Box Score

 

DALLAS (80)

                          fg    ft    rb             
                   min   m-a   m-a   o-t   a  pf   tp
A Griffin            5   0-0   0-0   0-1   1   1    0
D Nowitzki          32  2-13   4-4   0-3   1   5    9
R LaFrentz          29  3-11   2-2   2-4   1   5    9
M Finley            44 12-27   6-7   0-4   2   3   31
S Nash              28  5-11   8-8   1-4   4   1   18
S Bradley           44   0-1   0-0  5-12   1   4    0
N Van Exel          32  3-11   0-0   1-4   6   1    8
W Williams           8   1-4   0-0   0-3   0   0    3
R Bell              13   1-2   0-0   0-2   1   1    2
P Jones              5   0-2   0-0   0-1   0   1    0
A Johnson          DNP  - COACH'S DECISION                               
A Harrington       DNP  - COACH'S DECISION                               
  
_____________________________________________________
TOTALS             240 27-82 20-21  9-38  17  22   80
_____________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.329, FT-.952. 3-Point Goals:
6-24, .250 (D Nowitzki 1-5, R LaFrentz 1-2, M
Finley 1-7, S Nash 0-1, N Van Exel 2-7, W 
Williams 1-1, R Bell 0-1). Team Rebounds: 8. 
Blocked Shots:8 (S Bradley 5, R LaFrentz 2, S
Nash). Turnovers:9 (S Nash 3, M Finley 2, N 
Van Exel, R LaFrentz, R Bell, D Nowitzki). 
Steals: 11 (D Nowitzki 3, S Bradley 2, S Nash
2, M Finley 2, W Williams, P Jones).


DENVER (75)

                          fg    ft    rb             
                   min   m-a   m-a   o-t   a  pf   tp
D Harvey            32   2-7   5-8   2-9   2   1    9
J Howard            38  5-11 11-11   4-7   0   3   21
N Hilario           37   1-7   3-8  5-12   4   5    5
V Yarbrough         18   2-9   0-0   0-5   1   5    4
L Harrington        32   3-7   1-2   0-4   4   6    8
N Tskitishvili      16   4-8   0-0   2-3   0   0    9
M Blount            17   1-3   1-2   0-2   0   1    3
C Whitney           13   0-4   0-0   0-1   2   3    0
R White             32  7-13   0-0   1-8   3   1   16
R Bowen              5   0-1   0-0   0-1   0   1    0
  
_____________________________________________________
TOTALS             240 25-70 21-31 14-52  16  26   75
_____________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.357, FT-.677. 3-Point Goals:
4-15, .267 (V Yarbrough 0-4, L Harrington 
1-2, N Tskitishvili 1-2, C Whitney 0-3, R 
White 2-4). Team Rebounds: 13. Blocked 
Shots:5 (V Yarbrough 2, M Blount, N 
Tskitishvili, D Harvey). Turnovers:21 (D 
Harvey 4, R White 4, L Harrington 4, N 
Tskitishvili 3, V Yarbrough 2, N Hilario 2, J
Howard, M Blount). Steals: 5 (J Howard, M 
Blount, V Yarbrough, N Hilario, N 
Tskitishvili).

-------------------------------------------
DALLAS               20  22  22  16   -  80
DENVER               14  23  14  24   -  75
------------------------------------------- 

Technical fouls: Dallas - 1 (COACH Nelson, 
4:55 1st).
Flagrant fouls: None. A: 13,183. T: 2:15. 
Officials: Bennett Salvatore, Marc Davis, 
Tony Brothers.

Extended Box

 

DALLAS (80) AT DENVER (75)

DALLAS

                                               REBOUNDS                        
PLAYER           POS  MIN  FGM-FGA  FTM-FTA  OFF-DEF-TOT  AST  PF  ST  TO  PTS
======           ===  ===  =======  =======  ===========  ===  ==  ==  ==  ===
 
A GRIFFIN         F     5    0-0      0-0      0   1   1    1   1   0   0    0
D NOWITZKI        F    32    2-13     4-4      0   3   3    1   5   3   1    9
R LAFRENTZ        C    29    3-11     2-2      2   2   4    1   5   0   1    9
M FINLEY          G    44   12-27     6-7      0   4   4    2   3   2   2   31
S NASH            G    28    5-11     8-8      1   3   4    4   1   2   3   18
S BRADLEY              44    0-1      0-0      5   7  12    1   4   2   0    0
N VAN EXEL             32    3-11     0-0      1   3   4    6   1   0   1    8
W WILLIAMS              8    1-4      0-0      0   3   3    0   0   1   0    3
R BELL                 13    1-2      0-0      0   2   2    1   1   0   1    2
P JONES                 5    0-2      0-0      0   1   1    0   1   1   0    0
A JOHNSON             DNP  - COACH'S DECISION                                         
A HARRINGTON          DNP  - COACH'S DECISION                                         
  
TOTALS                240   27-82    20-21     9  29  38   17  22  11   9   80
                            (.329)  (.952)  TEAM REBS:  8 TOTAL TO: 10 (10 PTS)    

DENVER

                                               REBOUNDS                         
PLAYER           POS  MIN  FGM-FGA  FTM-FTA  OFF-DEF-TOT  AST  PF  ST  TO  PTS
======           ===  ===  =======  =======  ===========  ===  ==  ==  ==  ===
 
D HARVEY               32    2-7      5-8      2   7   9    2   1   0   4    9
J HOWARD          F    38    5-11    11-11     4   3   7    0   3   1   1   21
N HILARIO              37    1-7      3-8      5   7  12    4   5   1   2    5
V YARBROUGH            18    2-9      0-0      0   5   5    1   5   1   2    4
L HARRINGTON           32    3-7      1-2      0   4   4    4   6   0   4    8
N TSKITISHVILI         16    4-8      0-0      2   1   3    0   0   1   3    9
M BLOUNT          C    17    1-3      1-2      0   2   2    0   1   1   1    3
C WHITNEY         G    13    0-4      0-0      0   1   1    2   3   0   0    0
R WHITE           G    32    7-13     0-0      1   7   8    3   1   0   4   16
R BOWEN           F     5    0-1      0-0      0   1   1    0   1   0   0    0
  
TOTALS                240   25-70    21-31    14  38  52   16  26   5  21   75
                            (.357)  (.677)  TEAM REBS: 13 TOTAL TO: 22 (21 PTS)    
  
   DALLAS             20   22   22   16   -   80
   DENVER             14   23   14   24   -   75
  
BLOCKED SHOTS: DALLAS - S BRADLEY 5, R LAFRENTZ 2, S NASH.  DENVER -
V YARBROUGH 2, M BLOUNT, N TSKITISHVILI, D HARVEY.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: DALLAS 6-24 (.250), D NOWITZKI 1-5, R LAFRENTZ 1-
2, M FINLEY 1-7, S NASH 0-1, N VAN EXEL 2-7, W WILLIAMS 1-1, R BELL 0-
1. DENVER 4-15 (.267), V YARBROUGH 0-4, L HARRINGTON 1-2, N TSKITISHVILI 1-
2, C WHITNEY 0-3, R WHITE 2-4.
TECHNICAL FOULS: DALLAS - COACH NELSON.
FLAGRANT FOULS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: BENNETT SALVATORE, MARC DAVIS, TONY BROTHERS.
A - 13,183. T - 2:15.

Game Story

DENVER (Ticker) -- The Dallas Mavericks shot poorly but still 
did enough to beat the struggling Denver Nuggets.

Michael Finley scored 31 points and Steve Nash added 18 as the
Mavericks survived a defensive struggle for their fifth straight
win, an 80-75 victory over the Nuggets.

All-Star forward Dirk Nowitzki shot just 2-of-13 from the floor
and contributed just nine points in 32 minutes as the Mavericks
- the NBA's highest scoring team - were held to their lowest
point-total of the season.

"This was ugly, basketball at its worst," Mavericks coach Don
Nelson said.  "Between the two teams, we set basketball back
about 10 years."

Former Nuggets Raef LaFrentz and Nick Van Exel each hit 3-of-11
shots.  The Midwest Division-leading Mavericks shot a season-low
32.9 percent (27-of-82).

"I think it was a poor night shooting, but we shot the ball
poorly because of their defense," LaFrentz said.  "Without Mike
tonight, we get beat."

Former Maverick Juwan Howard scored 21 points to pace the
Nuggets, who dropped their season-high sixth straight game.

"(Dallas) did not get a lot of clean looks on the offensive
end," Nuggets coach Jeff Bzdelik said.  "(The Mavericks also) do
not get the credit on defense they should."

Making his first career start, rookie Nene Hilario matched his
season high with 12 rebounds and logged a season-best 36
minutes.

But on a night the Nuggets once again were in desperate need of
offense, they announced a deal that sent second-leading scorer
James Posey to Houston.

Forward Rodney White made the most of his increase in playing
time, coming off the bench to score 16 points and register a
career-high eight rebounds.

"It is a shock, part of the business.  I just have to take
advantage of it," White said.  "I have been able to sit back and
watch.  Coach has us playing hard every night.  I am looking to
step up, take it game by game and get better."

However, Van Exel had off-court matters in mind regarding his
former teammate.

"Posey is real excited to go to Houston," Van Exel said.  "He is
going to stay at my house when he moves there.  I am going to
try and sell it to him."

Dallas got off to a slow start and never found a consistent
scoring touch.  The Mavericks missed five of their first six
shots, but still worked their way to a 20-14 lead after 12
minutes.

That was all that was required against the self-doubting
Nuggets, who have lost their last 19 games when trailing after
the first period.

"We're looking to get better each and every game," Finley said.
"It was a tough game for everybody.  I could have played better.
I just did enough.  A couple of years ago, we would have lost
this game."

Denver scored fewer than 80 points for the 13th time this
season, posting a 1-12 mark in those contests.

The Nuggets dropped their fifth straight meeting with the
Mavericks.