Nowitzki helps Mavs avoid seep at hands of Nuggets

By JAIME ARON, AP Sports Writer May 12, 3:09 am EDT

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DALLAS (AP)—Down by 14 and playing listlessly, the Dallas Mavericks sure looked ready to call it a season.

Then Carmelo Anthony(notes) threw a jab, and everything changed.

Dirk Nowitzki(notes) and the Mavs awoke from their early-game slumber with rally after rally, getting close or even tied yet unable to get ahead until the former MVP made a tough, high-arching shot with 1:05 left. Having worked so hard for the lead, they weren’t about to give it back, pulling out a 119-117 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Monday night to avoing being swept.

Anthony scored a career playoff-best 41 points and snagged five steals. He was the one turning away most Dallas rallies and made a 3-pointer with 3.1 seconds left that got Denver within a point. Yet when Mavericks guard Jason Terry(notes) intentionally missed a free throw with 1.1 ticks left, Anthony was out of answers. He got the rebound, but couldn’t stop the clock and didn’t even have time to try a 90-foot heave.

The buzzer sounded and confetti fell as the teams left the court knowing they will meet again Wednesday night in Denver.

“It was an unbelievable game,” said Nowitzki, who scored 19 of his 44 points in the fourth quarter. “We were down the whole game, but were able to come back and win and we’ve been doing that all season long. … We’ve got to go back to Denver and let it all hang out again.”

The Mavs lost all four regular-season games against the Nuggets and the first three of this series, but all along felt they were close. The scoreboard showed it, too, as Denver’s margin shrunk from 14 in the opener to 12 then to one in Game 3, which also needed a mistaken no-call and a 3-pointer by Anthony with a second left.

“We’ve been fighting and fighting this whole series,” said Mavs forward Josh Howard(notes), who had 21 points and 11 rebounds on two bad ankles. “The end of Game 3 gave us a lot of willpower for this game.”

It sure didn’t look like it the first 13 minutes.

Anthony and the Nuggets were scoring at will and the Mavericks were doing little to stop them. On one possession, Anthony turned, saw no one between him and the basket and soared for a dunk so easy it could’ve been preseason.

But then Anthony and Dallas’ Antoine Wright(notes)—the combatants from the Game 3 finish—got their arms tangled. Once untangled, Anthony’s open hand smacked Wright in the shoulder. Officials called Wright for a loose-ball foul, hit Anthony with a technical and watched a video replay to make sure they were right.

Nothing was the same after that. The intensity ratcheted to Game 7 proportions, with a total of seven technical fouls and two flagrants. It spilled into the stands, too, with security guards removing Anthony’s girlfriend, LaLa Vazquez of MTV fame, for her safety and with extra protection around the mother of Kenyon Martin(notes), who had a brief exchange with Mavs owner Mark Cuban after Game 3.

“They’re allowed to be fans, but when it gets personal, it goes over the top,” said Denver’s Chauncey Billups(notes), who had 24 points and seven assists.

Added Nuggets coach George Karl: “I would probably use an uglier word than hostile, but I’m not going to do that right now. I don’t think it was very classy.”

The postgame scene was a little calmer than after Game 3, although it may also wind up getting reviewed by the league office because Martin and Cuban clearly exchanged words.

Alas, Denver fans won’t get their chance for revenge on Cuban. He’s skipping Game 5 to be at an awards ceremony in Las Vegas, keeping a promise he made to his wife six months ago.

Nuggets fans will have plenty to scream about anyway. Their club is 5-0 at home this postseason and can clinch their first trip to the conference finals since 1985.

“We’re still in control,” Anthony said. “We’ll be ready.”

Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle wasn’t surprised his team played so well because that’s been their pattern this season—bouncing back strong after hitting rock bottom. He probably would’ve preferred they didn’t get so far behind so quickly at the start, but Nowitzki refused to let them stay down for long.

“There are very few guys I have been around in this league that are as strong-willed as him,” Carlisle said.

Nowitzki, who also is dealing with off-court troubles involving a girlfriend, was 14-of-25. He made 16 of 17 free throws and grabbed 13 rebounds.

“We showed character and fought,” said Dallas’ Jason Kidd(notes), who had 13 points, 10 rebounds and six assists. “The pressure is on them to win the series. We don’t have any pressure.”

Notes

Denver’s J.R. Smith(notes) had 19 points, including two terrific baskets with the shot clock about to expire in the fourth quarter. … Nuggets backup center Chris “Birdman” Andersen missed the game with a stomach flu. … Dallas has still never been swept in a seven-game series.

Updated May 12, 3:09 am EDT
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Dallas at Indiana

Fri Nov 27, 2009, 8:00 pm EST

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Fri Nov 27, 2009, 9:00 pm EST

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197 Comments

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  1. hector
    197. Posted by hector Wed May 13 4:41pm EDT

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    Go mavs
  2. kneecaps
    196. Posted by kneecaps Wed May 13 10:42am EDT

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    SWEEP you idiot
  3. sportsmanship
    195. Posted by sportsmanship Wed May 13 9:07am EDT

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    "Nowitzki helps Mavs avoid seep (sic) at hands of Nuggets"

    No, it is not Dirk who helped the Mavs avoid getting swept by the Nuggets. The Mavs managed to win this one only because the Nuggests were distracted by all the childish and thuggish behavior displayed by the Dallas fans in the stands -- all of which instigated by this dumbass Mark Cuban -- against their family members! Who wouldn't be concerned about your family members' safety and thus get distracted when they were being assulted both verbally and physically (things were thrown)?
  4. David
    194. Posted by David Tue May 12 10:28pm EDT

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    I love Marc Cuban. I want to be just like him when I grow up, a dumbass.
  5. Phil Jackson
    193. Posted by Phil Jackson Tue May 12 9:00pm EDT

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    Why hasn't Anthony been suspended? Dwight Howard was suspended. Ron Artest has been ejected twice this post-season, one of which was bogus, two Suns players were suspended for running on to the floor, Robert Horry was suspended, too, Jason Terry was suspended for tapping Michael Finley's nuts, Dirk was ejected and suspended for hitting Matt Harpring. Why hasn't Anthony been suspended? Methinks David Stern likes the bandwagon ratings that have emerged in Denver and doesn't want the bandwagoners to feel sad. He's trying to get the ratings up as high as they can get, because that means the league collects more money for the right to show the games. Dallas, LA, Boston, San Antonio, and a few other markets have about as many basketball fans as they're going to get, so Stern is trying to get the bandwagon crowd stoked in Denver. Bandwagon eyeballs = More money for the league. Not just for this season, but next year, too. Pathetic.
  6. Jesus
    192. Posted by Jesus Tue May 12 7:02pm EDT

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    Mavs suck!
  7. Matt H
    191. Posted by Matt H Tue May 12 6:10pm EDT

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    Since Carmelo Anthony is considered one of the NBA superstars the league would never suspend him for that swing he took at Antoine Wright, and yes he did connect with his face. If that was say, Antoine Wright that did that to Melo then Wright would have been suspended but the league gives a lot of slack to its so called superstars...For instance, that elbow that Kobe gave to Artest in the second game of their series, which was above the shoulders, and according to the league any contact like that above the shoulders warrants at least a game suspension. Two examples of the NBA protecting their superstars so their ratings wont go down if they are suspended...what a joke...GO MAVS!!!
  8. Rob
    190. Posted by Rob Tue May 12 6:01pm EDT

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    Pete, you're an idiot and it makes sense why Cuban is your man fantasy. Cuban's money bought an NBA franchise but it didn't buy him any class. The Mavs have some great loyal fans but it's chuckleheads like you and your crybaby minions that ruin it for the rest of the Mav's fan base. Man up and admit defeat for what it is. You rely on refs and even your circus clown Cuban to win games and distract only blame everyone other than the athletes on the floor for your losses. The only game 6 you'll have a chance to attend will either be in L.A or Denver.
  9. <i>keelin.glowney</i>
    189. Posted by keelin.glowney Tue May 12 5:44pm EDT

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    go mavs
  10. John
    188. Posted by John Tue May 12 5:29pm EDT

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    Denver all the way ...kenyon martin and the nuggets are handling business
  11. jon m
    187. Posted by jon m Tue May 12 4:15pm EDT

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    I was hoping that k-mart would beat up Cuban during the shoot around to shut him up! Anyway, i want the MAVWHIMPS to lose cause the fans, team and city is filled with a bunch of crybabies. Every time they lose a game or series, they always complaining that the refs cost them the game. Maybe if you stop whining you realize that you lost because you suck ha ha ha believe it!!!
  12. <i>v_cent11</i>
    186. Posted by v_cent11 Tue May 12 4:12pm EDT

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    Nowitzki is a great respectable player and is playing out of his mind right now... about the only thing the Mavs have going for them
  13. eric
    185. Posted by eric Tue May 12 3:58pm EDT

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    I'm suprised there's not talk of a game 5 suspension for Anthony. His punch/slap/shove did make contact with Wright's head (it was actually pretty funny when shown in slow motion during the broadcast), which I would think is more serious than Alston slapping the back of House's head.
  14. Kent D
    184. Posted by Kent D Tue May 12 3:46pm EDT

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    Hoops M,

    Do you remember the McGrady from about 2000-2003? He was easily a top 3 player in the NBA...dude was unstoppable. I would not trade the '00 - '03 McGrady for the '00-'03 Nowitzki. Since then, I'd easily take Dirk. But I think you forgot how great Mcgrady was early in this decade. His team not going anywhere in the playoffs early in the decade wasn't because of his lack of skill or leadership...dude was a one man wrecking crew.
  15. Pete B
    183. Posted by Pete B Tue May 12 3:20pm EDT

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    Cuban is playing with KMart's head, and it worked. 2 pts 2 rebs and 6 fouls. Ha ha KMart fell for it. He may be strong physically, but he is weak mentally. Getting all rowd up and calling fans names is not the way to handle it, man. Props to Cuban for doing whatever you can to pull it off in a desparate situation. Keep it up Cuban!
  16. tsunami23
    182. Posted by tsunami23 Tue May 12 2:44pm EDT

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    This was one of the best games of the post season.

    Notwitzki is great!!! May be a little too much too late but the fans should enjoy on of the best 4th qtr shooting since MJ and Bird!!!.

    Melo is starting to play like an elite player again, since the poison A.I is gone.

    Last night down the stretch Melo, J.R and Billups were on fire, J.R is a BEAST!!!!
  17. BONNIE AND CLYDE
    181. Posted by BONNIE AND CLYDE Tue May 12 2:31pm EDT

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    Ok none, as far as the statement about Anderson, I have to believe it was true do to the fact of knowing who my friend is and where he comes from ( LOL daddy's money oil man). Would I hang out with anderson, sure I bet he has some hellacious stories. We are such animals in your eyes and nobody at that game was classly. I have been to denver and many parts of your state and have been treated like #$%^ simply being from texas. Granted one case I was wearing a TODD BERTUZZI shirt a friend gave me while on vaction in Gunnison. (LOL) Well from my vantage point at the game most were being classy wit the exception of the filthy rich sitting by the players families. So for you to call all of us animals and classless just shows the true meaning of you re-acting to what you saw on tv, and the way you re-acted to my comment. It got your attention just like your first message did and it proves mine. Most here are classy just like most were you live! Choose your words better and maybe visit texas to see the true meaning of classy. Hell, I'll even take you to were K-mart even grew up. He is the one guy who is really a good guy!!!
  18. Mike
    180. Posted by Mike Tue May 12 2:12pm EDT

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    Denver gets no superstar calls?!!! thats a laugh...you have to have a superstar 1st! Melo is the closest thing you have...a superstar in my books is a hall of famer, not just a good baller....Chauncey will not be there, he just ain't that good. The Mavs on the other hand have 2 that most likely will with Dirk and Kidd.....They just need to come out gunning and take the game to Denver rather than getting it taken to them..They can win the series if they play hard for 48 min and take the get denver into some foul trouble....That being said I think denver wins in 6 and beats LA in the next round only to lose to King James and the Cavs!! ( The best thing to happen in the NBA since Jordan, not just another $%^&er thug, he has class and didn't forget where he came from)
  19. None
    179. Posted by None Tue May 12 2:11pm EDT

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    You people are ridicolous, first of all Carmelo has made some bad decisions in the past but he has matured so much since his last incident, after coming back from the Olympics Carmelo has played defense, and instead of focusing on himself he has made the players around him better, he has been respectful and active withen the community, and is not only a better player but a better person. I think it takes more of a man to admit that you were wrong and make a change... Considering that Mellow's wife had to be escorted out of the game because of threatning fans, and Mark Cubans inmature and THUGISH behavior that Denver is looking a lot classier and mature and Dallas has played it's last card, when you have your team owner/mascot playing mind games with players and there mothers you just look foolish as far as a game 6 give me a break, and as far as Kenyon getting supended and not being productive SCORE BOARD @#$%ES!!! 3-1 going into Denver, mothers and family insulted it's over for the Wife Beating Non-American Mavericks!! And as far as Kenyon being a thug, he said it best he pays his bills he contributes to his community he has never BEAT HIS WIFE, and he just reacted to a battered and bruised Mark Cuban and Dallas squad.
  20. <i>malcgeez</i>
    178. Posted by malcgeez Tue May 12 2:03pm EDT

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    Mavs we had a good year a least someone step up and get some points like how dirk did last nite if not are season is over
  21. oklahoma outlaw
    177. Posted by oklahoma outlaw Tue May 12 1:55pm EDT

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    To none why does everybody pick on those nice clean cut all american boys from denver??????? could it be talk like a thug , act like a thug ,are a thug.........
  22. Jason
    176. Posted by Jason Tue May 12 1:53pm EDT

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    How is it talking trash when its true? KMart is a thug. Carmelo is a thug.

    I guess the truth hurts.

    I don't think the Nuggets will miss KMart to much when he is suspended. I mean, 2 points, 2 rebounds, and 6 fouls? Way to contribute, way to "keep it real", way to help your team out there tough guy.
  23. velius
    175. Posted by velius Tue May 12 1:39pm EDT

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    game 6 are u serious?!?!?!?!? HA!!!! i doubt that will happen game 5 will be the end of the MAVS!!!!
  24. Pete B
    174. Posted by Pete B Tue May 12 1:18pm EDT

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    See you in game 6 Thuggets fans. Har har you are all sad sad people.
  25. velius
    173. Posted by velius Tue May 12 1:17pm EDT

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    CHRIS MANGANELLO u said it best!!!!!!! ;o)
    go nuggets!!!!
    and go houston!!!! tonite!!!! beat those lakers!!!!
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Top Performers

 Top Performers
 Denver
C. Anthony Carmelo Anthony
15-29,  41 Pts
11 Rebs, 3 Assists
 Dallas
D. Nowitzki Dirk Nowitzki
14-25,  44 Pts
13 Rebs, 3 Assists

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