Harris Off to a Good Start With Nelson’s Mavericks

The Dallas Mavericks gave Del Harris an easy one in his first game since taking over as interim coach for cancer-stricken Don Nelson.

Dirk Nowitzki had 31 points, Michael Finley added 21 and the Mavericks allowed their fewest points this season in defeating the New Jersey Nets, 99-73, Sunday at East Rutherford, N.J.

“Nellie and I are of the same mind,” Harris said. “If you are going to have a good team, it starts with defense. That doesn’t come easily to this team, but they have really been working hard on it this year. We are playing defense with a lot of pride.”

In Dallas’ current three-game winning streak, opponents have averaged 81 points.

The Mavericks’ performance would have pleased Nelson, who was in Salt Lake City undergoing tests for prostate cancer. Harris said there is a chance Nelson will rejoin the team on the current six-game trip.

Nelson met with doctors from the Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah to discuss treatment. The 60-year-old coach did not say when he might be able to rejoin the team.

“I’m here at the Huntsman Institute because I believe the information I get here is going to be top quality,” Nelson said. “I’ve never had cancer before, so I need information, and lots of it.”

Harris had little to worry about as the Mavericks took the lead for good late in the first quarter in sending the injury-plagued Nets to their 10th loss in 11 games.

“We got a little complacent after getting the win over Phoenix [on Friday],” New Jersey forward Aaron Williams said. “We thought we could go out and play the same way and get the same results without the same efforts. They just played harder than us tonight.”’

The 26-point loss was the Nets’ worst of the season. New Jersey dropped a 24-point decision to Indiana on Tuesday. Five of New Jersey’s last six losses have been by 20 or more.

Sacramento 101, Miami 97--Chris Webber scored 19 points and led seven players in double figures as the Kings rallied from a 24-point deficit and beat the Heat at Sacramento.

Jason Williams scored 15 points and Jon Barry had 14 for the Kings, who won their sixth consecutive home game and ended a losing streak at seven against Miami.

Tim Hardaway scored 20 of his 25 points in the first half for Miami, which led, 41-17, early in the second quarter.

Williams made consecutive three-point baskets to give Sacramento a 73-67 lead with 3:25 left in the third quarter. The Kings, who outscored Miami 30-16 in the quarter, held an 80-75 lead at the start of the fourth quarter.

Miami twice had a 23-point lead in the first quarter. But the Kings, with four reserves in the lineup, went on a 16-4 run in the first 5:21 of the second quarter.

Barry scored 11 points in the first half as Sacramento closed to 57-50. Miami held a 59-50 lead at halftime.

Boston 104, Denver 102--Paul Pierce made a jumper from the top of the key as time expired in overtime to lift the Celtics to a win over the Nuggets at Denver.

Kenny Anderson’s one-handed running shot from the right baseline gave Boston a 102-100 lead with 22 seconds left, but Nick Van Exel made a jumper from the foul line with 6.8 seconds to go.

Boston didn’t call timeout. The Celtics rushed the ball up before eventually getting it to Pierce, who let his shot fly as the buzzer sounded.

Pierce led the Celtics with 28 points and Antoine Walker had 26 points and 11 rebounds. Anderson, activated after being on the injured list because of a fractured jaw, finished with 13 points.

Phoenix 95, Toronto 87--Jason Kidd had 24 points and four other Suns scored in double figures in a victory at Toronto.

Vince Carter scored 35 points to lead the Raptors, but made only 12 of his 34 shots.

Phoenix’s Clifford Robinson scored 22 points, Rodney Rogers had 19, Tony Delk added 12 and Shawn Marion had 11, including two key baskets in the last two minutes.

Toronto’s other four starters combined for only 23 points.