Mavericks Feeling Like Kings Now

The longest winning streak of the season really means something to the Dallas Mavericks.

Their eighth victory in a row didn’t come against another struggling team or the injury-riddled Lakers. This time, Dallas beat a team that came in with the NBA’s best record.

Michael Finley scored 23 points, including the go-ahead 18-footer with 1 minute 58 seconds left Sunday, and the Mavericks beat the visiting Sacramento Kings, 108-99.

“We struggled early, and a lot of people wrote us and the coaching staff off,” Finley said. “That brought us closer together to overcome adversity.”

The last seven wins have come since Maverick owner Mark Cuban met with Don Nelson to clear the air about rumors on the coach’s future.

Before the winning streak, the Mavericks had lost 16 of their first 36 games with only six players back from last season. They didn’t lose No. 16 until the 64th game last year, when they won a franchise-best 60 games and made it to the Western Conference finals.

Sacramento rallied from a 10-point deficit to tie the score, 97-97, on Mike Bibby’s three-pointer with 2:14 left. The Mavericks then scored nine straight points to clinch the victory.

“We were strong,” Nelson said. “Everybody didn’t play great all the time, but they certainly played hard all the time. We needed to take care of the ball, and we did that.”

Peja Stojakovic led Sacramento with 24 points and 10 rebounds.

Minnesota 99, Phoenix 95 -- Sam Cassell scored 14 of his 32 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Timberwolves to their 11th straight home victory and fourth in a row overall. The victory also moved Minnesota into a tie with Sacramento for the best record in the NBA.

Shawn Marion had 31 points and 13 rebounds for the Suns, who have lost three in a row.

Atlanta 91, Detroit 82 -- Jason Terry scored 22 points to help the short-handed Hawks end the Pistons’ nine-game home winning streak.

Atlanta dressed only nine players because of injuries but still ended its four-game losing streak on the road. Corliss Williamson had 20 points for the Pistons, who have lost three in a row since a 13-game winning streak.

Houston 99, Orlando 87 -- Yao Ming scored 21 of his career-high 37 points in the third quarter to help the Rockets overcome a bad game by Steve Francis at Orlando, Fla.

Francis had only seven points. He missed eight of 11 shots and his first basket didn’t come until 38 seconds remained in the third quarter. Tracy McGrady had 31 points for Orlando but was scoreless in the fourth quarter.

Memphis 106, Denver 88 -- Bonzi Wells scored 17 points at Memphis, Tenn., and the Grizzlies extended their franchise-record winning streak to eight games.

Memphis made 26 of 37 shots in the second half and outscored Denver, 64-39, for their seventh home win in a row.

Carmelo Anthony had 25 points for Denver.

New Jersey 110, Boston 91 -- Richard Jefferson scored 25 points at East Rutherford, N.J., and the Nets ended a five-game losing streak, their longest since Jason Kidd joined the team more than two years ago. Ricky Davis had 26 points for the Celtics.

Chicago 96, Toronto 89 -- Jamal Crawford had 27 points, and the Bulls broke a six-game losing streak by beating the Raptors at Chicago in their first meeting since a Dec. 1 trade.

Jalen Rose had 22 points for Toronto, which is 12-14 since the trade that sent Rose, Donyell Marshall and Lonny Baxter from Chicago to Toronto for Antonio Davis, Jerome Williams and Chris Jefferies. Toronto is 9-19 since the deal.