McDonald’s Arch Performance of the Week - Dirk Nowitzki
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Dirk's Half Century
Two days earlier, the Suns had waxed the the Mavericks 106-86 to even their Western Conference Finals series at 2-2. Enter Dirk Nowitzki to rescue the Dallas Mavericks.
Nowitzki poured in a franchise playoff-record 50 points in Game 5, outscoring the Suns by himself in the fourth quarter, 22-20.
The New York Times described Dirk's performance thusly:
"Another ingrained image was shattered Thursday night, if it still existed at all. Dirk Nowitzki, his superstar tag muddied by a soft reputation, crushed the Phoenix Suns, and whatever was left of that unflattering label."
Dirk's dominating performance was the springboard for the Mavs winning the series, 4-2, earning Dallas the right to play in The Finals for the first time.
Dallas did not draft Dirk Nowitzki in 1997. The Milwaukee Bucks did at No. 9 and traded Nowtizki and No. 19 overall pick Pat Garrity for Robert "Tractor" Traylor.
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