Nelson’s Warriors send Mavericks to 0-3

Coach Don Nelson and the Golden State Warriors crashed the Mavericks’ celebration of last season and continued their slow start to this season with a 107-104 victory Monday night at Dallas.

While Nelson’s return to the city in which he once coached was the major story line, the Mavericks added to it with forward Josh Howard spraining his ankle and Coach Avery Johnson and point guard Jason Terry getting ejected. Then Dallas botched a final sequence -- with no help from the officials.

Nelson received a warm ovation and took pride in the unveiling of a banner recognizing Dallas for being the 2005-06 Western Conference champions.

“At 66, you don’t find a lot of emotion except for love and death. But it was a special [night] for me,” said Nelson, hired by the Warriors last summer.

The Warriors led, 107-97, with 2:26 left, but the Mavericks rallied while holding them scoreless.

Jerry Stackhouse missed a three-point attempt with about five seconds left, then Anthony Johnson got the rebound and headed for the three-point line. He instead passed to Devin Harris. Harris passed it back and time expired.

All the while, assistant coach Del Harris was near midcourt screaming for a timeout. He had been yelling since before Stackhouse’s shot. When Harris complained to referee Dan Crawford, he apologized and gestured that he couldn’t hear Harris over the crowd.

The Warriors beat the Mavericks for the fourth straight time at Dallas.

Dirk Nowitzki had 26 points for Dallas, which fell to 0-3 for the first time since 1993-94.

Utah 103, Detroit 101 -- Mehmet Okur, a former Piston, had 23 points and 10 rebounds and blocked Richard Hamilton’s layup with one second left at Salt Lake City to help the Jazz improve to 4-0.

Rasheed Wallace had 25 points for Detroit.

Sacramento 93, Minnesota 81 -- Ron Artest had 22 points and the Kings never trailed in new Coach Eric Musselman’s first game at Arco Arena. Mike James scored 23 points for the Timberwolves.

Orlando 106, Washington 103 -- Carlos Arroyo had 12 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter and the Magic held the Wizards without a field goal over the final 4:08 at Orlando, Fla. Antawn Jamison had 29 points for the Wizards.

San Antonio 105, New York 93 -- Tony Parker scored 24 points, including five down the stretch after the Knicks pulled to within one after trailing by 23, in the Spurs’ victory at New York. Stephon Marbury scored 18 points for New York.

Chicago 110, Milwaukee 85 -- Ben Gordon scored 37 points and set a career high with nine assists for the Bulls at Chicago. Michael Redd led the Bucks with 30 points.