• Facebook
• Twitter
• Facebook Messenger
• Pinterest
• Email
• print

DALLAS (AP) -- Anyone who doubts whether the Dallas Mavericks are
the NBA's best team might think differently after seeing how they
won their 13th straight.

Trailing by 16 late in the third quarter, their zone defense
failing and their offensive touch missing, the Mavericks put
everything together in a thrilling fourth quarter to pull out a
115-105 victory over the Seattle SuperSonics on Saturday night.

Led by their usual starring trio of Dirk Nowitzki, Michael
Finley and Steve Nash, Dallas used an 18-1 run to catapult into the
lead. Seattle went back ahead once, but the Mavericks answered on
their next possession to continue the best roll in franchise
history.

"To find a way to win games like this is a sign of a
champion,'' said Finley, who had 29 points and 11 rebounds. "We
found a way tonight.''

Dallas' hot streak is the fourth-best in league history. The
only three teams that have done better all made it to the NBA
Finals.

The Mavericks will try matching the 14-0 start by Boston in
1957-58 when it plays at Detroit on Wednesday. They could be going
for the record of 15-0 -- which was set by Washington in 1948-49 and
tied by Houston in 1993-94 -- on Thursday at Indiana.

"People who say it doesn't mean anything are all wrong,''
Seattle's Brent Barry said. "This gives you the kind of confidence
that can carry you through the rest of the season.''

The Mavericks played poorly at the start, and the Sonics took
advantage. They led by 16 in the first quarter, and were still up
that many late in the third, silencing a crowd of 20,011 that had
been so raucous earlier this week for games against the Lakers and
Houston.

Then came the turnaround.

Dallas went from trailing 81-65 with 2:43 left in the third to
leading 89-86 with 8:10 to go. Seattle's only point in that stretch
came on a technical foul free throw following the ejection of
Mavericks coach Don Nelson for arguing after a foul call.

Rashard Lewis put Seattle back ahead with 4:10 left, but Nash
hit a go-ahead 3-pointer. He followed with a long jumper, then
Finley hit a 3-pointer to make it 104-97. The closest the Sonics
would get after that was six.

"You have to be aggressive,'' said Seattle coach Nate McMillan,
whose team has lost three straight since winning four in a row.
"We did that for three quarters and then we got back on our
heels.''

Dallas shot only 37 percent the first three quarters, then
nailed 62 percent in the final period and outscored Seattle 39-20.
It was the highest-scoring quarter of the season for the league's
highest-scoring team.

The backbone of the Mavs' hot start has been their zone defense.
The Sonics shredded it early with great passing and precision
shooting, both inside and out, but when it mattered most the Sonics
went 7:23 without a field goal, missing 12 straight shots.

"The first three quarters, they made their shots and in the
fourth they didn't. We started tightening up defensively. It was a
good combination,'' said Nash, who had 27 points and eight assists.
"Games like this make us better.''

Nowitzki missed his first eight shots and was doing so poorly
that during halftime, teammate Avery Johnson suggested getting to
the free throw line to compensate for his erratic jumper.

Instead, Nowitzki found his stroke about the time Dallas began
its big rally. He hit a 3-pointer just before it started, then had
six straight points during the run, including the basket that put
the Mavs ahead for the first time since 4-2.

"We have games where it's ugly, but we come up with big plays
when we need them the most,'' Nowitzki said.

Gary Payton led Seattle with 20 points and 10 assists. Desmond
Mason scored 19 and Lewis, who was wooed by Dallas in the
offseason, had 14 points and six rebounds.

Seattle scored 34 in the first quarter, the most the Mavs have
allowed in any period. The Sonics had 30 in the third period, then
collapsed when Dallas switched from a 2-3 zone to a 1-3-1, while
mixing in some man-to-man.

"If you don't shoot well and don't make the right decisions,
that zone definitely slows you up,'' guard Kenny Anderson said.
"You can't settle for jumpers. You're not going to win just
shooting jump shots.''

Game notes
The crowd was filled with 13-0 signs, including four fans
who painted their chests blue but rubbed out 13-0. ... The streak
is the longest of Nelson's 25-year career, which is especially
impressive considering he's the third-winningest coach in league
history. ... Seattle's Predrag Drobnjak hurt his left hand late in
the first quarter and sat the entire second period. He played the
second half with his last two fingers taped. ...Dallas has won
eight of the last 10 against Seattle, including four straight.