DALLAS 100, INDIANA 91
Pacers Can't Contain Streaking Mavs
At American Airlines Arena | Jan. 4, 2007
Two players had 20-10 double-doubles, the team dominated the boards and led much of the night. But when it came decision time, the Pacers were uncertain while the Mavericks were unequivocal. While Devin Harris took over, scoring 14 of his career-high 24 points in the final 9 minutes, the Pacers missed 10 shots in a row and 16 of their final 18 as Dallas wiped out a four-point lead and pulled away for a 100-91 victory Thursday.
The Pacers had a three-game road winning streak snapped and dropped their second in a row to fall to 17-16 overall, 8-11 on the road despite three players with double-doubles. Al Harrington had 24 points and 11 rebounds, Jermaine O'Neal 20 points and 16 rebounds and Jeff Foster 10 points and 12 rebounds.
The Mavs, who outscored the Pacers 25-12 in the final 9:47, won their 12th in a row overall and ninth straight at home to improve to an NBA-best 26-7, including a 16-3 home mark. They've gone 26-3 since losing their first four games of the season. Josh Howard had 25 points and 11 rebounds and Dirk Nowitzki a relatively quiet 20 points and seven rebounds.
PLUSES
For much of the game, the Pacers appeared to have the Mavericks solved. O'Neal established his scoring early and Harrington came on strong in the second and third periods. All three frontcourt starters were factors on the boards as O'Neal, Harrington and Foster combined for 39 rebounds, one more than the Dallas team as the Pacers overall held a 50-38 advantage. Jamaal Tinsley took Jason Terry out of the game early but struggled in the second half. Marquis Daniels continued a mini-resurgence by scoring 10 points in 24 minutes off the bench.
MINUSES
Though the Pacers were built for more speed and quickness, they didn't have enough of either to contend with Harris and Howard, who were by far the biggest factors in the game for Dallas. Howard dominated the third quarter and Harris took over from there as the two turned Nowitzki into a complementary performer. After a good start, Tinsley went 2-of-11 in the second half and the Pacers continued to struggle from the arc, going 2-of-14 overall. They also committed 18 turnovers, five in the fourth quarter.
MOMENTS
O'Neal sparked a solid start as the Pacers jumped to a 24-15 lead. Dallas' bench chipped away in the second quarter as the Mavericks took a 45-44 lead late in the half but the Pacers countered with a 14-4 run spanning the break to take a 58-50 lead early in the third on Harrington's 3-ponter. Howard then scored nine in a 14-2 run that put Dallas in front 64-60, but Daniels sparked a 14-5 Indiana run with six points and an assist as the Pacers took a 77-72 lead with 11:06 remaining. After Granger hit a jumper for a 79-75 lead at 9:48, the Pacers had hit their first three shots of the fourth period, but all they hit thereafter was the wall.
The visitors missed 10 in a row while Harris sparked an 11-1 run that gave the Mavis the lead for good, 86-80. The Pacers making just enough free throws to hang around, trailing 92-89 late, when their one consistent strength in the game – rebounding – failed at a most inopportune time. Dallas missed four shots on one possession before Harrington tied up Howard for a jump ball. But the Mavs won the tip and Nowitzki hit a cutting Howard in mid-air with a perfect pass that led to decisive three-point play that made it 95-89 with 1:47 left. The Pacers promptly committed turnovers on three of their next four possessions to eliminate any thoughts of a rally.
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