Youth Is Served as Mavericks Catch the Spurs by Surprise

With the Dallas Mavericks out of playoff contention for the ninth consecutive season, Coach Don Nelson has decided to give more playing time to his youngsters and the youth movement paid off in a big way Tuesday night in Dallas.

Rookie forward Dirk Nowitzki and second-year center Chris Anstey came up big down the stretch as the Mavericks beat one of the top eight teams in the Western Conference for the first time this season with a 92-86 victory over the San Antonio Spurs.

“I felt real good about how the young guys played,” Nelson said. “They seized the moment. It was an unexpected win and probably the best one for us all year.”

Nowitzki, getting his first start since Feb. 26, had 12 points and a career-high 13 rebounds, and Anstey came off the bench for eight fourth-quarter points to help the Mavericks stop a three-game losing streak. Third-year forward Samaki Walker added six points and four rebounds in a reserve role.

“We played tonight like we thought we could all year,” Anstey said. “It was a good time to do this, against a very good team. It was a glimpse of what we can do. We want to take a positive feeling into next year.”

Michael Finley’s 25 points and Gary Trent’s 18 paced the Mavericks, who had lost to the Spurs in nine of their previous 10 meetings.

Dallas was 0-16 against the top eight teams in the Western Conference before the game.

David Robinson had 22 points and 10 rebounds and Tim Duncan added 21 points and 11 rebounds for the Spurs, winners of 19 of their previous 22 games.

“It was just a meltdown in the fourth quarter--we played awful,” said Robinson of the Spurs, who led, 80-74, with six minutes to play. “You have to give those guys credit. Nowitzki was big. He got the big rebounds and made some big shots in the fourth quarter.”

Miami 90, Chicago 74--Jamal Mashburn and Alonzo Mourning sparked a 20-5 second-quarter run that broke the game open at Miami and sent the Heat to its sixth straight victory.

Mourning led Miami with 19 points, while Tim Hardaway added 18 and Mashburn 17.

With the 939th victory of his career, Miami Coach Pat Riley took sole possession of third place on the NBA’s wins list. Riley, who broke a tie with Red Auerbach, trails Bill Fitch, second on the list, by five wins.

Chicago Coach Tim Floyd was ejected at 10:59 of the second period after receiving two technical fouls in a 26-second span as the Bulls lost their fifth in a row, including a record-setting 82-49 loss to the Heat on Saturday night.

New York 91, Philadelphia 72--Patrick Ewing’s sore Achilles’ tendon lasted only 12 minutes, but the Knicks didn’t need him in a victory at New York.

Ewing, who missed six games in early March because of the same injury, left late in the second quarter with the Knicks ahead by 14.

The Knicks led by as much as 29 points in coasting to their third straight victory. Kurt Thomas led them with 18 points.

Allen Iverson scored only 11 points for Philadelphia, missing 11 of his first 13 shots and committing seven turnovers.

Cleveland 86, Washington 77--Shawn Kemp scored 32 points and grabbed 17 rebounds as the Cavaliers watched the Wizards self-destruct in the final quarter at Cleveland.

Washington went scoreless for the first 5:51 of the fourth, committing six turnovers, going 0 for 5 from the field and missing two free throws.

Rod Strickland led Washington with 19 points.

Milwaukee 91, Atlanta 84--Dell Curry scored 20 points and sank two three-point baskets in the fourth quarter at Milwaukee as the Bucks sent the short-handed Hawks to their fourth straight defeat.

Atlanta, already without guard Steve Smith (knee), forward LaPhonso Ellis (hernia) and guard Anthony Johnson (suspension), lost forward Alan Henderson to a bruised tailbone after he landed on his back following a second-quarter dunk.