Cuban Misses Out on Mavericks’ Milestone

Michael Finley scored 31 points, and Juwan Howard had 26 points and 12 rebounds at Dallas as the Mavericks defeated the Sacramento Kings, 101-97, Friday night to reach 50 victories for the first time in 13 years.

Owner Mark Cuban, a long-suffering fan who bought the Mavericks last year, missed the milestone because he was suspended for making a gesture at officials during a loss Wednesday. He also was fined $100,000 by the NBA and has surpassed $500,000 in fines this season.

The Internet billionaire could have watched the game on his computer--it was the first pro sports contest broadcast in streaming video over the Internet. It was available in English, Spanish and Mandarin Chinese.

Dallas had failed in its first three tries for 50 victories, tying its longest losing streak of the season.

The Kings, coming off an overtime victory Thursday in San Antonio, are a half-game ahead of the Lakers for the lead in the Pacific Division.

Peja Stojakovic, who hit the game-winner against the Spurs, missed a 22-footer in the closing seconds that would have tied the game.

Houston 109, Portland 103--Steve Francis had 32 points and 10 assists as the Rockets won at Portland, Ore., dropping the Trail Blazers into the No. 6 playoff spot in the Western Conference.

Portland fell a half-game behind the No. 5 Mavericks. With Phoenix also winning, the Trail Blazers are only a half-game ahead of the seventh-place Suns.

Toronto 94, Miami 82--Vince Carter scored 27 points at Toronto, including his 5,000th in the NBA, as the Raptors ended the Heat’s five-game winning streak.

Antonio Davis scored 11 of his 25 points in the decisive third quarter and added 13 rebounds as the Raptors matched franchise highs for season victories (45) and home victories (26).

Washington 113, Orlando 110--Tracy McGrady’s career-high 49 points tied the MCI Center record but were not enough as the Magic lost to the woeful Wizards.

Richard Hamilton scored 30 points, and Christian Laettner matched his season-high with 26 for the Wizards. The loss kept the Magic from moving into a tie for sixth place with Charlotte in the Eastern Conference.

Indiana 113, Boston 108--Called for a technical foul while on the bench in the third quarter, a fuming Reggie Miller scored 10 of his 29 points in the fourth and added a pair of game-clinching free throws with three seconds remaining in overtime at Indianapolis.

New York 101, Atlanta 65--Othella Harrington had 18 points for his highest-scoring game since joining the Knicks in their easy victory at New York.

Utah 94, Chicago 83--Karl Malone delivered again, scoring 21 of his 32 points in the second half as the Jazz pulled away in the closing minutes at Chicago.

Denver 108, Golden State 92--George McCloud scored 24 points and Robert Pack had the first triple-double by a Denver player in four years with 12 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds as the Nuggets defeated the visiting Warriors.

Phoenix 109, Seattle 100--Jason Kidd had 30 points, 17 assists and nine rebounds as the Suns defeated the SuperSonics at Phoenix to extend their home winning streak to seven games.

Cleveland 97, New Jersey 91--Andre Miller scored 26 points and hit two key baskets in the final minute to help the Cavaliers end a 12-game road losing streak at East Rutherford, N.J.