Nowitzki scores 27, Mavericks beat Bobcats 101-96

[March 16, 2012]  DALLAS (AP) -- Dirk Nowitzki scored 27 points and the Dallas Mavericks rallied from 14 points down in the second quarter to beat the Charlotte Bobcats 101-96 on Thursday night.

Dallas won its second straight -- improving to 15-0 all-time against the Bobcats -- although the victories have come against lottery-bound Washington and Charlotte.

Jason Terry added 18 points and Rodrigue Beaubois 14 for the Mavs, who had lost eight of their previous 11.

Corey Maggette scored 21 points and Tyrus Thomas had 14 for the league-worst Bobcats (6-36).

After trailing most of the first half, Dallas took control with a third-quarter surge led by consecutive 3-pointers from Nowitzki.

Nowitzki scored eight straight points while his team was on a 17-8 run capped by Vince Carter's 3-pointer, giving Dallas a 74-68 edge entering the final quarter.

The Mavs turned up the defensive pressure in the third, limiting Charlotte to 5-for-21 shooting from the field.

Beaubois connected on consecutive layups early in the fourth to stretch Dallas' lead to 83-72, and Nowitzki's 3-pointer from the top of the key gave the Mavs a 14-point lead with 6:41 to play.

Charlotte was behind by 17 before pulling to 99-96 on D.J. Augustin's layup with 19 seconds left. But Nowitzki converted two free throws on his team's next possession to clinch the victory.

Charlotte tied the score at 23-all after one quarter when Augustin banked in a desperation 3 from the right wing just ahead of the buzzer.

Kemba Walker scored eight of his 12 points -- including two 3-pointers -- during his team's 14-2 spurt midway through the second quarter as the Bobcats built a 42-32 lead.

Charlotte's halftime advantage was 54-48 after Dallas finished the second quarter with a 9-2 run.

NOTES: Dallas C Brendan Haywood left with 7:42 remaining in the third quarter with a sprained right knee and did not return. ... Neither team made a move ahead of Thursday's trade deadline. Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle wasn't anticipating any deals, saying before the game, "I didn't think there were going to be any trades so I'm not surprised...and we're fine with it." There were some anxious players in the Dallas locker room earlier this week as the deadline loomed, and Carlisle said, "If (a lack of trade activity) eases anybody's mind, that's great." ... Charlotte F Eduardo Najera was back in the rotation after missing two games with right knee inflammation, scoring four points in 16 minutes.

[Associated Press]

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