Curry, Warriors edge Mavericks in overtime
DALLAS, Nov 20, 2012 (Menafn - Fort Worth Star-Telegram - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --Stephen Curry wouldn't let the Golden State Warriors lose.
In one of those wild shootouts from yesteryear, Curry scored 31 points and led the Warriors to a 105-101 win over the Dallas Mavericks in overtime Monday night at American Airlines Center.
The Mavs, who continue this three-game homestand Wednesday when they host Jason Kidd and the New York Knicks, are 6-6 on the season.
David Lee put the Warriors ahead for good at 101-99 when he scored inside off a feed from Curry with 32.7 seconds left. Curry, who scored six points and handed out three assists in overtime, then made a pair of free throws for a four-point cushion with 13.9 seconds left.
The Mavs fell behind 97-90 early in overtime, but O.J. Mayo went on a 7-0 scoring spree to tie the game at 97-all. Another basket by Mayo knotted things again at 99 apiece with 41.2 seconds remaining.
That's when Curry went to work and made sure the Warriors, who lost Sunday night in Oklahoma City, weren't going to lose.
Mayo led the Mavs with 27 points, Chris Kaman had 18 points and a season-high 17 rebounds, and Troy Murphy came off the bench to score 12 points on 4-of-7 shooting. Mayo scored all 11 of the Mavs' overtime points.
The Mavs had a chance to win the game in regulation play, but Vince Carter missed from 17 feet.
Darren Collison had tied the game at 90-90 when he made a 17-footer with 36.1 remaining in regulation play. From there, Golden State's Harrison Barnes misfired on a short jumper inside the key and, following a Warriors' offensive rebound, Klay Thompson missed a wide-open 3-pointer.
Carter then missed a jumper and the game went into overtime tied at 90-90, with both teams knowing they have an equal opportunity to eke out a victory.
It was an ugly first half for the Mavs, who trailed 43-38 at halftime. The 38 points were the Mavs' lowest in the first half this season, surpassing the 39 they scored during the opening half of the 90-82 loss to Minnesota on Nov. 12.
The basket appeared to have a lid over it, as the Mavs made just 13 of their 40 first-half field goal attempts. But to the Mavs' credit, they were able to remain within striking distance of the Warriors, who only shot 37.5 percent from the floor in the first half.
"We've got a long ways to go," coach Rick Carlisle said before the game. "I want to be positive, but I don't want to be Pollyanna about this. We've got a lot of areas where we can get better and we've got to keep working at it."
One area where the Mavs need to step up their game is on the backboards, where they've been battered and bruised for most of this season. The Warriors continued the assault on the Mavs on the backboards, outrebounding Dallas, 62-43.
Carlisle played 11 players in the first half as it has become difficult for him to establish a regular rotation.
"I told the team this morning that we need everybody," Carlisle said. "On a given night there's no way I can chart out what the rotation is going to reflect with this team."
Kaman got off to a nice start on the backboards, grabbing seven rebounds in the game's opening 4:10.
Dominique Jones again came off the bench to provide a spark for the Mavs. After Vince Carter's long jumper gave the Mavs their first lead of the night -- 58-56 with 4:42 remaining in the third quarter -- Jones went to work.
First, he stripped Jarrett Jack and fed Dahntay Jones for a fast-break dunk. Shortly thereafter, he sank a bank shot.
Troy Murphy then made a 3-point basket off a feed from Dominique Jones, who then scored before distributing a pass to Shawn Marion, who fired in a 3-pointer for a 78-73 Mavs lead with 8:19 to go in the game.
But when the Mavs needed a key basket the most, they couldn't find the hoop.
Dwain Price, 817-390-7760
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