TEAMS GO RETRO AND MAVS LOSE TO CLIPPERS
Early injury by Nowitzki burned all chances to win at Staple Center against Clippers
DALLAS MAVERICKS 98 : 120 LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS
Cuttino Mobley had an unbelievable game with 33 points, 30 of them in 3 quarters.
[ Mavericks Boxscore ]
[ Clippers Boxscore ]
Just before the game against
Clippers, the team got news, that they
clinched the playoff spot, because of other games, in which lost team, which stands at 6 place at Western Conference, so the
Mavs clinched the playoff spot along with
San Antonio Spurs and
Memphis Grizzlies, which fell from the first place to the 4th, so letting Spurs to become Western Conference leaders.
Dallas still remains at the 5th place.
Team has known that now this victory is very important for better place at conference, despite that they clinched the playoff spot. But the game started very unsuccesfully, Mavs were losing 16 : 28 and then
Dirk Nowitzki suffered an injury. The injury was recrudescent sore of wrist, so Nowitzki became unplayable in this game. Clippers profited by this injury, so running by 18 at the end of first quarter. At the 2nd quarter Mavs closed the game by 57 : 60, but it was the last effort by the Mavs. After the half Clippers seemed were playing more solid game and ran again by 20 points with the excellent play of
Cuttino Mobley. He scored
30 points in first three quarters, hitting 3 pointers and scoring easy layups.
The Mavs lost this game
98 : 120 despairingly, with the poor defence. Need to commend only
Marquis Daniels, who was the real fighter on the ground, scoring
22 points, but it wasn't enough for the victory. 14 points and 11 assists was made by
Terry, but he missed a lot of shots, including 6 three pointers.
Jerry Stackhouse,
Josh Howard and injured
Dirk Nowitzki combined for 12 points.
From the Clippers need to mention
Shaun Livingston, who had very good game from the bench, scoring 18 points and shooting very well. Also
Cassell with 19 points,
Corey Maggette with 15 points.
Elton Brand - the main MVP candidate had only 12 points, so reducing his ablities to become Most Valuable Player.
Cuttino Mobley in the 4th quarter added 3 points and had total of 33 and became the player of the game.
Clippers rised one position up in the season standings and still fighting for the playoff spot. And good news from Dallas Mavericks trainer: the injury of
Dirk Nowitzki is not so serious as everyone expected. He will be available in the next game against
Golden State Warriors.
PHOTO GALLERY:

Marquis Daniels has team-high 22 points and took over leader role, when Nowitzki gone injured. Terry with one of his 11 assists.

Shaun Livingston over 4 Dallas men. He scored 18 points from the bench, but had 5 turnovers. Corey Maggette with the 15 points.