Big Comeback and a Big Finish for Mavericks

With the clock winding down, the San Antonio Spurs were worried about a long jumper from Dallas’ Dirk Nowitzki. That left Erick Strickland free to collect a game-winning garbage basket.

Strickland’s follow shot at the buzzer completed a 22-point comeback as the Mavericks beat the Spurs for the second time in five days, 97-96, Tuesday night at Dallas.

“I just wanted to be there in case anything happened,” said Strickland after the Mavericks’ biggest home comeback in franchise history. “I didn’t know if I had enough time to touch it back up and fortunately I did.”

Tim Duncan’s tip-in with 13.2 seconds gave the Spurs a 96-95 advantage.

Dallas worked for the last shot, and Nowitzki’s 18-foot jumper out of the right corner sailed over the rim. But Strickland was free on the weak side to catch the ball and guide it through the basket as the final buzzer sounded.

“It was a bad shot,” Nowitzki said. “I was glad to see Erick there for the rebound.”

Teammates mobbed Strickland as the Mavericks celebrated one of their most emotional victories of the season.

David Robinson had 30 points and 17 rebounds and Duncan 26 points and 12 rebounds, but the Spurs were undone by a 10-point third quarter.

Michael Finley finished with 24 points for the Mavericks, who have won five of six games.

Indiana 95, New York 91--Jalen Rose scored 28 points and the Pacers overcame a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter to beat the Knicks at Indianapolis.

Rik Smits had 20 points for Indiana, including a short jump shot over Patrick Ewing that put the Pacers ahead to stay, 93-91, with 57.4 seconds to play.

Ewing scored 23 points and was 10 for 18 from the field. However, he missed his last four shots.

Indiana became the first team in the Eastern Conference to clinch a playoff spot.

Minnesota 111, Cleveland 107--Kevin Garnett scored 29 points and Terrell Brandon had 24 as the Timberwolves beat the Cavaliers in overtime at Minneapolis.

Brandon also tied his career high with 16 assists as the Timberwolves spoiled the return of Cavalier first-year Coach Randy Wittman, who served as an assistant in Minnesota from 1994-99.

Atlanta 82, Miami 77--Jim Jackson scored on two drives in the final 1:10 at Atlanta and the Hawks ended a four-game losing streak. Miami tied the score at 75 with 1:28 remaining, but Jackson picked up a loose ball and drove into the lane to put the Hawks ahead to stay.

New Jersey Nets 100, Toronto 93--Kendall Gill scored 24 points and held Vince Carter without a dunk as the Nets won at Toronto. Carter, guarded by Gill for most of the game and frequently double-teamed, had 23 points on five of 18 shooting as the Raptors lost for only the second time in 13 games.

Utah 96, Denver 83--The Jazz, who trailed for most of the fourth quarter, used a 19-3 burst to cruise past the Nuggets at Salt Lake City. Karl Malone scored nine of his 28 points in the run as the Utah won for the 11th time in 12 games.

Vancouver 98, Golden State 82--Michael Dickerson scored 14 of his 25 points in the first quarter at Vancouver, Canada as the Grizzlies ended a 12-game losing streak. The Warriors, who face the Lakers tonight at Staples Center, lost for the 12th time in 14 games.

Detroit 100, Seattle 90--Grant Hill scored 33 points as the Pistons won their second consecutive road game. The Pistons ended an 11-game road losing streak with a victory at Vancouver on Sunday.

Sacramento 98, Washington 86--Vlade Divac had 24 points and 12 rebounds and Chris Webber had 22 points and 11 rebounds as the Kings pulled away from the Wizards late in the game at Sacramento.