Recap: LA Clippers vs. Dallas
Sports Network | November 09, 2008
Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - Baron Davis scored a team-high 22 points and added 10 assists as the Los Angeles Clippers earned their first win of the season by defeating the Dallas Mavericks, 103-92, at the Staples Center.
Al Thornton chipped in 17 points, while Chris Kaman added 10 points and nine rebounds for the Clippers, who snapped a six-game losing streak to start the season and 13-game losing skid overall, dating back to last season.
Dirk Nowitzki had a game-high 33 points and pulled down seven rebounds for Dallas, which has lost two straight. Gerald Green scored 13 points and had 10 rebounds starting in place of forward Josh Howard, who missed the contest with a wrist injury.
Jason Kidd finished with seven points and nine assists for Dallas.
With LA clinging to a 47-45 lead after one half, the Clippers managed to stretch its lead to double digits after Davis hit from beyond the arc, giving the hosts a 64-54 edge at the midpoint of the third quarter.
The Mavericks tried hanging in the contest, and after six points from Jose Barea and three free throws from Nowitzki in the final three minutes of the quarter, the visitors trailed 73-69 after three periods.
In the fourth, LA continued to play front-runner in the early going, but an 8-2 run, highlighted by a Jerry Stackhouse dunk, tied the game at 79-79 with 8:31 remaining. Jason Terry's jumper forged the deadlock.
But the Clippers would not be denied as they scored 13 straight points, including two free throws from Thornton after a flagrant foul was whistled against Kidd.
"We battled hard to get back in the game," Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle said. "We dug a hole and we battled back. They went on a 13-0 run and we didn't shoot well."
Dallas was unable to put a dent into the LA advantage and the Clippers coasted to the finish.
"It's great to win and it's a lot better than losing," Davis said. "Our young guys played great. We've been patient with each other and we're working together. We concentrated on rebounding today and Marcus Camby is working his way back into shape. We were able to pressure their defense. It just feels good to get a win."
With the Clippers holding a 25-24 lead after one quarter, LA got a jumper from Jason Hart and three-pointer by Eric Gordon to go up by six in the early stages of the second quarter. They extended the lead to eight following another Gordon three with 7:44 left in the half.
Dallas, however, answered with a trey from Green and layup by Kidd to cut its deficit to 37-34 near the midway point of the second stanza.
Los Angeles kept the Mavs at bay for the remainder of the quarter, but a tip- in by Nowitzki in the closing seconds got Dallas to within two points heading into the intermission.
Camby finished with nine points and 14 rebounds...Dallas will next host the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night, while the Clippers host Sacramento on Wednesday night...LA snapped a six-game losing skid versus Dallas.
