A blistering hot streak on the road that seems to know no bounds
this season has not translated into home supremacy for the
Mavericks. They have learned to persevere and survive. But the
results at American Airlines Center still aren’t satisfying. They
overcame the Golden State Warriors, 105-100, on Tuesday night in
the opener of a six-game homestand as a makeshift crew of centers
made up for the absence of Tyson Chandler, who was ill, and Dirk
Nowitzki pumped in a string of late key baskets.
DALLAS
A blistering hot streak on the road that seems to know no bounds this season has not translated into home supremacy for the Mavericks.
They have learned to persevere and survive. But the results at American Airlines Center still aren’t satisfying.
They overcame the Golden State Warriors, 105-100, on Tuesday night in the opener of a six-game homestand as a makeshift crew of centers made up for the absence of Tyson Chandler, who was ill, and Dirk Nowitzki pumped in a string of late key baskets.
And so, make it 10 in a row for the Mavericks.
The winning streak has featured some big-time wins on the road. But at home, it’s been more a case of just winning, baby, no matter how it looks.
They were only up two points before Ian Mahinmi, forced into extended minutes because of Chandler’s stomach problems and Brendan Haywood’s foul problems, hit two free throws to trigger a 6-0 run.
After the Warriors closed back within 92-89, Jason Terry got loose for a bank shot, and Nowitzki hit back-to-back jumpers to make it 98-91. The Mavericks took care of business from there, even though the Warriors threw in a few 3-pointers down the stretch.
Nowitzki finished with 25 points and Terry had 20.
The Mavericks perhaps got an unexpected jolt from fourth-team center Alexis Ajinca, the 7-1 Frenchman who had played a grand total of three minutes all season in just one game — the only game he had been active for up until Tuesday.
He responded like a big-time contributor. In only nine first-half minutes, Ajinca crushed his career rebounding high with six boards. He also hit a 15-footer from the baseline and had two blocked shots and a steal.
He was a prime reason why the Mavericks held a slim 50-48 lead at halftime. He also was a reason why the Warriors shot just 40 percent in the second quarter.
In the second half, it was Mahinmi, who ended up with his first career double-double, getting a dozen points to go with 10 rebounds.
— Story by Eddie Sefko, The Dallas Morning News
