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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
DALLAS (AP) – Michael Finley needed only a few seconds to show
how serious he was about winning this game.
|  | | Mavs guard Michael Finley splits Scot Pollard, left, and Predrag Stojakovic for a layup. |
With the Dallas Mavericks mired in a three-game losing streak,
Finley chased down Friday night's opening tipoff, weaved between
three stunned Sacramento Kings and scored in the paint.
He drilled a long jumper on the next possession and finished
with 31 points, leading the Mavericks to a 101-97 victory and
giving them 50 wins for the first time in 13 years.
"We just wanted to be the aggressor," said Finley, who gave
his teammates a pregame speech. "Down the stretch and going into
the playoffs, the aggressor is going to win. During the three-game
losing streak, we were passive."
Mark Cuban, a long-suffering fan who bought the Mavericks last
year, missed the milestone victory because he was suspended for
making a gesture at officials during a loss Wednesday. He also was
fined $100,000 by the NBA.
The Internet billionaire probably watched the game on his
computer -- it was the first pro sports contest broadcast in
streaming video over the Internet. The Webcast was available in
English, Spanish and Mandarin Chinese.
Viewers saw Juwan Howard match Finley's intensity, while
contributing 26 points and 12 rebounds. In the third and fourth
quarters, the pair scored 28 of 36 Dallas points as the Mavericks
built their lead to 97-84.
"We were focused," said Howard, who had 32 points in a 119-107
victory over the Kings two weeks ago. "Mike set the tone and we
fed off his energy."
Dallas (50-29) regained the fifth seed in the Western Conference
by a half-game over Portland (50-30), which lost to Houston
109-103. Phoenix, meanwhile, beat Seattle 109-100 to improve to
49-30.
Chris Webber had 24 points and 13 rebounds for the Kings, who
were making their first bid for a team-record-tying 55th victory.
The mark was set by the Cincinnati Royals in 1963-64.
Sacramento's Peja Stojakovic missed a 22-footer in the closing
seconds that would have tied the game. Calvin Booth got the rebound
and hit two free throws with 0.7 seconds left to seal the victory.
"I got a good look," said Stojakovic, who had 18 points and
eight rebounds. "It just didn't fall in."
The Kings, whose only lead was by two in the first quarter, used
a 10-0 run to get within 97-94.
A 3-pointer by Sacramento's Bobby Jackson pulled the Kings
within 99-97 with 43 seconds left. Then Jackson rebounded a miss by
Finley with 19 seconds to go and looked to the bench to see if he
should call timeout. The answer was "No."
The Kings set up a play for Webber, but -- with Howard guarding --
he missed a short shot with 5.5 seconds to go. Webber had twisted
his right ankle in the third quarter and said "it took some of my
mobility away."
The game was as fast-paced as you would expect from two of the
league's four highest-scoring teams. There were plenty of baskets
in transition and great ball movement.
The quick tempo led to some out-of-control moments, which were
exciting in their own way.
There was little of the plodding, half-court isolation that bogs
down many games -- prompting the NBA to make rule changes Thursday
allowing zone defenses starting next season.
"Coach (Don Nelson) pointed that out during a timeout in the
first half," Howard said. "He said, 'This is a great game to
watch. I know you're enjoying playing it."'
Steve Nash scored 14 points for Dallas, and Shawn Bradley had
eight points, 15 rebounds and five blocks.
Vlade Divac just missed a fourth straight double-double with
nine points and 10 rebounds for Sacramento.
Game notes
This was the 100th meeting between the teams. Sacramento
leads the series 51-49. ... The Kings were called for illegal
defense twice within three seconds in the first quarter. ... This
is the third-winningest season in Mavs history. Dallas won 55 games
in 1986-87, and 53 in '87-88. ... The Mavericks have won 15 of 19
at Reunion Arena. ... This was the sixth straight game Divac has
had at least 10 rebounds.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Sacramento Clubhouse
Dallas Clubhouse
Hit again: Mavs owner Cuban fined, suspended
RECAPS
Washington 113
Orlando 110
Cleveland 97
New Jersey 91
New York 101
Atlanta 65
Indiana 113
Boston 108
Toronto 94
Miami 82
Utah 94
Chicago 83
Dallas 101
Sacramento 97
Denver 108
Golden State 92
Phoenix 109
Seattle 100
Houston 109
Portland 103
LA Clippers 111
Minnesota 105
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