Sports

Parsons Leads Mavericks To 106-94 OT Win Over TWolves

January 21, 2016 / 6:14 AM CST / CBS Texas

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DALLAS (AP) - The Dallas Mavericks had to work overtime -- again -- and won even without their leading scorer.

Chandler Parsons scored 16 of his season-high 30 points in the fourth quarter and overtime as the short-handed Mavericks rallied to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 106-94 Wednesday night.

The Mavericks, playing without Dirk Nowitzki, shook off a 10-point, fourth-quarter deficit and a career game from Timberwolves rookie Karl-Anthony Towns in their franchise record-tying fourth consecutive overtime game at home.

The 1984-85 Marvericks are the only other NBA team in the shot clock to play four overtime home games in a row: their last two regular season games and their first two postseason games.

After trailing for much of the second half, Dallas was never behind in overtime. Parsons hit the biggest shot of the extra period, a 3-pointer with 2:36 to play to give Dallas a 98-93 lead. With 1:25 to go, Devin Harris made a three-point play to extend the lead to eight.

"It's a composed, experienced, veteran team," Parsons said. "We never get too high or too low in a game, and we never have a doubt. And we have a lot of guys that hate losing, so we're never going to give up."

With Nowitzki (right knee) and Kevin Garnett (rest) watching from their respective benches in suits, the 2015 first overall pick Towns had 27 points and career highs with 17 rebounds and six blocks for Minnesota. Andrew Wiggins added 23 points for the Wolves.

Minnesota, which led New Orleans by 17 points after one quarter on Tuesday only to lose by 15, could not hang on again Wednesday in losing for the 11th time in 12 games.

The Wolves led 84-74 with 6:46 remaining in regulation but saw the Mavericks claw back into the game. With the score tied at 89, Minnesota rebounded Wesley Matthews' miss with 3.9 seconds remaining but failed to call a timeout, and Shabazz Muhammad could not get a shot off before the buzzer.

"We definitely took a great step tonight," Towns said. "We just couldn't contain. We couldn't do what we needed to do, which was hold a lead, and it hurt us at the end."

DIRK STATUS UNCERTAIN
The Mavericks announced earlier Wednesday that Nowitzki would miss the game due to swelling in his right knee caused by fluid in the joint. Neither he nor coach Rick Carlisle was certain whether Nowitzki would play Friday against Oklahoma City.

"The good thing is I really didn't have any pain," Nowitzki said. "It was just the swelling and that's why they decided to hold me out. When you're old, there's always something coming up and this came up out of nowhere."

Nowitzki had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in 2012 and missed the first 27 games of the 2012-13 season. He has missed three games previously this season, but all were instances where the Mavericks scheduled rest for him.

TIMELY 3-POINTERS
The Mavericks shot just 5 of 25 on 3-pointers, tying a season low for a team that averages nearly 10 a game.

But Parsons finally got one to drop with 3:19 remaining in regulation after a favorable bounce from the rim to bring the Mavericks within 86-85, and he and Matthews each hit 3s in the extra period.

"It was about time," said Matthews, who made just 2 of 8 3s. "I was told a long time ago that the ball finds energy, and I was just trying to pick mine up."

TIP INS
Timberwolves: Garnett did not dress on the second night of a back-to-back for Minnesota. He has sat out seven games this season. ... Minnesota has lost 11 games in which it has led by double figures, most in the NBA. ... Towns has 21 double-doubles this season.

Mavericks: Dallas is 5-1 in overtime games this year and 11-1 over the past two years ... Dallas was also without Raymond Felton, who suffered an eye injury Monday against Boston. . Matthews reached 100 3-pointers for the sixth consecutive season.

UP NEXT
Timberwolves: Host Memphis on Saturday.

Mavericks: Host Oklahoma City on Friday.

NBA
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