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Mavericks Beat Bobcats For Eighth Straight Win
Charlotte, NC (Sports Network) - Dirk Nowitzki scored 16 of his 27 points in the second half and also pulled down 13 rebounds, as Dallas won its eighth straight game and remained perfect against the Charlotte Bobcats with an 89-84 decision.
Caron Butler scored 22 and Jason Terry netted 13 of his 20 in the final quarter for the Mavericks, who are 12-0 all-time against the Bobcats.
The Mavericks, who held a 46-32 scoring margin in the second half, haven’t lost since Feb. 16 at Oklahoma City.
Stephen Jackson totaled 20 points and seven rebounds for Charlotte, which wasted a 12-point lead in the third quarter and lost for the fourth time in five contests. Tyrus Thomas added 16 points and 12 boards in defeat.
It was Charlotte’s first game since Bobcats owner Robert Johnson reached a definitive agreement to sell a majority interest of the club to Hall of Famer Michael Jordan.
Charlotte, which led 68-66 going into the fourth, shot just 5-of-20 in the last period
A technical free throw from Jackson gave Charlotte its last lead, 75-74, with 7:05 remaining. Terry then hit a pair of jumpers and Nowitzki added a bucket. Terry’s three-pointer capped Dallas’ 9-0 run for an 83-75 cushion with 4:43 to go.
The Bobcats eventually trimmed their deficit to three, at 87-84 on a Gerald Wallace free throw with 9.3 seconds left, but Nowitzki sealed the victory at the foul line.
Charlotte held a 28-24 edge after one quarter and scored 13 in a row during the second for a 53-41 cushion. Stephen Graham capped that flurry with a three-pointer.
Boris Diaw's layup represented the first points of the third for a 55-43 difference, but Dallas rallied to tie the game at 66 on a Butler jumper in the final minute of the quarter.
Charlotte has been held to under 100 points in every meeting against the Mavs. The Bobcats fell to the Mavericks, 98-97, in overtime on Dec. 12 in Dallas. The Mavericks are the lone NBA team the Bobcats have never beaten...Diaw had 15 points, Wallace 11 and Raymond Felton 10.
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