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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) -- The Dallas Mavericks were too
tired to celebrate their latest feat.
|  | | Michael Finley scored 16 points to go with 11 rebounds against the Grizzlies. |
Dirk Nowitzki scored 31 points as the Mavericks moved 14 games
above .500 for the first time in 13 seasons with a 116-112 win over
the Vancouver Grizzlies on Tuesday night.
"We don't have to break any records," Nowitzki said. "Our big goal is the playoffs."
Most of the Mavericks, who did not arrive in Vancouver until 4 a.m. Tuesday after beating the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday, were too tired to recognize the achievement.
"This was a huge step winning this game and not letting it get
away," Dallas coach Don Nelson said. "I was worried about this
game, even when we played a great first quarter."
Dallas (36-22) had been 13 games above .500 on three previous
occasions this seasons before losing. Nowitzki helped the Mavericks
solidify their hold on the seventh playoff seed in the Western
Conference when he hit a pair of free throws to give his team a
110-106 lead with 1:42 left.
"Any positive thing we can feed energy off of is a good sign this at this time of the season," Mavericks center Shawn Bradley said. "It's a good mark to see where we are in our development."
Shareef Abdur-Rahim scored 36 points as Vancouver (18-40) lost its fourth straight.
The teams took turns putting together big runs in the first half, which ended with Dallas holding a 65-57 advantage.
The Mavericks opened the game by hitting 18 of their first 21 shots to take a 41-24 lead.
"I did not want to make a substitution," Nelson said. "My instincts were to let those five guys play the whole game until they wear out. I only called a couple of plays the whole time."
However, the Grizzlies responded with a 20-7 run to open the
second quarter, and pulled within 48-44 with 6:26 left in the half.
Abdur-Rahim had 26 points in the half.
"They just made more big plays down the stretch," Abdur-Rahim said. "We lost focus of what we were supposed to be doing and that hurt us."
Nowitzki was in the locker room when the third quarter began and
returned to the game just before Vancouver's Bryant Reeves hit his
sixth straight shot to give the Grizzlies their first lead, 72-71,
midway through the quarter.
Game notes
The 65 first-half points surrendered by the Grizzlies to
Dallas was second only this season to the 71 points given up
against the Mavericks in their previous meetings between the teams
Jan. 25. ... Before the game, the Mavericks placed former Vancouver
forward Obinna Ekezie on the injured list with a sprained ankle. ... Attendance was announced at 12,977 and a planned demonstration on the part of some Vancouver fans who are opposed to the proposed
transfer of the franchise by owner Michael Heisley to the U.S. did
not materialize. ... In the crowd: Dallas Stars center Mike Modano,
in Vancouver for an NHL game against the Canucks on Wednesday.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Dallas Clubhouse
Vancouver Clubhouse
RECAPS
Toronto 101
Cleveland 89
Miami 103
Washington 95
New York 101
Seattle 92
Portland 95
San Antonio 87
Sacramento 106
LA Clippers 93
Dallas 116
Vancouver 112
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