Days after claiming he wasn't All-Star worthy, Wednesday night Dirk Nowitzki showed the NBA world exactly why he was wrong. With a game high 25 points on 11 of 20 shooting, Dirk helped Dallas beat the Denver Nuggets105-95.
Both teams entered the game on three game losing streaks. Before the game the Mavs had lost four in a row against the Nuggets. Since the 06-07' season Dallas was 3-9 when playing in “The Mile High City”.
After three days off, the well rested Dallas Mavericks started the game looking rejuvenated, scoring thirty-three points (a season high) in the first quarter.
With two of the top benches in the NBA going head to head, the Dallas reserves scored 29 first half points. Roddy Beaubois had a hot start finishing with 13 points. Brandan Wright took full advantage of his time on the floor scoring 10 points with 3 rebounds, and no turnovers.
Dallas ended the first half leading Denver by nine while scoring 64 points in the first half.
For much of the season Dallas had become a team of two identities, playing great one half and blowing leads in the second. Rick Carlisle and Co. made sure it wouldn't happen again.
After leading by as much as 17 points in the third quarter, Denver made a run cutting the Dallas lead to as low as seven points.
Vince Carter hit big shots increasing the Dallas lead, he scored 17 points with 8 assists and 5 rebounds. Delonte West starting in place of the injured Jason Kidd finished with 9 points, 5 assists, and 7 rebounds.
After passing Elgin Baylor on the all-time scoring list Saturday night, Nowitzki entered Wednesday with 23,154 points. Nearing the final minutes of the game Dirk hit a jumper allowing him to surpass NBA great Adrian Dantley; Nowitzki is now 21st all time in scoring putting him at 23,179 points.
This was the start of a two game road trip for the Mavs, they will head to Minnesota on Friday to play the young Timberwolves.
Game Notes:
The Denver Nuggests were without two of their players. Danilo Gallinari was out with an ankle sprain. Former Maverick Corey Brewer was out due to the passing of his father.
For the Mavs, Jason Kidd was out with a sprained right calf and is listed as day to day.
The Mavs bench leads the NBA in scoring averaging 44.2 points a game, the Denver bench is second averaging 43.5 points per game.
Did you know?
Jason Terry entered the game with 15,916 career points, putting him at #100 in the NBA's All-Time Scoring list.
