Dallas

Nowitzki Returns to Hit Key 3, Mavs Top Wiz 105-102

Dirk Nowitzki limped off to the locker room after a fourth-quarter fall, then returned to make a key 3-pointer, and Monta Ellis scored 24 of his 34 points in the first half Wednesday night, leading the Dallas Mavericks to a 105-102 victory over the Washington Wizards.

Nowitzki went down in the key with about eight minutes left with what appeared to be a lower left leg problem. But he came back in with 3 1/2 minutes to go and Dallas trailing by a point. With 80 seconds left, Nowitzki sank a 3 to put the Mavs ahead 102-97, and then held out three fingers on one hand and slammed it against his other palm.

Washington lost at home for the first time this season, despite Bradley Beal's first action following left wrist surgery.

Beal was terrific, too, leading Washington with 21 points, and even drawing a charge on Ellis with about 30 seconds to go. But with a chance to tie the game, John Wall missed a 3-pointer at the other end. Ellis then made two free throws to push Dallas' edge to five points.

Over the first two quarters, Ellis made 7 of 10 shots, including a 3-pointer, and 9 of 10 free throws.

J.J. Barea and Brandan Wright each had 14 points for Dallas, which leads the NBA in scoring and has won five consecutive games.

Wall missed his first eight shots and finished 5 for 17 for 11 points, with 11 assists.

Beal had wrist surgery last month. He began practicing this week and was on the active roster for the first time after missing Washington's first nine games.

Wearing a black wrap on his non-shooting wrist and part of that hand, he entered with about five minutes left in the first quarter and was greeted by a standing ovation as the PA announcer said: "D.C., welcome to the floor, No. 3, Bradley Beal."

Beal played the remainder of that quarter, and then stayed on the floor at the start of the second, which he opened by sinking a left-handed layup. Later in the second, he made a 3-pointer to give Washington a 35-29 lead, prompting several teammates to rise off their courtside seats and raise three fingers overhead.

When Beal's 3 moved Washington ahead 85-84 with about eight minutes remaining, he screamed.
As that shot went in, Nowitzki pulled up and then dropped down.

After getting back in the game, he only made one shot -- to finish with 13 points -- but it was a big one.

TIP-INS

Mavericks: G Devin Harris sat out with what the team said was right lower leg soreness. Harris is averaging a team-leading 4.4 assists, along with 8.6 points, in 23.1 minutes per game. "He's one of our best players off the bench, obviously. (His) quickness is important; experience," coach Rick Carlisle said. "Defensively, he's one of our better perimeter guys." ... Dallas came into the night scoring 109.3 points per game, including 116.8 over their preceding four games.

Wizards: The Wizards had been 4-0 at home. The last time Washington's NBA team started a season 5-0 at home was in 1974-75, when the franchise was known as the Bullets and was led by Elvin Hayes; that team wound up with 60 regular-season wins and made it all the way to the NBA Finals.

UP NEXT

Mavericks: Host Lakers on Friday.

Wizards: Host Cavaliers on Friday.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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