Dirk Nowitzki leads Dallas Mavericks to a 116-108 win over the Indiana Pacers: NBA Recap
Dirk Nowitzki poured in 29 points, leading the Dallas Mavericks to its eighth straight victory, 116-108, over the Indiana Pacers. Nowitzki hit 10 out of 12 shots on Friday night at American Airlines Centre, Dallas.
The Pacers made 13-of-19 shots in the first quarter, but still tracked 35-33 after 12 minutes. Pacers remained in command until 6:13 minutes were left. But Mavs’ Jason Kidd put his team in charge with a three pointer, making it
19-21. Mavericks then ended the first quarter with a lead of two points.
The battle for dominance continued in the first four minutes of the second section. But Mavericks showed their efficiency making 15-of-22, and pulled away, gaining a 44-54 lead at the halfway point. It was 57-68 at the first half
with Mavericks having the lead.
Mavericks led by as many as 14 points in the third segment, as they maintained the lead throughout the third frame. Mavericks kept the distance and didn’t allow the opposition to come close. The Mavericks went to the fourth with
a 90-81 edge.
Pacers grabbed the speed right from the start of the fourth part and also put the opponents on hold. This aggression led the Pacers just four points behind the Mavericks 90-94. Then, just 3:24 minutes before Darren Collison's hit
eight straight points for the Pacers, getting them within 98-101.
Jason Terry, though, proved too strong to cover for Pacers. He came at the crunch time, as he drained a 16-footer, and then after a Collison turnover, the expert guard canned a shot from a tough angle for a 105-98 Mavericks edge
with 2:29 to play. Then, in the last 1:31 minute Nowitzki and Kidd took the game away from the Pacers. Mavericks won by eight points.
Nowitzki went 10-of-12 from the field he missed just twice from the floor and 9-of-10 from the foul line. This was Mavericks ninth straight home win. Jason Terry added 21 points off the bench and Jason Kidd added 15 points for
the Mavericks.
The Mavericks won against the Pacers for the 11th time in the last 12 encounters at home. They pulled off this one without their key player Tyson Chandler.
"He's been our closer in the fourth quarter, We're trying to get him going some a little earlier but he makes big shots for us and makes things happen. It was fun to watch and I'm glad we closed out the fourth quarter and got the
win." Nowitzki on Terry’s performance
Danny Granger made it to the double figures with 22 points, leading the pack. It was Pacers fourth defeat in five games. Pacers defence was not up to the mark when it was required.
"We didn't defend well enough in the first half," Pacers coach Frank Vogel said. "They got off on us. They are an extremely explosive offensive team and we didn't do a good enough job in the first half. Our guys fought like they
always do and made a game of it in the second half, but it wasn't enough."
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