Mavs Top Warriors for 10th Straight Win
Dallas (Sports Network) - Dirk Nowitzki scored a game-high 25 points, and the Dallas Mavericks held off Golden State down the stretch to notch a 105-100 win, their 10th straight victory.
Jason Terry added 20 points for the Mavericks, who last lost on November 19 and have recorded their first 10-game win streak since ripping off 13 straight from February 17-March 10, 2010.
"No question these guys are a bitter rival, and any time we play against the Warriors it's going to be a tough game," Terry said. "Tonight, we did what we had to do to come out with the win."
Caron Butler contributed with 19 points, while Ian Mahinmi had his first career double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds for Dallas, which has defeated Golden State four straight times.
Stephen Curry had 21 points to lead the Warriors, who have lost four straight and nine of 10. David Lee posted 20 points, eight rebounds and seven assists in defeat.
"We're not getting the final results as far as the wins we need, but we are playing there," said Warriors head coach Keith Smart. "So by the time we get it all together, I think we're going to be a good basketball team."
The game featured 24 lead changes and 11 ties and was close throughout.
The Warriors' last lead came at 79-78 with 9:18 left and was erased on a Terry jumper and subsequent Mahinmi layup. Golden State went nearly four minutes between field goals, and a Curry three-pointer kept the visitors within 86-84.
Dallas scored the next six points, and the stretch ended on a Terry basket with 4 1/2 minutes left for a 92-84 advantage.
Lee's jumper, free throw and a Monta Ellis basket with three minutes left made it a three-point game before Terry and Nowitzki hit back-to-back shots to extend the Mavericks' lead to 96-89 with 2:09 to go.
Golden State never got closer than four the rest of the way; Jason Kidd's three-pointer -- his first field goal of the contest -- with 31.9 seconds left put Dallas ahead, 102-94, and essentially sealed the outcome.
The Mavs held a slim 27-26 advantage after one quarter and a 50-48 lead at halftime. Neither team led by more than seven in the first three quarters, and Golden State held a 72-71 lead heading to the fourth.
Game Notes
The Mavs began a six-game homestand Tuesday and also host New Jersey, Utah, Milwaukee, Portland and Phoenix...Golden State is 3-9 on the road...Ellis finished with 18 points, while Dorrell Wright had 17 points and 11 rebounds for the Warriors.
