By Chris Bernucca Nov 1, 2009, 6:16 GMT
Los Angeles - You can have a great time spending a weekend in Los Angeles. Just ask the Dallas Mavericks.
Dirk Nowitzki had 24 points and nine rebounds Saturday night as the shorthanded Mavericks completed a sweep of the LA teams at Staples Center with a 93-84 victory over the winless Clippers.
Shawn Marion had 16 points and 11 rebounds and Jason Terry scored 16 points apiece for Dallas, which was coming off an impressive 94-80 victory over the defending champion Lakers on Friday night.
'Our guys knew that this was going to be a tough game,' Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said. 'It's hard to win in this place, whether we're playing the Lakers or the Clippers. To get out of here with two is an accomplishment.'
The Mavericks (2-1) used a similar formula in both wins, launching a big third-quarter burst to take control. But unlike the Lakers, the Clippers rallied in the final period as backup point guard Sebastian Telfair scored seven points in a 14-2 run that forged an 82-82 tie with 7:11 to play.
Dallas dug in on defense, holding to LA to 1-of-9 shooting and forcing four turnovers the rest of the way.
'The game came down to us getting 11 stops in the last 12 possessions,' Carlisle said. 'It's just great evidence of what's going to help us win - activity at the defensive end.'
Terry sank a three-pointer to give the Mavs the lead for good and added a layup to make it 87-84 with 2:57 remaining.
The Clippers (0-4) continued to struggle on offense, and Erick Dampier's dunk off a lob from Jason Kidd built the lead to five points with 2:15 to play. In the final 30 seconds, Nowitzki drained a jumper and two free throws to seal it.
'We couldn't score there for a while in the fourth, but we found out last night that we can play defense,' Kidd said.
Again playing without forwards Josh Howard and Tim Thomas, Dallas also was without forward-center Drew Gooden.
The Mavs trailed, 59-57, early in the third quarter before Nowitzki had six points and two assists in a 17-3 surge that gave them a 74-62 lead.
The Clippers got another big game from Chris Kaman, Nowitzki's teammate on the German Olympic team who had a career-high 27 points and 11 rebounds. Kaman as scored 20-plus points in three straight games for the first time in his seven-year career.
Dampier had 12 points and 10 rebounds and Kidd handed out 10 assists for Dallas, which forced 19 turnovers and committed just 11.
Eric Gordon scored 16 points and Telfair added 12 for the Clippers, who started 0-6 a year ago before beating Dallas at home.
'We had a couple of good runs and a few leads, but they made big plays and made the tough shots in the end,' Gordon said.
Philadelphia 141, New York 127 (OT)=
Andre Iguodala scored 32 points, Lou Williams added 27 and Thaddeus Young 25 for the visiting 76ers, who blew an 18-point fourth-quarter lead but scored the last 17 points of overtime for their second win in as many nights.
New York's comeback was fueled by Al Harrington's career-high 42 points off the bench. He had 14 in the fourth quarter and his team's first five points of OT for a 127-124 lead. But he fouled out on the next possession, and the Knicks didn't score again.
Italian forward Danilo Gallinari made eight 3-pointers and scored 30 points for the Knicks.
Cleveland 90, Charlotte 79=
Mo Williams scored 24 points and LeBron James added 14 and nine assists as the host Cavaliers welcomed back guard Delonte West and won their second straight game. West, who missed much of the preseason with personal issues, scored 13 points.
San Antonio 113, Sacramento 94=
'French Flash' Tony Parker scored 24 points and Richard Jefferson added 21 as the host Spurs routed the winless Kings. Argentine ace Manu Ginobili swatted a bat that flew onto the court and delayed the game for several minutes.
Houston 111, Portland 107=
Trevor Ariza scored a career-high 33 points and Aaron Brooks added 28 as the Rockets avenged a season-opening loss at Portland four days ago. Brandon Roy had 42 for the Trail Blazers.
Washington 123, New Jersey 104=
Gilbert Arenas scored 32 points and Andray Blatche added a career-high 30 as the Wizards - playing without injured star forwards Antawn Jamison and Caron Butler - won their home opener over the winless Nets, who were without Devin Harris.
Milwaukee 96, Detroit 85=
Rookie Brandon Jennings, who spurned college for pro ball in Italy a year ago, scored 16 of his 24 points in the pivotal third quarter for the Bucks, who won their home opener. Ben Gordon scored 26 for the Pistons, who have lost two in a row.
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