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 Brooklyn, one of just three Eastern teams with a winning record
against the West, continued their recent mastery over the Dallas
Mavericks by rallying for a 107-104 overtime win Sunday night at
American Airlines Center.
The Nets (37-31) won for the 11th time in their last 13 games, as
they continue to climb in the East playoff picture. Brooklyn, fifth
in the conference, is eyeing a top-four seed with 14 games left in
the regular season.
"This is huge to come back against a team that's trying to make the
playoffs," said Nets guard Deron Williams, a Dallas native. "First
game of the road trip and we stressed the importance to get this
one. This was big for us to be able to come back and get the win."
The Mavericks (42-29) fell into eighth in the Western Conference and
dropped to 2-2 on their franchise-record eight-game homestand.
Dallas has lost three in a row to the Nets after dominating the
series for years. The last time the Mavericks were swept in season
series by the Nets was 1999-2000.
Jason Kidd was the Nets' point guard then. Now, he's their rookie
coach and has guided the franchise from a rough start to the season
into contention.
Brooklyn was down 14 in the first half, but kept plugging away to
take the game into overtime.
"Trust and composure," Kidd said. "Guys stayed the course and kept
fighting. We had trouble rebounding the ball coming down the
stretch, but the guys found a way, stayed together and they made big
plays throughout the game."
The Nets took their first lead (73-72) since the game's first minute
on two free throws from Williams with 10:09 remaining. After it
appeared the Mavericks had regained control, Brooklyn tied the game
at 91 on guard Joe Johnson's driving layup with 9.9 seconds
remaining.
"We were in great position and twice we couldn't get stops in
regulation," Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said. "Give them credit.
They executed."
Dallas guard Monta Ellis missed a long 3-pointer at the buzzer to
send the game into overtime.
Johnson put the visitors back on top 96-93 with a 3-pointer early in
overtime. A steal and breakaway layup by guard Shaun Livingston put
Brooklyn up 100-95. Williams followed with a 3-pointer for an
eight-point edge with 1:26 to play.
Johnson scored a team-high 22 points and grabbed five rebounds.
Guard Marcus Thornton had 20 points. Forward Paul Pierce and
Williams each scored 15 points, although both struggled from the
floor, shooting a combined 6-for-19.
Ellis (32 points) gave the Mavericks a sliver of hope with two
3-pointers late in overtime, the second pulling Dallas within
105-104 with 5.4 seconds remaining. After two free throws from
Pierce, Ellis missed a long, running 3-pointer at the buzzer.
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Dallas forward Dirk Nowitzki had a miserable game, making just 2 of
12 attempts and scoring 10 points. Mavericks center Samuel Dalembert
blocked a season-high seven shots, pulled down 15 rebounds and
scored 12 points.
Dallas continues its stay at home Tuesday against Oklahoma City,
which is second in the West. The Nets finish a back-to-back at New
Orleans on Monday before concluding their three-game road trip
Wednesday at Charlotte.
The Mavericks jumped on the Nets right off the bat, building a
double-digit lead in the first quarter, largely from contributions
off the bench. Reserve guard Devin Harris had nine points in the
period and Dallas was up 29-15 going into the second.
Harris was pressed into early action after starting point guard Jose
Calderon took an inadvertent shot to the face from Nets rookie
forward Mason Plumlee in the first minute of the game and left the
court. Calderon never returned.
"Don't think it's serious, but I have not gotten an official word on
it. He got hit in the mouth," Carlisle said. "I don't really have
the details. I saw him at halftime; he was in the locker room at
halftime. He's OK, but I think there's some stuff in the mouth
they're looking at."
The shots that fell for Dallas early did not fall in the second
quarter, and the Nets quickly cut into the deficit behind Thornton
to get within six points. Dallas took a 48-41 edge into halftime.
NOTES: Jason Kidd returned to Dallas, where he won an NBA title in
2011, for the first time as coach of the Nets. "It's always good to
come back where you won a championship," Kidd said. "It's a good
feeling." Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle realized he was coaching a
future coach in Kidd. "He's doing a great job," Carlisle said, "One
of the hardest things about coaching is being able to bring a team
out of a tough period, and he's been phenomenal." ... Brooklyn C
Kevin Garnett (back) missed his 12th consecutive game. ... The Nets
are one of three Eastern Conference teams with a winning record
against the West. The Miami Heat and Indiana Pacers are the other
two.
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