News / Sports
NBA Scores: Mavericks Hold Spurs to 10 Points in Fourth Quarter to Earn Win
Dirk Nowitzki and Devin Harris each scored 21 points and Josh Howard added 15 as the Dallas Mavericks (66-14) beat the San Antonio Spurs (58-22) 91-86. The loss seals the Spurs spot as the number three seed in the Western Conference playoffs where they will take on the Denver Nuggets in the first round.
The Spurs led Dallas by five heading into the fourth quarter but managed to score just 10 points in the final period after losing the services of Tim Duncan late in the third. Duncan was ejected after collecting his second technical foul while sitting on the bench.
With Duncan forced out of the game the Spurs struggled throughout the fourth quarter. As bad as San Antonio was in the final period the Mavericks struggled to pull even. It wasn’t until Nowitzki hit a 14-foot jump shot with 1:15 left on the clock that the game was tied. The Mavericks then went up two on a bucket from Greg Buckner.
San Antonio had a chance to tie the score with three seconds left but Brent Barry missed a long three-pointer and Devin Harris grabbed the rebound.
The Spurs hit just four field goals in the fourth quarter and didn’t score a point over the final 4:15 of the game.
