Former Mav update: The Oklahoma City Cavalry of the CBA signed Erick
Strickland.  The Yakima Sun Kings of the CBA signed Shawn Harvey.


Denver Nuggets at Dallas Mavericks  (January 11)

Dallas led 23-18 after 1 and Denver led 53-52 at the half.  Dallas had
made 2 more field goals, but Denver made 5 more free throws for the 1
point game difference.

Dallas was up 67-63 when things got ugly.  Dallas committed 7 turnovers on
7 consecutive possessions as Denver went on a 13-0 run.  Denver led 80-73
after 3.  Dallas committed 9 turnovers in the 3rd including 3 terrible
passes by Jamal Mashburn.

Dallas opened the 4th with a 9-0 run, including 5 points from Chris 
Gatling, to take an 82-80 lead with 9:26 remaining.  Denver briefly took
an 83-82 lead with 8:30.  The game remained close and Dallas led 94-93
with 1:50 left.  George McCloud hit a 20-footer with 1:03 left to put
Dallas up 97-95.  Eric Montross blocked Dale Ellis' shot and Gatling hit a
15-footer with 22 seconds left to put Dallas up 99-95.  LaPhonso Ellis'
dunk cut the lead back to 2 at 99-97.  With the shot clock off, Denver
made Dallas win the game at the free throw line.  McCloud came through and
hit both free throws with 18 seconds left and 1-2 free throws with 12.7 to
go.  Bryant Stith hit a jumper with 7 seconds left and Dallas led 102-99.
McCloud hit 2 more free throws.  Denver missed a 3-pointer and Dallas ran
the clock out.  Dallas 104, Denver 99.


Dallas shot 9-16 FG and 13-18 FT in the 4th while Denver shot 4-19 FG.
Dallas had 0 turnovers in the 4th.  Chris Gatling scored 12 points and
George McCloud scored 11 points in the 4th.

George McCloud had 21 points including 6-9 FG and Chris Gatling had 21
points including 7-10 FT and 5 rebounds.  Despite the poor 3rd quarter,
Jamal Mashburn looked very nice in the 1st quarter driving to the basket -
and, look, he did not attempt a single 3-pointer the entire game.
LaPhonso Ellis led the way for Denver with 28 points including 11-19 FG
and 6 rebounds and Dale Ellis had 18 points and 6 rebounds.


Quotes
Jim Cleamons: "We have a long way to go, but we'll take all we can get and
be happy."

Jamal Mashburn on his performance in the 3rd quarter: "I saw a couple of
things out there that maybe I shouldn't have tried.  But I threw [the 
passes] anyway.  That's part of trying to come back and finding my game.
Maybe I could have held back, but I wouldn't have been myself then."

Jim Jackson on the bench players: "The guys that came in did a great job
of running our offense.  It paid off."

Derek Harper: "It was an important game.  It's a must-win situation for
us, basically.  We definitely have to win games against teams like this.
We play another game Monday against a team that's been struggling, a team
we should beat."

Chris Gatling: "We played awesome tonight.  We just all contributed in a 
positive way.  As a team we've been doing real well together and we've 
been trying to turn the page and make things happen positively."

George McCloud: "We're starting to play consistent basketball, 4 quarters
instead of a half or 3 quarters.  We're coming together more as a team. 
It feels good when you play hard and everyone contributes."
 
Dick Motta: "I know they have a hell of a lot of talent.  They promised a
playoff spot, and I don't know if they can come through on that."

Dale Ellis: "If we could have come up with a couple of plays and baskets,
we could have won the game.  We just have to keep it up, don't give up 
and maybe we will turn it around."

Dal-Den boxscore