Nets End Futility Against Mavericks

Richard Jefferson never had a victory over the Dallas Mavericks. Jason Kidd hardly could remember even being competitive against them since coming to New Jersey.

But, with one dominant quarter, the Nets ended six years of frustration.

Jefferson scored 28 points and New Jersey ended an 11-game losing streak against Dallas with a 100-89 victory Sunday at East Rutherford, N.J.

“I am an optimist, and why not today?” Net Coach Lawrence Frank said. “It just goes to say how quality an organization Dallas is. They’ve been an elite team for a long time and we want to be up in those ranks.”

Vince Carter added 23 points for the Nets, who have won five in a row and 18 of their last 21 at home. New Jersey had not beaten Dallas since March 2, 2000. The Nets’ worst loss of this season was in Dallas, 110-77, on Jan. 14.

“We were talking about that in the locker room,” said Kidd, a former Maverick. “We felt that we had maybe two games that were close. Once at their place and once here, and besides that they were no contests.”

This time it was the Nets who rolled, leading by double digits for nearly all of the final 40 minutes and knocking the Mavericks out of a share of the top spot in the Western Conference. Dallas fell half a game behind San Antonio.

Dirk Nowitzki tied his season high with 37 points but Dallas scored only 10 points in the first quarter and had its three-game winning streak ended.

Minnesota 95, Sacramento 89 -- Kevin Garnett helped the Timberwolves end a seven-game losing streak, scoring a season-high 37 points in a victory over the visiting Kings.

Mike Bibby led Sacramento with 35 points.

Boston 103, Indiana 88 -- Paul Pierce scored 22 points and the Celtics overcame a 14-point, first-quarter deficit at Indianapolis to sweep the three-game season series.

Peja Stojakovic had 16 points for Indiana, which shot 67% in the opening period but only 28% over the final three quarters.

Miami 111, New York 100 -- Dwyane Wade had 30 points, nine assists and five rebounds at New York to help the Heat win its fifth straight and for the 15th time in their last 16 games.

Alonzo Mourning had eight blocked shots for Miami. Eddy Curry scored 18 points for New York, which had its two-game winning streak ended.

Golden State 98, Philadelphia 89 -- Mike Dunleavy scored a season-high 28 points, Jason Richardson added 23 and the Warriors sent the visiting 76ers to their fourth straight defeat without Allen Iverson (foot).

Chris Webber had 21 points for the 76ers, who went winless on their three-game trip.

Memphis 90, Utah 84 -- Pau Gasol had 15 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists and Chucky Atkins scored 20 points at Memphis, Tenn., to lead the Grizzlies to their third straight victory. Carlos Boozer had 19 points, nine rebounds and five assists for the Jazz.

Atlanta 108, Orlando 107 -- Zaza Pachulia finished with 13 points and 18 rebounds and scored on a tip-in with 2.4 seconds left in overtime at Atlanta to help the Hawks end a four-game losing streak.

Joe Johnson had 40 points and 11 assists for Atlanta. Jameer Nelson, who had 18 points for Orlando, missed a jumper at the final buzzer.

Washington 113, Chicago 104 -- Gilbert Arenas had 29 points and Antonio Daniels scored a season-high 21 to lead the Wizards at Washington.