Lopez scores 38 as Nets beat Mavericks 93-92

[February 29, 2012]  DALLAS (AP) -- Brook Lopez scored 38 points in only his third game back from a broken right foot, and made the go-ahead free throws with 42 seconds left for the New Jersey Nets in a 93-92 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday night.

The two free throws by Lopez came right after the Mavericks had taken the lead with a 13-2 run after missing 14 consecutive field goals.

Jason Kidd's 3-pointer from the right wing only 6 seconds earlier had put Dallas ahead 92-91.

Jason Terry forced a turnover with 18 seconds left, and Dallas called timeout. Kidd then had the ball in the left corner, but it was knocked loose by DeShawn Stevenson. Kidd got it back but his desperate heave at the buzzer was short.

Stevenson, who received his NBA championship ring from the Mavericks before the game, thrust both arms in the air as the game ended.

The 38 points by Lopez, one short of his career high, were the most against the Mavericks since LeBron James scored 37 for Miami in the season opener on Christmas Day.

Anthony Morrow had 15 points for the Nets, while Deron Williams had 12 points and 12 rebounds.

Dirk Nowitzki led Dallas with 24 points despite shooting 7 of 19 from the field and 7 of 11 from the free-throw line. Brendan Haywood had 18 points and 10 rebounds.

When Lopez scored with 5:23 left, the Nets had an 89-79 lead and the Mavericks still hadn't made a field goal in the fourth quarter.

Terry drove for a right-handed layup with 1:22 left to get Dallas within 91-89. He then blocked a shot by Morrow. When Kris Humphries rebounded the miss, Terry stole it. That led to Kidd's go-ahead 3-pointer.

Soon after the Mavericks had taken the first lead of the game late in the third quarter, they then missed 14 consecutive field goal attempts. By time Haywood ended that streak with a hook shot with 3:25 left in the game, the Mavs still trailed 89-83.

Dallas hadn't even tied the game until Haywood's driving layup from Terry made it 60-all with 6:54 left in the third quarter. That capped a 15-2 run when he scored seven points and Nowitzki had two 3-pointers.

Dallas led for the first time when Terry made a 3-pointer from the left wing, making it 71-69 with 2:25 left in the third quarter.

The Mavericks played the first of nine games in 12 days, a stretch that will take them to seven different cities and three time zones. This wasn't how the defending NBA champions wanted to start it, especially after losing two of their last three games before the All-Star break.

Williams, a free agent at the end of the season who is from the Dallas area, got off to a fast start in his only game this season against the Mavericks. He had 10 points, four assists and two rebouds in the first 9 minutes while New Jersey built a 24-18 lead.

Nets coach Avery Johnson, who took Dallas to the 2006 NBA finals, took exception to stories that contend Williams will sign with Dallas. Johnson said before the game that he still believes Williams has every intention to re-sign with the Nets, but isn't surprised by the speculation.

Williams missed his last 10 field-goal attempts in the game, adding only two more points after his early surge.

Lopez scored 13 consecutive points for the Nets during over a more than 9-minute span of the second quarter.

New Jersey was up 47-39 after Williams' pass to Lopez for a 9-foot bank shot with 2 1/2 left in the half to end his personal scoring streak

When Williams assisted on a 3-pointer Morrow with 1:28 left, it was the first score by a New Jersey player other than Lopez since Gerald Green's 3-pointer with 10:31 left. Green was signed to a 10-day contract Monday.

NOTES: The only member of Dallas' 2010-11 team who hasn't received his ring is Tyson Chandler. His new team, the New York Knicks, are in Dallas next Tuesday night. ... Nets G Jordan Farmar missed his fourth straight game with a strained right groin. Coach Avery Johnson said Farmar could be back Friday at Boston or Sunday at Charlotte. ... Lamar Odom missed his second straight game for Dallas for personal reasons. He will also be out Wednesday night at Memphis.

[Associated Press; By STEPHEN HAWKINS]

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