. Tayshaun Prince topped Detroit (6-14) with 30 points.
Boston Celtics 104, Chicago Bulls 92 Kevin Garnett collected 20 points with a season-best 17 rebounds, while Rajon Rondo handed out 19 assists, pacing the Celtics (15-4) to their sixth straight victory.
Derrick Rose topped the visiting Bulls (9-8) with 20 points.
New York Knicks 100, New Orlean Hornets 92 Amare’e Stoudemire had 34 points and 10 assists, Raymond Felton had 17 with 13 assists, sending the resurgent Knicks (11-9) to their eighth win in the last nine games.
Trevor Ariza had a season-high 21 points for host New Orleans (13- 6) which was without starting forward David West due to a stomach virus.
Toronto Raptors 111, Oklahoma City Thunder 99 Andrea Bargnani had 26 points with 12 rebounds, Leandro Barbosa scored a season-best 22 points and the Raptors (8-11) capitalized on the absence of league top gun Kevin Durant (left knee sprain) to beat the visiting Thunder.
Russell Westbrook and James Hardin had 20 points apiece for Oklahoma City (13-7) Washington Wizards 83, Portland Trail Blazers 79 Andray Blatche scored 19, Gilbert Arenas had 15 and the host Wizards (6-12) won their fourth in a row by handing the cold-shooting Blazers (33.3 per cent) their eighth straight loss.
Houston Rockets 127, Memphis Grizzlies 111 Kyle Lowry scored a career-high 28 points and matched a personal-best with 12 assists, Kevin Martin also scored 28, and the Rockets (7-12) made 16-of-23 from behind the arc to tame the Grizzlies (8-12) for the sixth straight time.
Charlotte Bobcats 91, New Jersey Nets 84 (OT) Stephen Jackson scored 25 points, Tyrus Thomas hit the go-ahead basket with 3:47 left in overtime, and the Bobcats (7-12) regrouped after blowing a seven-point lead in the final minute of regulation to clip the visiting Nets (6—14).
Atlanta Hawks 93, Philadelphia 76ers 88 Marvin Williams scored 22 points, Al Horford made the go—ahead three-point play with 31 seconds left and the host Hawks (13-7) rallied from 18 down for their fifth straight victory.
Denver Nuggets 109, LA Clippers 104 Carmelo Anthony scored 26 points, J.R. Smith added 21 and the Nuggets (12-6) rolled to their sixth straight victory while dropping the Clippers (4-16) to 0-9 on the road.
San Antonio Spurs 107, Minnesota Timberwolves 101 Tim Duncan had 22 points with 10 boards, while Argentine Manu Ginobili scored 16, including the go-ahead free throws with 1:13 left, rallying the league-best Spurs (16-3) from a 15-point, fourth-quarter deficit.
Michael Beasley scored 28 points, while Kevin Love contributed 25 points and 18 rebounds for Minnesota (4-15), which blew a 21-point cushion to San Antonio, nine days earlier.
Phoenix Suns 105, Indiana Pacers 97 Channing Frye threw in a season-high 29 points, including the go-ahead jumper midway through the fourth quarter, and Jason Richardson added 21, leading the Suns (10-9) past the visiting Pacers (9-9).
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