TURKEY BOUND – Nowitzki’s Mavs thump Kaman’s Clippers
LOS ANGELES (2010 FIBA World Championship) – Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks are in fine fettle with the play-offs just around the corner. Nowitzki, going up against fellow Germany national team star Chris Kaman of the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday night, had 25 points and eight rebounds to lead the Mavs to 117-94 win. The triumph was ...
LOS ANGELES (2010 FIBA World Championship) – Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks are in fine fettle with the play-offs just around the corner.
Nowitzki, going up against fellow Germany national team star Chris Kaman of the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday night, had 25 points and eight rebounds to lead the Mavs to 117-94 win.
The triumph was the 54th of the season and kept Dallas a game clear of third-place Denver, who prevailed 123-101 over Memphis.
The new star of French basketball, Rodrigue Beaubois, was outstanding for Dallas.
The 22-year-old rookie started and played 18 minutes, scoring 11 points, handing out five assists and grabbing six boards.
The former Cholet star, who could be a major factor for France this summer at the FIBA World Championship, also came up with two steals.
Puerto Rico’s JJ Barea had two points and seven assists off the bench for Dallas.
The Clippers got 17 points and seven rebounds from Kaman, but the center also had a game-high six turnovers.
Dallas are a game clear of Denver heading into their regular season finale against San Antonio on Wednesday.
There were some other notable performances by players headed to the FIBA World Championship.
Iran
- Hamed Ehadadi – The Iran center scored 11 points and grabbed eight boards for Memphis in a 123-101 loss to Denver.
Brazil
- Nene – The Denver center had 20 points and six rebounds for Denver in their win over the Grizzlies.
Team USA
- Dwight Howard - The Orlando Magic center had 12 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks in a 118-98 triumph at Indiana.
- David Lee – The Team USA hopeful of New York scored 26 points and corralled eight rebounds in a 114-103 Knicks win over Washington.
Argentina
- Carlos Delfino – The Milwaukee shooting guard poured in 12 points, snatched four rebounds and handed out four assists in a 104-96 defeat to Atlanta.
- Manu Ginobili – The San Antonio shooting guard finished with eight points, four assists and a block in the Spurs’ 133-111 win over visiting Minnesota.
France
- Tony Parker – The Spurs point guard had 12 points, seven assists and a steal off the bench in the victory over Minnesota.
Puerto Rico
- Carlos Arroyo – The Miami Heat playmaker started and played 34 minutes, finishing with 15 points, seven assists and two rebounds in a 107-105 win at Philadelphia.
Turkey
- Hedo Turkoglu – The Toronto forward finished with eight points, eight rebounds and four assists in a 111-97 win at Detroit.
Spain
- Jose Calderon – The Raptors point guard had 11 assists to go with his three points in the victory over the Pistons.
China
- Yi Jianlian – The China big man scored 14 points and hauled in 10 rebounds while also swatting three shots for the Nets in their 105-95 home defeat to Charlotte.
Slovenia
- Beno Udrih – The point guard had 16 points and six assists for Sacramento in their 117-107 setback to Houston.
FIBA