Mavericks 115 Clippers 83

The Mav’s hit a season high 15 3-pointers and moved back into a tie with San Antonio atop the Southwest Division.  Nowitzki scores 20 with 12 boards and showed little effect of the sprained ankle from earlier in the week. The game was well in hand by the third quarter and no starter played in the final quarter. Josh Howard had 25 points and Devean George added 21. The Mav’s improved to 11-3 at home.

Up next:  Tuesday, Bobcats
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Rockets 97 Spurs 78

The Rockets shot a scorching 51.4 percent from the field to the Spurs 40.3 percent with Yao Ming scoring 22 points, pulling down seven rebounds as the Rockets steam roll the Spurs. It seemed like the Rockets had a radar lock on the basket and the Spurs were shooting in the dark.

Manu Ginobili scored 23 points for the Spurs, who had a five game winning streak snapped. Tony Parker scored 21 points and Tim Duncan suffered through a 4 for 13 evening, scoring 14 points and pulling down 11 boards. Duncan also received a technical for bouncing the ball too hard. After one play, Duncan, bounced the ball hard and then caught it. To the referee, this deserved a foul call. The referee was rewarded with a much deserved round of boo’s.

Bonzi Wells scored 15 points with 7 boards to help the Rockets to the win, who continue to play without Tracy McGrady. Juwan Howard scored 14 points and Rafer Alston added 12 with nine assists. The much maligned Rocket bench came through as they out scored the deep Spurs bench 38 to 12.

NEXT UP FOR ROCKETS: Clippers

NEXT UP FOR SPURS: Hornets

An old friend was welcomed back to Mavericks practice Saturday. A hint: It’s round, orange and, most importantly, leather. The old basketball, banished before the season in favor of a widely panned synthetic version, makes its return to the NBA on Jan. 1. The Mav’s used the leather ball for the second half of practice, and plan to keep phasing it in over the next week.  Not only was the synthetic material condemned for being slick when wet and feeling cheap, it was blamed for causing injuries. Dirk Nowitzki said it caused small cuts on his hands and bleeding on one of his fingers.

The Mav’s (20-7), Spurs (21-7) and Jazz (20-8) are the only teams with at least 20 wins. Since their 0-4 start, the Mav’s are 20-3.

UP NEXT: Tuesday, Bobcats
============================
Rockets 93 Clippers 98

The Rockets lost the game but even worse news came when Rockets center Yao Ming crashed to the Toyota Center court, immediately shouting with pain, grimacing and clutching his right knee.

When the news came hours later that he had a small fracture on the front of his right anterior tibia, a major weight bearing surface of the knee, the Rockets’ season seemed to have crashed with him.

Yao, was having the finest of his five seasons and dominating in recent weeks, will be out for a minimum of six weeks. He was on pace for his fifth All-Star start as the leading vote-getter in the NBA for the third consecutive season.  Yao had been playing at what had been considered an MVP-caliber level, averaging 26.8 points and 9.7 rebounds before Saturday’s game. The Rockets now have their two top scorers out with injuries.

UP NEXT: Tuesday AT Pacers
======================
Spurs 112 Hornets 77

Embarrassed on their own floor, lit up by their coach, the Spurs arrived in OK. city early Saturday morning and weren’t exactly oozing holiday spirit. The Spurs’ humbling loss to Houston on Friday had made for a somber flight. It also, as it turned out, led to a rather frustrating evening for the New Orleans Hornets.

The Spurs pounded the Hornets as they shot a season best 63% and according to their coach, defended even better as they limited New Orleans to 29 points in the second half.

The Spurs made 12 of 16 3-pointers. Tony Parker scored 19 points with 9 assists, Manu Ginobili 17 points, four assists and repeatedly collapsed New Orleans’ defense with their penetration, creating open shots for teammates.

Bruce Bowen scored 15 points and made all three of his 3-pointers. Matt Bonner added 14 points and Michael Finley had 12. Each made both his 3-point attempts.

The Hornets shot only 37% as almost every trip into the lane ended with 3 Spurs meeting there and a missed or blocked shot ended up going the other way for a Spurs score. The Spurs totaled 33 assists as they put on a clinic on how to defend, rebound, and make the extra pass to find the open man. Usually, the open guy had a nice uncontested shot at the basket.

UP NEXT: Tuesday, Bucks

Mavericks 97 Bobcats 84

The Mav’s return from the Christmas break and take up where they left off before the break by winning their 7 straight game. The Bobcats lose their 20th game of the season as the Mav’s win their 21st.

Josh Howard scores 27 and Dirk adds 23 as the Mav’s make a run in the 3rd period that leaves the Cats playing catch up and time runs out before they can.

Up Next: Thursday, Suns
=======================
Rockets 76 Pacers 81

Tracy McGrady returned to the line up with a 19 point effort but also turned the ball over 7 times as the Rockets lose in the last 15 seconds of the game. The Rockets and Pacers both played without their starting big men but hitting free throws at the end of the game sealed the win for the Pacers.

UP Next: AT New Jersey Nets
======================
SPURS 107 BUCKS 114

Tony Parker scored 24 points and Tim Duncan had 25 for the Spurs but they couldn’t seem to over come the loss of playing without Manu Ginobili and Brent Barry. Both stayed home because of a stomach flu. In crunch time, Michael Redd hit big shots as he scored 36 points and was the difference as the Bucks over came the early lead of the Spurs. It was another loss, at home, for the Spurs who now have a better road record.

UP Next: Thursday, Jazz

Rockets 96 Nets 71

Playing with out Ming and with McGrady still nursing a sore back, the Rockets learned they can win. The Nets helped out by shooting only 33% from the field and letting the Rockets out rebound them by 20 boards. The Nets finally threw in the towel with about 6 minutes left and emptied their bench. The Rockets turned the ball over 24 times but still had enough offense to win big.

Shane Battier made a career high seven 3-pointers to finish with 23 points as the Rockets made 12 of 25 treys for the game. McGrady made just four of 16 shots for his 17 points and had five turnovers but he also had six assists.

Rockets now start a four game home stand.

Up Next: Friday, Hawks

MAVS 101, SUNS 99

The Suns shoot 51% and that usually means a win for their high powered offense but on a night when the Mav’s only shot 41%, the lesson learned is, “it is considered unlucky to be behind at the end of he game. The Mav’s have now won 8 in a row as they beat the Suns for the 2nd time this year. It was a battle from the tip off to the final buzzer and they played the game the way it should be played. Dirk’s shot with 1.3 seconds left on the clock proved to be the game winner but the lead changed over and over as these two teams proved no lead is safe until the game is over.

Jason Terry had 35 points, 8 assists, 3 steals and only 1 turnover. Dirk scored 27 with 10 boards as Josh Howard added 16 points and 12 rebounds. All three played at least 40 minutes.

Jason Terry has only scored 30 points twice this year and both times it has been against the Suns. Do you think he remembers all the talk about how he wasn’t as good as Nash when Nash left the Mav’s for the Suns?

Up next: Saturday, Hornets
==========================
SPURS 106 Jazz 83

Two nights after their coach branded them the franchise’s worst defensive squad in eight years, the Spurs took a step toward losing that ranking.  They held the Jazz to 20 points below their scoring average on 42% shooting and out rebounded them 47-39. Tim Duncan only had to play 3 periods as the lead was 31 points at one time.

Duncan, 20 points, 9 rebounds, 3 blocks, 2 steals. Parker, 22 points, 3 assists, Ginobili with 12 points, 4 boards and 3 assists.

UP NEXT: Sunday, Hawks

ROCKETS 94 HAWKS 68

T-Mac scored 31 playing less then 30 minutes while Juwan Howard scored 17 with 13 boards, 5 assists and made the Rocket win look easy. Howard and Dikembe Mutombo played outstanding defense and patrolled the lane to rebound and intimidate anyone trying to drive to the hoop. Mutombo didn’t look like a 40 year old player as he took 11 of his 14 rebounds off the defensive side and kept the Hawks from many second chance shots. The Hawks ended up shooting 35% for the night as the Rockets played great team defense. The Hawks only scored 14 points in both the 1st and 3rd periods.

UP NEXT: Sunday, Grizzlies

MAVERICKS 94 HORNETS 80

The Mav’s win streak is up to 9 as they do a good job of beating the teams the are supposed to beat. The Hornets are now without 4 of their best players as injuries have hit the team hard this season and they still aren’t sure if OK City or New Orleans is their home court. For the Mav’s, it is hard to get UP for a team you have beaten 19 times in row.

Well, now they have beaten the Hornets 20 times in a row but the Hornets showed they weren’t going to roll over and give up the game. In fact, they took the lead in the 2nd quarter briefly and after failing behind in the 4th period, made a run to cut the lead to 11, but the Mav’s have too much talent to lose this game. Everyone played as the coach emptied the bench.

Jason Terry scores 25, Dirk 17, Juwan Howard 15.

UP NEXT: AT Nuggets

MAVERICKS 89 NUGGETS 85

Josh Howard had 28 points and 17 rebounds to lead the Mavericks to their 10th straight victory. Jason Terry scored 21 points while the Mav’s played without Dirk because of a sinus infection. The Mav’s out rebounded the Nuggets 49-37, and shot 43 percent from the floor.

In a true “team” effort, Coach Avery Johnson improved to 100-35, surpassing Red Auerbach as the fastest coach in league history to 100 wins.

Report Card - Dallas owns the NBA’s best record at 24-7. (remember that 0 - 4 start?) Dirk is on his game, Jason Terry has emerged as THE point guard and Josh Howard has or is becoming the player the Mav’s need him to be. If they stay healthy, they will be a threat to win it all. The bench needs to be a more consistent in scoring but Stackhouse will light up the other team when he is well.

UP NEXT - Tuesday, Sonics
==========================
SPURS 95 HAWKS 81

Tony Parker had 27 points, Manu Ginobili added 18, Tim Duncan netted 17 points with 11 rebounds and Brent Barry had 12 points off the bench as the Spurs made it look easy and the Hawks had a hard afternoon. The Spurs starters again, made an early exit from the game as the Hawks tried to play catch up. The Spurs are hoping the stomach flu type illness has left them as almost the whole team has been sick in the last week.

Bowen and Ginobili helped check Hawks guard Joe Johnson who leads the Hawks and no one else was a real offensive threat.

REPORT CARD - At 23 - 8, the Spurs are continuing to show they are always a threat to win it all. A few games where they seemed to have defensive let downs may give other teams hope though. Some key back ups have injuries and Manu’s style of play will always put him in the injury category at some point during the season. People say the Spurs are aging and that makes them vulnerable to young, high energy type teams.

UP NEXT - Tuesday AT Cav’s
==========================
Rockets 111 Grizzlies 109

Tracy McGrady posted a season high 38 points and nine rebounds, as the Houston Rockets resumed their homestand. Juwan Howard added 22 points with seven rebounds while Luther Head finished with 18 points and Rafer Alston had 11 points and six assists.

It was game of giving and taking big punches as both teams made 10 point or more runs and the other team had to answer. At the end of the game, it was the Rockets who were still standing.

REPORT CARD - At 19 - 12 and five games back, the Rockets will be without Yao for at least another 6 weeks and McGrady is often unsure when he will be able to play. It makes for an uncertain future. The bench was already inconsistent and now is short handed as well. With the Mav’s and Spurs ahead of them, the Rockets will be hard pressed to make or advance in the playoffs.

UP NEXT - WEDNESDAY at Sonics

Before every NBA game, the officials meet with a player from each team. One of the things they do is pick the game ball.

The meeting probably never got more attention than it did Monday night before Minnesota faced Charlotte, marking the return of the leather ball an unprecedented midseason equipment change to appease players and coaches.

The ball chosen? A newer-looking ball, more colorful than some of the more worn balls used in pregame warmups.

And with that the microfiber era the NBA’s version of New Coke ended.

“This is what everybody wanted,” Timberwolves guard Mike James said. “People felt more comfortable with the leather ball.”

The Bobcats won the opening tip and rookie Adam Morrison hit the first shot of the game, a runner in the lane that officially ended an embarrassing period for the league.

But it was Timberwolves star Kevin Garnett, one of the loudest critics of the ball, who had the biggest night. Garnett was 12 of 18 from the field, scored 32 points and had 14 rebounds in Minnesota’s 102-96 victory.

“Hallelujah for the new ball,” Garnett said.

The NBA decided to abandon the ball it used for the past 35 years in favor of a microfiber composite ball at the start of the season.

The grumbling started immediately. Players said it had too much grip when dry and then would get too slippery when it got soaked in sweat. Others complained of getting cuts on their fingertips. Coaches said the ball would die around the rim and others complained that the ball didn’t always bounce true.

“There are a lot of balls that don’t come up,” Bobcats coach Bernie Bickerstaff said. “When you are just dribbling along, sometimes the ball doesn’t come up.”

Stern is not giving up on using a synthetic ball, saying last month that the NBA hopes to work with Spalding to find a ball that players like.

But until then the animal rights people may not be happy with the leather balls, but the NBA’s stars are happy.

“We’re protecting the humans, not the animals,” Bickerstaff said.

MAVERICKS 112 SUPERSONICS 88

The Win Streak is up to 11 and the Mav’s may want to give Dirk a sinus infection and fever before every game. Nowitzki had game highs in points 31 and rebounds 15 including six offensive boards. He hit 10 of 18 shots and was 10 of 11 from the line before leaving the game for good with 4 minutes left in the game. The Mavs out rebound Seattle 58 to 30. Josh Howard had 21 points and 9 boards while Jason Terry posted 18 points and 8 rebounds, Devin Harris had 16 points.  The Mav’s started and finished strong by scoring 33 in the first period and 34 in the last period. The score was tied at half time but the Mavs pulled away quickly in the last period with a 21 to 5 run.

UP NEXT: Thursday at Pacers
===========================
SPURS 78 CAV’S 82

The leather ball is back with the Spurs but it seems like they forgot how to put it in the nets. They shot an awful 38% and allowed the Cav’s to score 38 points in the final period even though the Cav’s only shot 36%. Lebron was held to 19 points as he was doubled teamed but Larry Hughes tossed in 18 with 13 of them in the decisive 4 period.

Duncan totaled 18 points and 15 rebounds but made only one of six attempts in the second half. Tony Parker had a game-high 26 points.

The Spurs were upset all night with the non calls on Duncan who was taking a beating in the low post.  Popovich had apparently seen enough when Donyell Marshall blocked Duncan from behind with 5:58 left. Duncan complained about the non-call, and Popovich yelled from across the court at official Kevin Fehr, who hit him with a technical.

Popovich then marched to the opposite free-throw line to scream more, even sidestepping Cavaliers mascot Moondog to get there. Fehr appeared hesitant to give out a second technical while Popovich was restrained by his assistants, but he finally relented. P.J. Carlesimo also picked up a technical somewhere in the mix. Damon Jones made two of the three free throws to extend Cleveland’s lead to seven.

UP NEXT: AT Timberwolves

Spurs 101 Timberwolves 103

The Spurs suffer a second loss in two nights as they fall behind by 17 points, rally to tie the game in regulation and then finally lose in overtime as a 3 point attempt bounces off the rim.

Duncan scored 24, Ginobili had 26 and Parker added 19 but they were gunned down by Garnett and Blount who scored 27 and 28. Mark Blount especially hurt the Spurs as he made 12 of 14 shots. In overtime, the Spurs only scored 8 point and the T-Wolves scored 10.

UP NEXT: Friday, Mavericks
===========================
ROCKETS 103 Sonics 96

The Rockets win their 4th in a row and it is a pleasant surprise since they are doing it without Ming. Tracy McGrady netted 31 points on 11 for 21 shooting and Juwan Howard scored 18 points. Rafer Alston scored 13 points and Shane Battier had 12. Dikembe Mutombo added eight points and 12 boards. The Rockets shoot 47 % taking 88 shots while the Sonics shoot 50% but only take 72 shots. Seattle was out rebounded 41 to 32.

UP NEXT: Friday, JAZZ

MAV’S 100 PACERS 91

The win streak is up to 12 games for the second time this season. The last streak ended at the hands of the Wizards, of all teams. The Spurs are next so don’t expect the let down the Mav’s had last time.

Mavs get 25 points and 11 rebounds from Josh Howard, 20 points and seven rebounds from Dirk Nowitzki, and 13 points and four steals from Devean George. But Devin Harris scored 13 of his 24 points in the fourth period and filled the void left by Jason Terry who had a 1 point game.

The Pacers played the Mav’s close until the 4th period when the defense suddenly shut them down. On 7 straight trips, the Mav’s held the Pacers scoreless and then the Mav’s went on a 14 to 4 run to put the game away.

Odd Stats: Mav’s are out rebounded 50 to 38.  The Mavs force 18 turnovers, leading to 32 points

UP NEXT: AT Spurs

MAVS 90, SPURS 85

The win streak for the Mav’s is now at 13 after doing to the Spurs what the Spurs normally do to other teams. That is, score enough to stay close until the 4th period, then clamp down with tough defense while going to your best offensive weapon and make your free throws to finish out the game.

It is the system Coach Avery Johnson learned with the Spurs and now his Mavericks have become the team who does it best. They lead the league in wins and now have beaten the Spurs, for the first time in 11 years, at home, twice this season. Of course those two wins were by a total of 8 points.

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich was completely sincere when he called the Mavericks the “best team in the league.” He rattled off the reasons, offering a convincing argument for a team that also happens to own the best record in the league.

Even though the Mav’s were down by 10 or more points at times, a viewer could see this game was a battle and no lead was going to be safe until the game was over. These two team can score quickly and play shut down defense.

Nowitzki had 10 of his 36 points in the 4th quarter. Devean George had a pair of key layups. Jason Terry, suffering through his second straight poor shooting game, caught a rare Nowitzki air ball and laid it in for an 84-82 lead with 1:44 left. And there was the defense. The Spurs, losers of their last three, scored only 16 points in the final quarter on 31% shooting. Guarded mostly by Nowitzki in the fourth, Tim Duncan had only three points in the fourth. Josh Howard had 18 points with 12 boards including 9 off the defensive glass to limit the Spurs 2nd chance shots. Jason Terry only had 8 points but also pulled down 6 boards and had 8 assists.

Tim Duncan’s “OFF” night was 18 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 blocked shots. Ginobili added 25, Parker 15 and Oberto 14 for the Spurs.

Rebounds Mav’s 41 Spurs 33

ODD stats: Both coaches played 10 players. There were NO TECHNICALS called. POINTS OFF TURNOVERS Dallas 13 San Antonio 10

Mav’s - Up next: Sunday at Lakers
Spurs - Up next: Sunday at Grizzles
=================================
Rockets 100 Jazz 86

Rocket win streak is at 5.

For some reason, the Jazz didn’t double up on T-Mac and he made them pay with a 44 point outburst. OK, they didn’t double him because recently, Rafer Alston, 14 points, Shane Battier, 15 points and Luther Head 7 points have become a threat on the perimeter. Alston hit 4, 3’s, Shane Battier hit 3, 3’s. Dikembe Mutombo kept on rebounding, finishing with a season high 19 and even scored 9.

ODD STAT: POINTS OFF TURNOVERS - Utah 2

UP NEXT: AT TIMBERWOLVES

Mav’s 98 Lakers 101

The win streak ends at 13 games as the Lakers do enough to win the game and put the Mav’s out of their own misery. It is a game the Mav’s could and should have won. Nowitzki had 29 points, 13 rebounds, Josh Howard had 20 points, nine rebounds and Jerry Stackhouse scored 14 but Sasha Vujacic of the Lakers was the difference maker. He scored 16, with the points coming at critical times, by hitting on 4 of 5 three point shots. It’s too bad the Mav’s didn’t catch him last Friday when he missed all 5 shots he took. Kobe Bryant, who scored 14 of his 26 points in the final period, had eight rebounds and six assists to go with Luke Walton’s 21 points and six assists.  The Lakers shot 39 of 71 (55%) to 38 of 90 (42%) for the Mavericks. In the 4th period, the Lakers scored 33 on 61 percent shooting, while the Mav’s only shot 37%.

UP NEXT:  Tuesday, AT JAZZ
==========================
SPURS 110 Grizzlies 96

Tony Parker sat out due to a hip injury so Manu Ginobili took it upon himself to score 34 points since the Grizzlies decided to take Duncan out of his game with double teams every time the ball came to the low post. Most games, making Manu take the open shot on the perimeter is NOT a good idea. In only 27 minuets, he hit 6, 3’s added four rebounds, three assists and five steals. The Griz had to pick a poison and it killed them. They never gave up but they couldn’t catch up either and the Spurs broke their 3 game losing streak that say them fall 4 games back of the Mav’s. Robert Horry, who started the last five games, came off the bench and recorded 18 points and three rebounds. Fabricio Oberto had 4 points and eight boards.  Beno Udrih started in Parker’s place and totaled seven points and six assists while Jacque Vaughn backed him up and also scored seven points.

UP NEXT:  TUESDAY, Trail Blazers
================================
ROCKETS 99 Timberwolves 103 O.T.

T-Mac scored 31 but it took 29 shots to do it. Shane Battier scored 20 and Juwan howard had 19 but those time when the Rockets can’t buy bucket hit them hard in overtime as they went a few minutes without scoring and the T-wolves took advantage. Neither team scored 90 points in regulation.

Houston shot 42 percent from the floor, while the Timberwolves connected on 41 percent of their shots from the field, including 5-of-11 from long distance ... Minnesota won the rebounding battle, 49-43 ... Houston’s Dikembe Mutombo pulled down 13 boards.

Up next: AT Bulls

ROCKETS 84 Bulls 77

After the Rockets scored a season low of 30 points in the first half, T-Mac came alive and scored 25 of his 31 points in the second half, including the shot that put the Rockets in front to stay with about a minute left in the game. The Bulls played tough interior defense and dared the Rockets to beat them with from the perimeter. The Rockets couldn’t do it, in the first half. The 2nd half was a completely different story though as the 3’s starting falling, the Bulls had to extend the defense and T-Mac’s shots started falling too.

Then it was the Rockets turn to deny the lane and any easy buckets. The Bulls outside shooter couldn’t make the Rockets pay so they win a close, hard fought victory.

McGrady ended with a game-high 31 points, also added six rebounds and eight assists for the Rockets, who have won five of their last six games. Juwan Howard had 16 points, nine boards, Shane Battier contributed 12 points, and Luther Head ended the night with 10 points and eight rebounds. Dikembe Mutombo also pulled down a season-high 16 rebounds in the effort.

ODD STAT: Rockets shoot 39% Bulls shoot 36%

UP NEXT; Wednesday, Lakers