Mavericks Manage to Hold Off Spurs

The Dallas Mavericks found out they could win without playing at their best, even against the defending NBA champions.

Despite shooting only 37% and barely holding on after building a 16-point lead in the fourth quarter, the Mavericks defeated the San Antonio Spurs, 95-92, Thursday night in Dallas.

“For us to win an ugly game like that is important,” said Steve Nash, who made three consecutive free throws in the 16 seconds after the Spurs got within two points. “That’s a good sign to show we’re capable of beating a good team.”

The Mavericks never trailed after Michael Finley scored six of his 17 points during a 12-2 run in the third quarter. Still, they had to sweat it out at the end with their worst shooting game (31 of 84) in a victory this season.

San Antonio used an 11-2 run to get to within 88-82 on Manu Ginobili’s three-point basket with 2:46 left. By the time Tim Duncan drove the lane virtually untouched for a dunk, it was 92-90 with 18 seconds left.

But Nash made his free throws and the Spurs couldn’t get closer. Tony Parker and Duncan missed three-point shots in the final 10 seconds.

*

Phoenix 96, Orlando 89 -- The Suns spoiled Johnny Davis’ debut as Magic coach at Phoenix. The loss was the 11th in a row for Orlando, which won its opener and has gone on to the worst start in franchise history.

The Magic defeated New York on Oct. 29, but haven’t won since, although they came close in Doc Rivers’ last game, a 90-88 loss to Utah Monday night. Rivers was fired that night, and Davis was given a two-year contract to replace him.

*

Suspended Houston Rocket forward Eddie Griffin was charged with fighting with a woman who says he beat her and fired a gun in her direction. He faces one count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and one count of assault with bodily injury, Houston police spokesman John Cannon said.

Joann Romero accused Griffin of hitting her three times in the face and shooting at her as she drove away from his home in a gated community in Houston on Oct. 25.