Mavericks grab playoff spot
Match saver: Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki (R) shoots over Utah Jazz forward Carlos Boozer in the first half of their NBA basketball game in Dallas, Texas on Thursday. Picture: Reuters
Saturday, April 12, 2008
DIRK NOWITZKI'S last-second three-pointer gave Dallas a 97-94 win over the Utah Jazz on Thursday, securing an eighth consecutive playoff berth for the Mavericks.
The win, combined with Golden State's 114-105 loss to the Denver Nuggets, left the Mavs in seventh place in the Western Conference, two games ahead of Denver with three to play. The top eight teams in each conference advance to the playoffs.
Nowitzki, who finished with 32 points, took a pass from Eddie Jones and drilled the game-winning shot with less than a second left on the clock.
"Usually you take a time out there and set up a play," Nowitzki told reporters.
"We all knew that we didn't have a time out left so (Jason) Kidd took it out really quick and got it to Eddie."
The Utah defense collapsed on Jones, leaving Nowitzki wide open on the wing.
"I really didn't know how much time was left, but I knew I had to let it go and I'm happy it went in."
A desperation three-point attempt by Utah's Deron Williams failed at the buzzer. Williams had tied the score at 94-94 on a three-pointer.
"We were right there at the end of the game and had a chance to get it to overtime and just slipped up at the end," the Utah guard told reporters.
"It's a tough loss, but better now than in the playoffs."
The victory gave Dallas 50 wins for the season, the eighth consecutive year they have reached the figure. Only the San Antonio Spurs, with nine consecutive 50-win seasons, have more.
But the victory may have been costly as forward Josh Howard left the game in the third quarter with a bruised right knee. He returned but was sidelined for good in the fourth quarter.
"Hopefully Josh is OK," Nowitzki said.
"We've been saying for the last couple of weeks that the playoffs this year have started early and we've had to come together quickly.
"We're starting to build our confidence and if we keep going like this we're going to be a dangerous team in the playoffs." Reuters
The win, combined with Golden State's 114-105 loss to the Denver Nuggets, left the Mavs in seventh place in the Western Conference, two games ahead of Denver with three to play. The top eight teams in each conference advance to the playoffs.
Nowitzki, who finished with 32 points, took a pass from Eddie Jones and drilled the game-winning shot with less than a second left on the clock.
"Usually you take a time out there and set up a play," Nowitzki told reporters.
"We all knew that we didn't have a time out left so (Jason) Kidd took it out really quick and got it to Eddie."
The Utah defense collapsed on Jones, leaving Nowitzki wide open on the wing.
"I really didn't know how much time was left, but I knew I had to let it go and I'm happy it went in."
A desperation three-point attempt by Utah's Deron Williams failed at the buzzer. Williams had tied the score at 94-94 on a three-pointer.
"We were right there at the end of the game and had a chance to get it to overtime and just slipped up at the end," the Utah guard told reporters.
"It's a tough loss, but better now than in the playoffs."
The victory gave Dallas 50 wins for the season, the eighth consecutive year they have reached the figure. Only the San Antonio Spurs, with nine consecutive 50-win seasons, have more.
But the victory may have been costly as forward Josh Howard left the game in the third quarter with a bruised right knee. He returned but was sidelined for good in the fourth quarter.
"Hopefully Josh is OK," Nowitzki said.
"We've been saying for the last couple of weeks that the playoffs this year have started early and we've had to come together quickly.
"We're starting to build our confidence and if we keep going like this we're going to be a dangerous team in the playoffs." Reuters
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