Mavs Win 'Big Game' Against Golden State

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) _ When the NBA's best regular season team beats a winless opponent in November, it's normally not hailed as a huge achievement. Nothing is normal about the Dallas Mavericks'

Friday, November 9th 2007, 8:15 am

By: News On 6

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) _ When the NBA's best regular season team beats a winless opponent in November, it's normally not hailed as a huge achievement. Nothing is normal about the Dallas Mavericks' tortured relationship with the Golden State Warriors, however.

Dirk Nowitzki, Jerry Stackhouse and the Mavericks moved their biggest mental block a few inches Thursday night, fleeing Oakland with a 120-115 victory that provided a bit of hollow revenge for their historic playoff failure last spring.

``It was very important for us at this point in the season, knowing they beat us four or five times last year,'' said Jason Terry, who had 24 points. ``We came in and got the monkey off our back.''

Oracle Arena has been a barrel of monkeys in recent years for the Mavericks, who made the worst kind of playoff history in their last visits. Eighth-seeded Golden State beat Dallas three times in Oakland last spring, when the Mavs became the first No. 1 seed to lose a seven-game first-round series.

Dallas also had lost five straight regular season games against Golden State, and the Mavs seemed headed for even more trouble when Baron Davis lined up a straightaway 3-point shot to tie the latest meeting.

Davis, who tormented the Mavericks with incredible postseason play last spring, scored 15 of his 37 points in the fourth quarter _ but his final shot was just short.

``We gave Baron a look like that, and it looked like he was going to get it,'' said Dirk Nowitzki, whose MVP season ended with a playoff meltdown against Stephen Jackson's defense.

``It was a fun game with a playoff atmosphere in November. We have more of a rivalry with San Antonio or Phoenix, but the way the Warriors have been playing, it can definitely turn into one.''

In the only other NBA games on Thursday, New Jersey beat Washington 87-85 and Chicago defeated Detroit 97-93.

Nowitzki scored eight of his 22 points in the fourth quarter, and Josh Howard had 24 before fouling out. The Mavericks needed strong efforts from every veteran to hang on against an 0-5 Golden State team with 10 players in uniform _ but any win over the Warriors a relief.

``If we lose, maybe it's a big deal,'' said Stackhouse, who hit a key 3-pointer with 37 seconds left. ``If we win, I don't know if it's that much of a big deal. With what's gone on over the past year and a half between these teams, any time we meet it's going to be a big game.''

Kelenna Azubuike had 27 points and a career-high 11 rebounds for the Warriors, who had a short bench because of injuries and Jackson's suspension.

After Golden State pulled within one point in the final minute, Stackhouse hit a 3-pointer from the sideline to put the Mavs up 117-113. Davis cut the lead to two points, but Brandon Bass _ who wasn't around for last season's defeat _ grabbed an offensive rebound amid four Warriors with 8 seconds left.

Stackhouse made just one free throw, giving Golden State a final shot to tie it. But Davis' 3-pointer was short, and Devin Harris hit two free throws to finish with 21 points.

While the Mavs spoke of the win's cathartic aspects, the Warriors have bigger problems _ their 0-5 start and another night of dismal free throw shooting (16-for-30).

``It's tough, because we're not putting ourselves in position to win the game when we're not making free throws,'' said Davis, who went 6-for-9. ``I'm one of the culprits. We played well enough to win. We just didn't make our free throws.''

The Warriors lost their first four games this season while struggling to replace Jason Richardson and Jackson, who was suspended seven games for pleading guilty to a felony charge of criminal recklessness.

Golden State also played Thursday night without forward Mickael Pietrus, who stayed home with the flu, and injured veteran reserves Troy Hudson and Austin Croshere.

``I wouldn't count us out,'' Davis said. ``This team is capable of winning 10 games in a row. We have to lock in, get Jack back and we're going to be good.''

Nets 87, Wizards 85

Richard Jefferson scored 25 points, including the game-winning free throws with 24 seconds to play, and host New Jersey improved to 4-1 by rallying from a 20-point deficit in the first half.

Vince Carter had 24 points and deflected Gilbert Arenas' 3-pointer in the final seconds.

Antawn Jamison had 24 points and nine rebounds for Washington, which started 0-4 for the first time since 1992-93.

Bulls 97, Pistons 93

Tyrus Thomas had 19 points and 14 rebounds and host Chicago got its first victory after opening the season with four losses. Luol Deng added 17 points for the Bulls, while Kirk Hinrich had 14 assists.

Rasheed Wallace had 36 points and Richard Hamilton added 18 for Detroit, which lost after winning its first three games.