Mavs rally to top Bucks for eighth straight win

Feb 14, 2007, 4:35 GMT

Milwaukee, WI - Dirk Nowitzki poured in 38 points and grabbed 11 rebounds as the Dallas Mavericks won their eighth straight game, rallying from a double-digit deficit in the final quarter to beat the Milwaukee Bucks, 99-93, at the Bradley Center.

Josh Howard scored 15 while Jerry Stackhouse added 13 for the Mavericks, who won their ninth straight game. Jason Terry pitched in with 11 points and 10 assists for Dallas, which led for a total of 49 seconds in the win and outscored Milwaukee 28-11 in the fourth quarter.

Andrew Bogut scored 16 points and pulled down 17 boards for the Bucks, who have lost three straight, seven of eight and 13 of their last 15 games. Ruben Patterson deposited 20 points for Milwaukee, which scored two points in the final 7:06, on a pair of free throws.

'In the fourth quarter they picked up their defense and and we were a little slow getting into our offense,' said Bucks coach Terry Stotts. 'Fought the shot clock a few times, didn't make some of the shots we did have and that led to their transition.'

Mo Williams' layup boosted the Bucks to a 91-84 lead with 7:06 left, but Milwaukee wilted down the stretch.

Dallas took its first lead of the game, 93-92, with 1:04 to play on Nowitzki's layup after the Mavericks got a third chance because of a pair of offensive rebounds.

Patterson made 1-of-2 free throws to tie it at 93, but Nowitzki, penetrated and found Terry for an open jumper that put Dallas ahead 95-93 with 34.9 seconds left.

'Off the screen we had the little play we ran,' said Nowitzki. 'There were 30 seconds left to go, but that's what Jason does. He can go 0-for-20, but in the last minute, you give him the ball and he's going to knock it down.'

With a chance to tie, the Bucks' Charlie Bell missed an open jumper. The Mavericks got the rebound, and Stackhouse and Nowitzki each hit two free throws to ice the win.

Milwaukee closed the opening quarter with an 8-1 run, capped by two Earl Boykins foul shots, giving the Bucks a 30-22 edge after the first stanza.

Milwaukee extended its lead to 52-36 late in the second period, thanks to an 8-1 surge. Charlie Villanueva scored all eight points during the stretch.

The Bucks held a 58-45 advantage at the intermission.

A Nowitzki trey, pulled Dallas to within seven, 76-69 late in the third, but the Bucks finished the session scoring six of the final eight points and took an 82-71 lead into the final frame.

Game Notes

Villanueva, who scored 15 points in the first half, missed most of the second half after turning an ankle late in the second quarter.

Milwaukee has lost nine straight games against Western Conference foes..Dallas won for just the third time in their last 18 tries at Milwaukee.

© 2007 The Sports Network