Defense Nets 10th Win for Mavericks

The unbeaten streak has reached double figures for the Dallas Mavericks, whose newfound commitment to defense helped them defeat the New Jersey Nets, 96-88, Saturday night at East Rutherford, N.J.

Steve Nash scored 30 points, Michael Finley had 20 points and 13 rebounds, and Dirk Nowitzki had 18 points and 12 rebounds for the Mavericks.

With a record of 10-0, the Mavericks are the league’s only unbeaten team.

“People can play a lot of years in this league and never start 10-0,” Shawn Bradley said. “What determines how neat of a start this is depends on what we do from here.”

New Jersey was held to five points in the last 5:50. Dallas is giving up 89 points per game after giving up 101 last season -- the second-highest opponents’ average in the league.

“Sacramento exposed our lack of defense in the second round of the playoffs,” Nash said. “It wasn’t there last year, and we know if we want to do something in the playoffs we first have to get better defensively.”

Kidd had 22 points, 13 assists, nine rebounds and five steals. The Nets lost at home for the first time this season after winning their first five games.

Philadelphia 93, New York 92 -- Latrell Sprewell played in his first game this season but couldn’t reverse the Knicks’ sinking fortunes.

The 76ers won on the road for the first time this season. The Knicks lost for the fourth consecutive time.

Allen Iverson and Todd MacCulloch each scored 17 points for the 76ers.

The habitually tardy Sprewell arrived at the arena six minutes before his team’s 11:30 a.m. deadline, then made his first appearance nine minutes into the game -- the first time he has not started since the 1999 playoffs.

Sprewell played 31 minutes and had 16 points on six-for-15 shooting but was held scoreless in the last 10 minutes.

Washington 95, Miami 65 -- The Wizards made 22 of 33 shots in the first half at Washington and Jerry Stackhouse helped send the Heat to its fifth consecutive loss.

The Wizards got eight points from Stackhouse in the third quarter to lead by 30 points. Stackhouse finished with 16 points.

It was the fewest points ever given up by the Wizards. The previous low had been 69 points.

San Antonio 90, Cleveland 77 -- Bruce Bowen scored 14 points, Tony Parker had 13 and the Spurs barely needed Tim Duncan to send the host Cavaliers to their sixth consecutive loss.

Duncan spent much of the game in foul trouble and played a season-low 21 minutes before fouling out with 6:06 left. By then, the Spurs led by 19 points. Duncan scored six points.

Ricky Davis had 22 points for the Cavaliers, who have not won since beating the Lakers on Nov. 5.

Golden State 135, Orlando 92 -- Troy Murphy had a career-high 24 points and 12 rebounds, and Gilbert Arenas had 23 points at Oakland, leading the Warriors to their biggest victory in nearly nine years.

The Warriors ended a five-game skid against the Magic, which lost for the third time in four games.

Tracy McGrady, the league’s top scorer, had 33 points for Orlando despite sitting out the fourth quarter.

Indiana 107, Minnesota 101 -- Reserve Ron Mercer scored 22 points and Jermaine O’Neal scored 12 of his 20 points in the second half at Minneapolis.

Off to their best start since the 1969-70 season in the ABA, the Pacers won their seventh consecutive game.

Indiana never trailed and survived a fourth-quarter rally by the Timberwolves.

Kevin Garnett led the Minnesota with 27 points.

Milwaukee 104, Boston 85 -- Ray Allen scored a season-high 31 points, including 18 in the first half, and Sam Cassell scored 25 to help the Bucks defeat the Celtics for the seventh consecutive time at home.

Antoine Walker scored 21 of his 28 points in the first half, and Paul Pierce had 28 points for Boston, which was playing its fourth game in six days.

Atlanta 89, New Orleans 82 -- Shareef Abdur-Rahim scored 27 points and Glenn Robinson scored 24 to lead the Hawks at Atlanta.

Theo Ratliff had a career-high 17 rebounds and blocked five shots for the Hawks, who made 20 of 30 free throws.

Chicago 111, Memphis 93 -- Donyell Marshall scored 31 points and had 17 rebounds, and Jalen Rose scored 31 points at Chicago.

Memphis (0-10) remained the league’s only team without a victory. The Grizzlies are 0-2 since Hubie Brown took over as coach.