Mavericks Find the Right Mix

The newcomers fit in nicely for the Dallas Mavericks. But Steve Nash and Dirk Nowitzki still led the way.

Nash scored 28 points and Nowitzki had 26 points and 21 rebounds and the Mavericks, with key contributions from Raef LaFrentz and Nick Van Exel in their debuts, defeated the Sacramento Kings, 111-97, Saturday at Dallas in a battle of division leaders.

“We looked good and the new guys fit in well,” Nowitzki said. “It will be a while before we really know how to play with each other, but the future is bright.”

LaFrentz had 14 points and six rebounds, and Van Exel had eight points and eight assists. Each played about 30 minutes only two days after being acquired from Denver with Avery Johnson and Tariq Abdul-Wahad.

In the end, the Mavericks’ two All-Stars still made the difference.

Nash shot 10 for 13 and scored 15 consecutive points in a 22-6 third-quarter run that put Dallas ahead to stay. Nowitzki had his second consecutive game with more than 20 points and 20 rebounds.

“I got a few good looks. I knocked them down and got my confidence going. That made it easy for me,” Nash said. “With the new guys, we can really spread the floor and give a lot of different looks.”

The Kings led, 58-51, when Chris Webber made a 19-foot jumper with 9:07 left in the third quarter.

Nash ignited the turnaround for Dallas, making consecutive three-point baskets to begin his scoring run.

“He can do that in a heartbeat,” Nowitzki said. “He’s the heart and soul of the whole team.”

Nash tied the score, 64-64, on a short jumper with 4:09 left in the third quarter. After Scot Pollard traveled, Nash drove for a layup that put the Mavericks ahead to stay, and ended his stretch of 15 points in a row.

Webber had 28 points and 14 rebounds. Sacramento, despite losing three of four, still has the league’s best record (40-15) and a two-game lead over the Lakers in the Pacific Division.

Dallas (39-17), the Midwest leader, has the league’s second-best record.

“They got to running and took control, and we got impatient,” King Coach Rick Adelman said. “They’ve got that many more weapons to go with. It was a good trade for them.”