MAVS 108, JAZZ 105

The game was every bit as close as the score indicates and it had a lot of drama as well. The Mav’s 6th man, Jerry Stackhouse, came down with food poisoning and wasn’t expected to play or play the whole game. He played but didn’t play the whole game because he was ejected for getting 2 technicals. One foul was for an argument he had with jazz coach, Jerry Sloan and the other was a seemingly hard foul that upon further review didn’t look like a flagrant foul at all.  Both fouls kind of seemed like an example of home field advantage. Stackhouse left the game with 11 points while Dirk Nowitzki poured in 38 points including going 13 of 15 from the foul line, with every shot seeming like it was a huge score. Josh Howard had 21 points, nine rebounds, Jason Terry had 18 points and Devin Harris 14.

Jazz shoot 51% Mavs were at 53%

UP NEXT: Trailblazers
======================
SPURS 98 Trail Blazers 84

The Spurs had a few goals set before the game. Get a win, rest some of the starters and no over time game so they could get to the jet and in the air to Denver right after the game. All were accomplished.

The Trailblazers, like so many other teams decided to take away Duncan’s points with double and triple teams. They also learned why the Spurs are considered one of the best passing teams in the NBA. Duncan recognized where the double teams were coming from and kicked the ball out to the open shooters and the trailblazer defense couldn’t get back in time. Bruce Bowen hit 4 3’s, Brent Barry hit 3 3’s, Bonner hit 2 more and the defense of the Spurs did what was needed. In limited minutes, Duncan scored 16, Ginobili and Parker scored 14.

POINTS OFF TURNOVERS: Portland 12 San Antonio 28

ODD STAT:  both teams had 34 rebounds

UP NEXT:  AT Nuggets

MAV’S 99, BLAZERS 74

The Mav’s have been on the road, then back home for one game and now, back on the road for a few more games. Not much time for a shoot around much less real practice or rest. The NBA schedulers have nothing personal against you guys so just keep winning and all will be fine.

At least the game was under control early and the starters didn’t have to play 40 or even 30 minutes. Jason Terry led the Mavs with 20 points on 8 of 12 shooting, Josh Howard contributed 17 points and eight rebounds, Devin Harris scored 14, and Dirk Nowitzki added 11 points and five assists in 26 minutes.

The Mav’s defense took over early and held the blazers to 39% shooting from the field for the game. The 74 points are the fewest for a Mavs opponent, so far, this season. The blazers helped the Mav’s defense by missing some easy shots, including, an air ball on a free throw attempt.  The Mav’s emptied the bench since they shot 51% and had the big lead.

UP NEXT: Friday AT Pacers
========================
Spurs 92, Nuggets 83

In a game that was closer then the score shows, the Spurs turned up the defense in the 2nd half and overcame some cold shooting to win the game. Coach Pop may have to ask his team NOT to shoot any layups. They missed at least 6 and 5 were by Tony Parker, who scored 26 points and dished out seven assists. Even Manu Ginobili wasn’t immune from the missed shot problem as he proceeded to miss the first five shots he took.

Still, Tim Duncan posted 19 points and 13 rebounds for the Spurs. Manu Ginobili netted 16 points with 6 assists and 6 boards, while Bruce Bowen added 11.

Spurs out rebounded the Nuggets, 46 to 41 and had more assists to the tune of 23 to 15.

UP NEXT: Saturday, Wizards
=========================
HOUSTON 102 Lakers 77

Everyone knows, when these two teams play, there is one guy everyone will be watching, Dikembe Mutombo. At least that is what happened as the Rockets throw a block party and Mutombo takes 5 blocks with his 19 rebounds and grounds the high flying Laker offense. The Lakers shot a season low 34% and scored a season low 31 second-half points. Andrew Bynum, the Lakers 19 year old center, is used to playing above the rim but he isn’t used to a 40 year old center meeting him there and blocking his shots. Consider it a welcome to the NBA lesson from an old school player. Deke moved into sole possession of second place on the NBA’s all time shots blocked list, with 3,191 and pass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. (3,189) Hakeem Olajuwon is the all-time leader in blocked shots with 3,830.

Juwan Howard had 23 points and 11 boards, Rafer Alston scored 20 with 5 rebounds and 4 assists, Battier added 17 points. McGrady was held to 8 points but had 12 assists and 5 rebounds.

POINTS OFF TURNOVERS LA Lakers 8 Houston 14

TECHNICALS: LA Lakers 3, Houston 2

LA Lakers: Head Coach Phil Jackson 2, B.Cook

Houston: Defensive Three Second 2

UP NEXT: Friday AT Nuggets

MAVERICKS 115, PACERS 113 (OT)

Dirk will do what needs to be done to win and that is why fans are hearing MVP when his name is mentioned. Do you need 25 point from him, 35 or in the game with the Pacers, another season high of 43 points? How about if he grabs 12 boards as well?

Yes, Jason Terry scored 30, Josh Howard added 15 points with eight boards, and Erick Dampier had 13 points, 8 rebounds but there is no doubt that Dirk is the go to guy and he proved it time after time. He was especially good as he finished the night making 15 of 18 free throws when the game was on the line in regulation and over time. Howard, Terry and Nowitzki all had to play 40 plus minutes but they did what great teams do and that is NOT quit or let up when the game is on the line. The Pacers wouldn’t quit either but the talent and will of the Mav’s was just too much when time ran out. In OT, the Pacers were held to 10 point and after almost 3 hours, the Mav’s scored 12 to win the hard fought game. The Mav’s lead the NBA with 30 wins, the Suns have 27, Spurs have 26, Rockets, Lakers and Jazz all have 24.

UP NEXT: Sunday at Raptors
==========================
ROCKETS 90 Nuggets 86

Shane Battier posted 25 points and seven rebounds to lead the Rockets to another Yao-less win. Without Yao, the Rockets are a surprising 8 and 2. Rafer Alston and Luther Head both scored 15 points for the Rockets, who got their third straight victory. Tracy McGrady posted 12 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds, while Juwan Howard also netted 12. Battier though was the MAN as he scored 10 points in the last 3 minutes of the game and did all the other things needed to win the game. Like hitting 5 3’s in the game, taking a charge for a foul, driving to the hoop to score and playing 41 minutes with 3 assists and only 1 turnover. Mutombo also had a good game with 7 points, 4 blocks, 3 assists and 10 rebounds.

UP NEXT:  KINGS

ROCKETS 115 KINGS 111 OT)

Maybe the Rockets enjoyed the over time game last Friday; maybe this was a mistake by Battier when he failed to foul the shooter at the end of regulation. What ever the reason, The Rockets went into OT tied with the Kings and came out a winner again. It wasn’t a pretty game to watch and there were many high and low points for both teams as the lead changed hands 30 to 40 times but The Rockets outlasted the Kings.

Tracy McGrady scored 37 with 9 assists, Rafer Alston added 22 with 8 assists and none of his points were bigger then when he hit four free throws in the final 16 seconds. Juwan Howard had 17 with an efficient shooting night hitting 8 of 11. Dikembe Mutombo grabbed 18 rebounds and scored 11 points. The coach shortened the rotation as the starters played heavy minutes and only 8 total guys played.

Interesting stat: Houston hit 25 of 28 free throws (89%)

TECHNICALS: Houston 3, Sacramento 0

UP NEXT: Tuesday AT Mavericks
=============================
SPURS 93 Wizards 80

It seemed like just anther day at the office for the Spurs as they do their usual workman like job. That means they held the Wiz to a season low shooting 31% and Gilbert Arenas’ 30 point avg. took a hit as he only scored 17 on 6 of 20 shots.

The Spurs took control early and the Wiz were playing catch up all night long except they couldn’t catch up with the Spurs making 8 or 9 point runs the whole game. Wiz shooter seemed to be shooting at baskets with lids on them and the rims probably needed painting after the game.

Tim Duncan totaled 18 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, three blocks, Manu Ginobili had some key 3-pointers among his 19 points and Parker had 13 points, 10 rebounds and six assists, as well as playing great defense on Arenas.

ODD STAT: POINTS OFF TURNOVERS - Washington 23 San Antonio 18

TWO LOSSES:
(1) Spurs - Matt Bonner tore the medial collateral ligament in his left knee.

(2) Wiz - Coach Eddie Jordan also left the game prematurely. He was ejected midway through the third quarter for arguing, too colorfully, that Arenas had been unable to get a call, despite being repeatedly fouled.

You can guess who won that disagreement between the Ref and the coach.

UP NEXT: Monday AT Bulls

MAVERICKS 97, RAPTORS 96

If you are Josh Howard and you are only going to score one basket in the 2nd half of the game, it is a great idea to do it with 1 second left in the game and your team behind by 1 point. Dirk ended up being a great decoy because he took 2 defenders with him to the wing while Howard took the pass from Jason Terry, drove the lane and took the ball to the hoop. There were 2 other guys trying to block his shot but to no avail. Otherwise, Howard was shooting 4 of 16 for the night and ended with 14 points, 8 boards and 5 assists. The Mav’s needed all of Nowitzki 38 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists during his 46 minutes on the court. “Jet”, also known as Jason Terry, added 17 by knocking down 5 3’s at critical times. The Mav’s also out rebounded the Raptors, 41 to 34.

Interesting stat: both teams had 3 DNP guys by coaches decisions.

UP NEXT: Tuesday AT Rockets

SPURS 87 BULLS 99

Make a note, if you shoot 39% from the field, 26% from 3 point land, get out rebounded and turn the ball over 14 times, you probably aren’t going to win the game, no matter who you are playing.

It is what the Spurs got out of the game as Tony Parker led the Spurs to a loss. Playing perhaps his worse game this year, he couldn’t score or stop the young opposing guard for the bulls. Parker hit only 3 of 9, had 4 fouls and 3 turnovers.

Tim Duncan totaled 21 points, 16 rebounds, but his impact was limited because the Spurs, who began the day leading the league in 3-point accuracy, couldn’t loosen Chicago’s defense with their perimeter shooting. Give the Bulls some credit for playing some good perimeter defense as they were able to double the low post and get back to help on the outside shooter.  Manu Ginobili, scored 22 points on 7 of 20 shots but none of his four 3-point attempts. Michael Finley went 1 of 6 behind the arc.

UP NEXT: Wednesday, Lakers

MAVERICKS 109, ROCKETS 96

It looked like a Texas size shoot out from the tip off as T-Mac scored 21 of his 45 points in the 1st period. Unfortunately for the Rockets, the rest of the team didn’t add much in the scoring column. The Mav’s withstood the initial assault and continued to play their game. That is, they ran the offense through Dirk, played good defense and finally reeled the Rockets back to them. The Mav’s kept running a fresh guy on McGrady and by the 3rd period, T-Mac was slowing down. The Rockets hit a cold spell and went about 3 minutes without scoring while the Mav’s went on a 10 point run. After that, it was good defense and the Mav’s shots were nothing but net. When a team scores 109 points and only 28 or in the paint, it shows someone was hitting well from the outside.

In the end, it was a case of the Mav’s just being the better team. Yes, the Rockets are playing without Yao and Bonzi Wells but the Mav’s didn’t look anything like the team the Rockets beat back in November.

HOU -
McGrady, 45 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists,
Juwan Howard 16points 6 rebounds 3 assists
Rafer Alson 12 points 1 rebound 5 assists

Dal -
Dirk - 30 points 10 boards 6 assists
Josh Howard - 28 points 7 boards 2 assists
Devon George - 14 points 6 boards
Stackhouse 13 points 4 boards 3 assists

UP NEXT: Thursday, Lakers

ROCKETS 91 SUNS 100

Early on it looked like the Rockets were going to pull out a miracle win without Yao and McGrady but the Suns woke up and it dawned on the
Rockets, this wasn’t to be. A valiant effort by Rafer Alston with 29 points, eight assists, Luther Head had 16 points with 5 assists and Shane Battier had 16 points, 7 boards wasn’t enough to over come the high powered offense of the Suns. The game was a reminder of why the Rockets are 1 and 9 this season with McGrady and Yao missing from the lineup. It also shows how much they miss T-Mac when the team shoots 11 of 30 from three-point range.

Ironic stat - Injuries have Rockets playing only 9 guys. Suns only played 7 guys.

POINTS OFF TURNOVERS - Phoenix 15 Houston 17

UP NEXT: Saturday, Nuggets
==========================
SPURS 96 Lakers 100

Tim Duncan led the Spurs with 26 points,9 rebounds while Tony Parker added 25 points and five assists. Manu had 16 points, 6 boards,3 assists and Brent Barry scored 13 points but the Spurs still lost and it is now two losses in a row. It really came down to who would hit the free throws and the Lakers are the one who did it. The Spurs, especially Duncan, had a chance to tie or take the lead but they didn’t convert. The outside shooters also struggled as again, the Lakers shot 39% from three-point range while the Spurs hit only 27% from beyond the arc.

The bench, once a strength of the Spurs, hasn’t been an asset lately.

UP NEXT: Friday, Hornets

MAVERICKS 114, Lakers 95

Josh Howard scored 29 points and had 11 rebounds. Dirk added 27 points and 10 boards as the Mav’s win their sixth straight game and for the 19th time in 20 attempts. Devean George chipped in with 14 points while Jason Terry finished with 12 points and 13 assists. Jet’s assists total was the 2nd highest in the last 4 years. Jerry Stackhouse added 11 points after also singing the national anthem.

The defense held kobe in check and kept the others under control almost all night. The Mav’s were close through the 1st period but opened the lead in the 2nd period and wouldn’t be caught after that. It was a game of scoring streaks and the Mavericks can light up anyone at any time while playing great defense. All 12 guys played for the Mav’s and 6 of them scored in double figures.

ODD STAT: Terry’s highest assist total with the Mavs (14) occurred on Dec. 28, 2004, the last time Stackhouse sang the national anthem.

UP NEXT: Sunday AT Heat

SPURS 99 Hornets 86

After 2 straight losses, the Hornets come to town and help get the Spurs back on the winning track. It wasn’t a great game or pretty win but it was what the Spurs needed.

The Spurs had to go most of Friday with coach Carlesimo guiding them. Popovich picked up his first technical foul for yelling at referee Joe DeRosa after the official called a foul on Tim Duncan for bumping Hornets center Tyson Chandler. Popovich took his seat, but continued to bark at referee Tim Donaghy, who was standing near the bench.

Donaghy calmly stared at the opposite end of the court as Popovich voiced his complaint about the “(expletive) call.” But when Popovich shouted, “Yeah, I’m talking to you,” that seemed to be all Donaghy needed to hear. He turned, gave him a technical and ejected the coach.

While Popovich handled the Spurs’ complaints, the Hornets had two players ejected in the game’s final minute, one of whom wasn’t even in uniform. After Desmond Mason was tossed for shouting and slamming the ball to the court, injured point guard Chris Paul was shown the exit, from the stands in his suit, for saying, of all things, “That’s crazy.”

Mean while, the actual game was played. Aware that the Spurs haven’t been able to hit an open perimeter shot in about a week, the Hornets’ double-teamed Duncan much of the night and held him to just a pair of free throws in the first half. Michael Finley helped loosen the defense a bit by making his first three shots. He finished with 14 points. Duncan played well though and anchored the defense by blocking four shots and grabbing 16 rebounds to go along with 12 points while the Spurs out rebound Hornets 47 to 39.

Tony Parker 23 points, 6 boards, 4 assists.
Manu Ginobili 19 points 5 boards 6 assists.

The refs got a lot of face time. TECHNICALS: Hornets 5, Spurs 5

Hornets: Byron Scott, Chris Paul, Defensive Three Second, D.Mason, R.Butler

San Antonio: Gregg Popovich (2), Defensive Three Second (3)

UP NEXT: Sunday, AT 76’s

Rockets 113 Nuggets 121 OT

Yes, there a lot of points scored but the game was really about defense or the lack of defense. The Rockets had leads of 10 or more points but couldn’t keep the Nuggets from coming back. Without Ming in the middle, Camby was able to pull down 22 rebounds and the Nuggets made the Rockets settle for outside shots that wouldn’t fall. The Rockets made only two of their last dozen or so shots and still had an 8 point lead with less then 3 minutes in the game. The Nuggets expanded their perimeter defense, kept the Rockets from penetrating or driving to the basket and from drawing the fouls. The Nuggets were able to score as the Rocket shooters cooled off and the Rockets last lead disappeared to force overtime. T-Mac once again tried to put the team on his back and carry them but he only ended up with a sore back.

Tracy McGrady returned from a one-game absence due to a sore back and scored 24 points to go along with 10 assists, Juwan Howard tallied 21 points and 13 rebounds and Dikembe Mutombo had 11 points and 13 boards in the losing cause. The Rockets only score 5 points in overtime. They have now lost 3 games in a row.

UP NEXT: Wednesday AT Spurs

Mavericks 99 Heat 93

The Mav’s were on the road and on the reigning world champs home court with a 3 point lead but the heat get the ball with 6 seconds left in the game. Everyone knows the ball is going to Wade and when he shoots, you had better not foul him. The Heat got what they wanted but there was no joy in Mudville because the shot bounced off the rim and the Mav’s grabbed another big rebound and do the way to score. People talked about this being a rematch of last years finals but it really wasn’t. It was just another game the Mav’s needed to win and they found a way to do it. They won with great defense, making the extra pass to the open guy, rebounding and hustle. It won’t show in the box scores but Dampier also controlled the ball several time when he didn’t rebound it but instead slapped it back outside to an open Maverick.

Mav’s box score:

Josh Howard, 25 points and 9 rebounds 3 assists
Dirk Nowitzki 22 point 11 boards
Jerry Stackhouse 23 points 3 rebounds
Jason Terry 11 points 11 assists
Erick Dampier 8 points 11 rebounds

Rebounds: Mav’s 48 Heat 33

Shaq didn’t play.

“The difference in the game, bottom line, is second-chance points,” said Miami head coach Ron Rothstein. “They had 19, we had five.

POINTS OFF TURNOVERS Dallas 16 Miami 10

UP NEXT:  Tuesday AT Magic
==========================
SPURS 99 76er’s 85

It was a tale of two halves that seemed liked two different games. The first game was all Spurs taking a 20 plus point lead. The 2nd half was 76ers staging a come back and cutting the lead to 5 points before running our of gas.  The 76ers may have still been feeling the effects of their overtime victory against the Heat on Saturday when the game started.

Whatever the reason, the Spurs shooter had finally found the range and were hitting shots from the field and even 3 pointers like they used to hit them.

Box Score:

Duncan 17 points 15 boards
Brent Barry 23 points
Robert Horry 12 points 5 boards
Manu Ginobili 12 points
Tony Parker 8 points, 8 assists 4 rebounds

Up Next:  AT Celtics

SPURS 93 Celtics 89

Yes it was a win for the Spurs but it was also another game with a disturbing turn. The 3 wins in a row have all had a subplot of the Spurs getting a 20 plus point lead and the other team making a big come back to almost take the game back. Last night it was the Celtics, even with all their injured players not playing, who reeled the game back to only 3 points before the Spurs put a stop to it. The Celtics had only 44 points in the 3rd period but refused to quit or think the game was over.

The Spurs inconsistency is becoming a point of contention and is worrisome for the coach and team.  But the Spurs beat Boston for the 18th consecutive time, keeping Tim Duncan unbeaten against the famed franchise for his career.

Spurs -

Duncan 21 points 9 boards 5 assists (hit all 7 of his free throws)

Ginobili 15 points 6 boards 2 assists

Parker 15 points 5 assists

Finely 12 points 5 rebounds 2 assists (off the bench)

Rebounds Spurs 38 Celtics 35

POINTS OFF TURNOVERS San Antonio 16 Boston 22

UP NEXT: Wednesday, Rockets

MAVERICKS 111 Magic 95

The win streak is at 8 as the Mav’s win their 2nd game of the 3 game road trip. The beat both Florida teams and now move on to a young but exciting Chicago team.

Dirk came out shooting in the 1st period and led the Mav’s to a commanding 34 to 18 point lead. The Magic went about 4 minutes before they could even score because of the Mav’s defense and their own turnovers. After that it was a game of catch up for the Magic and that isn’t a game you win, most times, against an Avery Johnson led team like the Mav’s. In fact, the Magic only managed to score 17 points in the final period.

Mav’s

Dirk Nowitzki 33 points, 10 rebounds 8 assists
Josh Howard 25 points, 4 rebounds 2 assists
Jason Terry 14 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists
Jason Harris 13 points 2 rebounds 3 assists

POINTS OFF TURNOVERS - Dallas 18 Orlando 8

UP NEXT: Thursday AT Bulls

ROCKETS 90 SPURS 85

If you like defensive duels, this was your kind of game. If you like shootouts, this was your game. If you like the team Superstars to put the team on his back and try to win, this was your kind of game.

The Spurs and Rockets played like they were looking into a mirror right up until the end and that is when the Rockets executed and the Spurs didn’t. After breaking the 17 game road losing streak to the Spurs last month, the Rockets have now beaten them twice in a row.

The Rockets had only scored 61 points by the end of the 3rd period. The bad news for the Spurs was, they had only scored 58.

Look at the box score by quarters below.

Quarter 1 2 3 4 Score

Rockets 16 20 25 29 90
Spurs 21 16 21 27 85

Coach Van Gundy shorted the bench to 8 players and they all made contributions. The Spurs play 11 as they looked for an answer to stop T-Mac. Bruce Bowen actually played great defense on T-Mac and always seemed to contest his shots but T-Mac looked to be in the “No Miss” zone at times and it didn’t matter who was on him. The Spurs missed shots early and often from the outside. Early on the Rockets were their own worst enemy as they turned the ball over again and again for a total of 20. The Spurs had 11.

POINTS OFF TURNOVERS Rockets 8 Spurs 19

But, in the end, it was too much T-Mac for the Spurs because he just wouldn’t let his team lose.

Rockets

McGrady 37 points,8 boards,3 assists 6 turnovers, 8 of 9 F.T.
Alston 19 points 2 boards 7 assists
Howard 11 points 7 boards

Spurs

Duncan 37 points,10 boards,4 assists 4 turnovers, 7 of 10 F.T.
Ginobili 15 points 4 boards 4 assists
Parker 10 points 2 boards 6 assists

UP NEXT: SPURS Friday, Grizzles
UP NEXT: ROCKETS Friday AT Trailblazers