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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
DALLAS (AP) -- The Dallas Mavericks and Portland Trail Blazers
now have more in common than billionaire owners. They're also tied
for the Western Conference's fifth playoff spot.
|  | | Juwan Howard ducks under Minnesota's LaPhonso Ellis to score for the Mavericks.
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With Michael Finley leading a Portland-like offensive attack -- six players in double figures, three with double-doubles -- Dallas
won its season-high fifth in a row, beating Minnesota 103-83
Thursday night.
The Mavericks won for the eighth time in nine games to improve
to 42-23, matching the Blazers. Both are 1½ games behind the Los
Angeles Lakers for the West's fourth spot, which is pivotal because
it includes home-court advantage in the opening round.
"This was a big step for us," said Juwan Howard, whose arrival
has sparked Dallas' recent hot streak. "We want to continue to win
and keep creeping up."
While Dallas' focus is on making the playoffs for the first time
in 11 years, this victory wrapped up another milestone not
accomplished since 1990: a winning record.
"I've always had high expectations for this team," said
Finley, who had 22 points and 10 rebounds. "I'm not shocked at
where we are right now."
The Timberwolves are going the other way, losing their grip on
the West's eighth and final spot. Minnesota (38-28) has dropped
four of its last five, helping Houston close to a game.
Dallas turned this into a blowout early, making seven of its
first eight shots and opening a 20-point lead in the first quarter.
The Wolves' lethargic play showed they were feeling the effects of
an overtime loss in San Antonio the night before. Minnesota is 3-12
in the second of consecutive games.
"Dallas didn't care that we played last night; why should we
care?" said Kevin Garnett, whose 28 points and 16 rebounds
extended his team record for double-doubles to 10. "We have to win
back-to-backs. We have to have a sense of urgency that these games
are very, very important. We can't go out and get blasted like
this."
It wasn't for a lack of trying by Garnett. After missing four of
his first five shots, he scored 11 consecutive Minnesota points and
took a head butt from Shawn Bradley, who drew a technical foul for
it.
Despite his aggressiveness, the Timberwolves never got closer
than 10 as they lost to the Mavericks by 20 for the second consecutive time. Minnesota shot 37 percent in the first meeting -- and just
35.3 this time.
"KG played as hard as I've seen him play both offensively and
defensively," coach Flip Saunders said. "We just didn't have the
juice that we needed to compete with a team at this level."
Dallas' juice is a varied offense. Rather than feeding the ball
to one Garnett, they're spreading it around.
All five starters were in double figures: Steve Nash had 18
points, Howard Eisley 16, Dirk Nowitzki 14, Bradley 11 and Howard
10. Nowitzki also had 14 rebounds and Bradley 13.
Felipe Lopez scored 15 off the bench for Minnesota, which
dropped its fourth in a row on the road.
Game notes
Minnesota is 3-12 in the second game of back-to-backs. ...
Eisley was 5-for-5, including four 3-pointers, but missed two of
four free throws. ... Four games into a six-game homestand, Dallas
has won five in a row and 13 of 16 at Reunion Arena. ... The last
time Dallas had a winning record, it went 47-35 in 1989-90.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Minnesota Clubhouse
Dallas Clubhouse
RECAPS
LA Lakers 125
Detroit 119
New York 88
Toronto 72
Seattle 108
Milwaukee 102
Dallas 103
Minnesota 83
Houston 108
New Jersey 106
Boston 105
Phoenix 101
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