Dirk Nowitzki’s performance in the fourth quarter and overtime Wednesday night may be the ultimate example of the old adage “It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish.”
Through three plus quarters at FedEx Forum, Nowitzki sat at 3 for 14 shooting with nine points. But a simple jump shot with 5:54 to go in regulation changed that. Nowitzki realized the magnitude of the game in more ways than one. He remembered that if the Mavericks won the game, they would become just the second team in recent memory to win 50 games for 10 straight seasons. The Spurs are the other. Dirk has been a Mav for the entirety of the streak. Dirk also remembered that the Mavs had lost three road games in a row to Memphis dating back more than two years. The final fact weighing on Dirk’s mind was that the Grizzlies are a Southwest division opponent, and the Mavs need to top the division in order to guarantee the best playoff position possible.
From that point on, Nowitzki netted 19 points on 6 of 9 shooting including going 2 of 3 on 3-pointers and 5 for 5 from the line. Nowitzki carried the Mavs to an improbable 106-102 victory after being down by double digits. He scored the last eight Maverick points in regulation on two 3’s and a fade away jumper to tie the game at 90.
The game wouldn’t have been knotted at 90 though without a 13-0 run by the Mavs from the 4:25 mark to the 1:20 mark to tie it at 88. The run was propelled by Rodrique Beaubois, Jason Terry and Nowitzki, who had six points in overtime after the Grizzlies pulled within one point at 99-98 on an O.J. Mayo long range shot. Free throws can win games, and Nowitzki put down four such shots in the final minute of OT. Nowitzki finished with 28, and from the boxscore alone, no one would know he struggled so mightily for most of the game.
TV announcers Bob Ortegel and Mark Followill commented about Dirk: “Where was that guy for the first 3 ½ quarters? I don’t know. I’m just glad he was here for the last two minutes and OT.”
Before Nowitzki found his rhythm, masked man Jason Terry put on a clinic of his own with 15 points at halftime, eight in the third and six in the fourth quarter and overtime for a total of 29. Terry executed a steal and breakaway to give the Mavs early control in the extra five minutes. Eight overtime contests this season ties a Mavericks’ franchise record.
Throughout the game, the Mavs took advantage of Memphis turnovers and racked up 11 steals compared to six for the Grizzlies. The Mavs were barely outrebounded 49-47 by one of the top rebounding teams in the league.
The Mavs outscored Memphis 16-12 in overtime for the four-point victory. The game was also tied at 50 at halftime.
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