NBA – Nowitzki and Barea extend Mavs winning streak to 11

DALLAS (NBA) – The Dallas Mavericks defeated the New Jersey Nets 102-89 for their 11th win in a row, the longest current winning streak in the NBA.

Dirk Nowitzki had 21 points and 10 rebounds and Dallas got a huge lift from its bench, as Shawn Marion added 18 points, former Sixth Man of the Year Jason Terry chipped in with 15 and Puerto Rico star guard Jose Juan Barea handed out a career-high 13 assists.

The game was special with Nets head coach Avery Johnson returning to the city where he experienced a lot of success. He led the Mavericks to their first and only NBA Finals appearance in 2006, losing to the Miami Heat.

Barea, for one, benefited hugely from Johnson and admitted as much.

“He was the guy that gave me a chance to be in the NBA. He showed me a lot my first two years here,” he said.

Dallas led 30-19 at the end of the first quarter and stretched their advantage to 18 early in the second.

New Jersey trailed 55-40 at the break and lost star guard Devin Harris to a sprained shoulder.

The visitors rallied in the second half by attacking the basket and getting to the foul line to get within 81-73 early in the final frame.

But Dallas then closed out the game thanks to a 13-3 run to get within a game of rivals San Antonio Spurs (18-3) for the best record in the league.

Meanwhile, the Boston Celtics held on to the second longest winning streak in the league and also improved to 18-4 on the season after edging out the Philadelphia 76ers 102-101.

With 1.4 seconds left to play, Kevin Garnett caught Rajon Rondo’s alley-oop pass and banked in a shot to take the lead. Garnett then intercepted the ball at the other end to ensure the win, Boston’s ninth in a row.

USA swingman Andre Iguodala made a hook shot to put the hosts up 101-100 with 6.6 seconds to go, but that was plenty of time for Boston to run a play.

Ray Allen had a game-high 23 points, Rondo added 19 points and 14 assists and Garnett finished with 14. In the absence of Shaquille O’Neal, Turkey’s Semih Erden – who is battling a left shoulder injury – got his first NBA start and finished with eight points and three rebounds.

Jodie Meeks scored 19 to pace the Sixers and Iguodala finished with 14.

Philadelphia led 80-72 late in the third quarter before the Celtics went on a 9-0 run to edge ahead heading into the final frame, one which saw 14 lead changes.

In Portland, the Trail Blazers overcame 2008 Olympic gold medallist Dwight Howard’s 39 points for a 97-83 win.

Andre Miller returned from a one-game suspension to pace the home side with 22 points and eight assists. France forward Nicolas Batum had 15 points and 10 rebounds off the bench.

FIBA