Mavericks rebound from blowout loss to Lakers

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- None of Dirk Nowitzki's Dallas

teammates were surprised by his big fourth quarter.

Nowitzki had a season-high 37 points, including 14 in the fourth

quarter to lift the Dallas Mavericks over the Sacramento Kings

105-95 Thursday night.

"That's our MVP, we were going to him, we thought he had a good

matchup," Dallas guard Jason Terry said. "Dirk was just out there

being Dirk."

The Mavericks rebounded from their embarrassing 122-90 loss to

the Los Angeles Lakers two nights earlier that saw Kobe Bryant

score 62 points in only three quarters.

"It was something we had thought about, so we just went out

tonight and did what we had to do," Devin Harris said. "We

started well, they got back in the game, but we got the win in the

fourth quarter."

Nowitzki scored 11 straight points that broke an 85-all tie. He

started the run hitting two free throws. Connected on a jumper,

followed by two more free throws that gave Dallas an 91-85 lead.

Nowitzki then hit a 3-pointer and closed out the 11-0 run with a

baseline jumper.

"He's one of the better power forwards in this league and he

showed the reason why tonight," Kings reserve Corliss Williamson

said. "He carried his team."

The Kings then scored the next six points to close within 96-91,

but couldn't get closer the rest of the game.

Mike Bibby scored 22 points for the Kings, who lost their fourth

straight game. Shareef Abdur-Rahim added 13 points and eight

rebounds, and Brad Miller had 12 points.

Nowitzki made 14-of-23 field goals, 8-of-9 free throws and also

added four assists for the Mavericks, who have won four of five

games. Terry scored 19 points and Devin Harris added 15.

Josh Howard had 14 points, 13 rebounds and six assists for the

Mavericks, who shot 50 percent in beating the Kings for the eighth

time in 10 games.

Sacramento played without injured starters Bonzi Wells and Peja

Stojakovic. Wells is out at least three weeks with a groin tear and

Stojakovic could miss a week due to a back injury.

"I thought out guys played hard. We missed ton of shots in the

last seven minutes, open shots," Kings coach Rick Adelman said.

Dallas took a 54-49 halftime lead as Nowitzki had 17 points and

Terry added 13.Game notes
Nowitzki scored 13 points in the first quarter, helping the

Mavericks to a 33-21 lead. ... In the previous 25 games, Price had

played just 24 total minutes. ... Dallas is 9-4 on the road this

year.