NBA Game Summary - LA Clippers at Dallas

02.21.2006

Dallas, TX (Basketball News) - Dirk Nowitzki scored 17 points, pulled down 10 rebounds and came up with a huge block in the final seconds, as the Dallas Mavericks slipped past the Los Angeles Clippers, 93-91, at American Airlines Center.

Josh Howard led all scorers with 23 points and Adrian Griffin tallied 13 points for the Mavericks, who have won 16 of their last 17 contests. Howard shot a stellar 9-of-11 from the floor, and grabbed seven rebounds to extend the Mavericks’ home winning streak of 12 games.

Elton Brand paced the Clippers with 20 points, as all five Los Angeles starters scored in double figures. Following a four-game winning streak, the Clippers have now lost four straight, and five of their last six.

The Mavericks had an 81-73 advantage heading into the final quarter, but recently acquired forward Vladimir Radmanovic capped a 7-0 run for the Clippers by hitting a three-pointer with 1:35 left to pull his team to within one, 92-91.

Following Griffin’s missed jumper, Brand missed a runner in the lane with 35 seconds to play.

Nowitzki missed a jumper with 14 seconds to play on the ensuing Mavericks possession, giving the Clippers a chance to take the lead.

With less than seven seconds to play, Nowitzki got a piece of Sam Cassell’s jumper, as Howard picked off the deflection and was sent to the line. Howard proceeded to miss both free throws, but Jerry Stackhouse was able to coral the loose ball with 1.2 seconds left and draw a foul.

After a Stackhouse free throw, the Clippers had one final chance to tie or win, but Shaun Livingston’s inbounds pass sailed over the head of Brand, sealing the Clippers’ fate.

The Mavericks enjoyed their largest lead of the first half on a Howard bucket, to give them a 31-23 edge with under two minutes left in the first quarter.

The Clippers got to within one at, 49-48, following a Chris Kaman field goal with under four minutes left in the first half. Kaman scored 13 of his 15 points in the first half. The Mavericks scored six of the final eight points in half to lead 55-50 at the break.

Dallas won the game despite scoring only 12 fourth quarter points.

Brand tied a career high with four steals...Cuttino Mobley scored 18 points for the Clippers, while Cassell scored 17...The Clippers have lost 13 of their last 15 at Dallas...The Clippers shot 42.9 percent from beyond the arc, while Dallas was a dismal 12.5 percent.

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