Dirk Nowitzki leads Dallas Mavericks over Chicago Bulls
In a match-up between two quality opponents, former MVP Dirk Nowitzki led his Dallas Mavericks to an 88-83 victory over the Chicago Bulls last night in Dallas.
Nowitzki, the 32-year-old German power forward, was in top form as he recorded a monster game with 30 points and 10 rebounds.
"It felt good being out there again after not competing and basically just playing tennis for five months," he said. "It feels good being out there, moving and just playing the sport that
I love."
The Mavericks, playing in their second game of the pre-season after losing 97-94 to the Washington Wizards Tuesday night, also got 22 points and five rebounds from Caron Butler, who was
playing against his former team. The 30-year-old player was traded to the Mavericks in February of last year after five seasons with the Wizards.
Back-up point guard Jason Terry chipped in with 13 points and four assists while Shawn Marion, coming off the bench for the first time as a Maverick, finished with six points and five
rebounds.
"That was probably the first time Shawn Marion came off the bench in his career and he played a real sensible game," said Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle.
Marion was accepting of his role with the second unit, something he might have to get used to given the improved depth of the Mavericks roster.
"It was an adjustment," he said. "It was interesting…We all got to make adjustments and we all got to pitch in. Whatever it takes."
Despite being down 23-28 after the first quarter, the Mavericks, led by the energy of their bench players including Terry and Marion, went into half-time leading 45-44.
The game was close the rest of the way but 14 fourth-quarter points from Butler managed to seal the deal for the Mavericks. His jumper with just over five minutes to go put his team up
76-75 and they managed to stay ahead the rest of the way.
"Caron came through with big shots down the stretch," Carlisle said.
The Bulls, despite being 0-2 to start the pre-season, should be a playoff team this year, especially with the off-season addition of Carlos Boozer, who did not play last night while he
recovers from surgery on his right hand.
The Bulls were led by the play of their speedy point guard Derrick Rose, who tallied 17 points while center Joakim Noah, fresh off signing a five-year extension with the team, did a little
bit of everything, finishing with 13 points, eight rebounds, six assists, and three steals.
"I liked the start of the game," said Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau. "I thought we got off to a good start. We were executing the play on both ends of the floor. But we’re nowhere near being
a 48-minute team, and that’s what we have to do to be successful."
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