Mavericks 105, Wizards 95
DALLAS -- Forward Dirk Nowitzki scored 19 points to pass Jerry West on the NBA's all-time scoring list while pushing his Dallas Mavericks to a 105-95 victory over the Washington Wizards on Tuesday.
Dallas (5-3) overcame an early nine-point deficit and controlled the game throughout the final three quarters. Swingman Vince Carter scored 16 points and hit four 3-pointers and center Samuel Dalembert scored 13 of his season-high 15 points in the first half as the Mavericks turned the early deficit into a 61-49 halftime lead.
Nowitzki passed West (25,192 points in 932 games) for 16th place on the NBA's all-time scoring list late in the third quarter after draining two 3-pointers, part of a 10-2 burst that helped Dallas take its lead back into double-digits, 88-79, heading into the fourth quarter. Nowitzki, who played in his 1,116th career game, will soon be bearing down on Indiana Pacers great Reggie Miller (25,279) for 15th place.
The Wizards made several mini-runs in the second half, slicing the Mavs' 71-56 lead to 78-74 late in third quarter on a barrage of 3-pointers, including three in third quarter from forward Trevor Ariza, who finished with a game-high 26 points and five 3-pointers. But each time Washington got within striking distance, sloppy play -- 17 turnovers -- sabotaged the run.
Three consecutive Washington turnovers during a fourth-quarter stretch, plus four consecutive jumpers by guard Monta Ellis pushed Dallas' lead to 99-87 and the Mavericks, now 4-0 at home, closed it out from there. Ellis rallied from a sluggish start to finish with 19 points and eight assists.
The Wizards dropped to 2-5 and 0-2 on their current three-game road trip that closes out Wednesday night at red-hot San Antonio. Second-year guard Bradley Beal, coming off a career 34-point game Sunday at Oklahoma City, struggled to get 12 points on 2-for-10 shooting. Point guard John Wall had 14 points, 10 assists and five rebounds.
The Wizards led by as many as nine points in the first quarter while shooting 66.7 percent from the floor. The lead was short-lived as Washington's bench was sorely outplayed by the Mavericks' reserves, in particular Carter, who scored 11 of his 16 points by halftime.
Dallas outscored Washington, 28-15, in the second quarter behind 4-for-6 shooting from beyond the arc from Carter and guard Jose Calderon.
NOTES: Mavericks reserve SG Wayne Ellington did not play due to a right thigh contusion. He is day-to-day. ... The Wizards entered Tuesday's game having lost six consecutive games and 17 of the last 22 against the Mavs. They last won in Dallas during the 2009-10 season. ... The Mavericks are averaging 9.3 3-pointers this season, nearly two more a game than they averaged last season (7.4). ... Wizards second-year G Bradley Beal scored a career-high 34 points Sunday at Oklahoma City and is leading the team in scoring (21.0 per game) as well as in 3-pointers made. ... Injured Mavs G Devin Harris (toe) has yet to play this season. He said Tuesday that he is eyeing a mid-December return.
