Dirk Nowitzki had 22 points while Josh Howard and Devin Harris each had 19 as the Mavericks led throughout in a 97-84 victory Saturday that snapped Atlanta's five-game winning streak.
Dallas made its first five shots, including 3-pointers by Howard and Nowitzki, to jump out to a 12-0 lead less than 2.5 minutes into the game. While the Mavericks had to hold off a late charge by Atlanta, Howard and Nowitzki kept it from getting too close.
Nowitzki ended a wild sequence in which both teams missed layups by making a baseline jumper to put the Mavs up 89-79 with 3:07 left. After Josh Smith missed another shot for Atlanta, Howard had a breakaway layup, and though he missed the free throw after being fouled, Dallas maintained that double-figure lead the rest of the way.
The Hawks were within 82-76 with 4:53 left after Marvin Williams converted a three-point play and then got credited with a basket on a goaltending call against Erick Dampier. Atlanta never got closer after that 12-1 run.
The Hawks (15-13) missed out on their first six-game winning streak since late in the 1998-99 season, the last time they made the playoffs and finished with a winning record. Atlanta had last won five in a row in December 1999.
Williams led Atlanta with 18 points while Joe Johnson had 17 points.
Jason Terry added 14 points for Dallas while Dampier had 12 points and 10 rebounds.
For the Mavericks, who shot a combined 39 percent in losses on consecutive nights after Christmas, their philosophy was to keep shooting. And they were making a few this time.
Dampier set the early tone with a slam dunk on the opening possession and finished 6-of-6 shooting, all before halftime. The Mavericks hit all five of their 3-pointers in the first quarter.
While not maintaining its sharp shooting throughout the game, Dallas was improved over the previous losses to Utah and Cleveland at 44 percent (32-of-73).
Nowitzki scored eight straight points midway through the third quarter, ending that stretch with a nifty 8-foot fadeaway jumper he made despite getting fouled. That even prompted coach Avery Johnson to get off the bench for a celebratory hand-slap before Nowitzki added the free throw to give Dallas its largest lead at 66-45.
Another acrobatic three-point play by Nowitzki midway through the first quarter pushed Dallas ahead 25-8. He was fouled making a turnaround jumper, then converted the free throw.
Terry, the Mavericks' sixth man who was 3-for-22 shooting the last two games with an 0-for-10 included, had entered the game right before that with a 3-pointer. Terry was 4-of-10 including two 3-pointers.
Atlanta had two turnovers and got off only two shots while Dallas jumped ahead 12-0.
Notes: Atlanta has lost four straight games and nine of 10 in Dallas, but the Hawks opened this season with a 101-94 win at home over the Mavericks on Nov. 2. ... The noon game was part of an NBA-NHL doubleheader at the American Airlines Center. The Dallas Stars and St. Louis Blues played at 8 p.m. ... The national anthem was a guitar solo performed by Nowitzki's brother-in-law.
Dirk Nowitzki scored 22 points and had 9 rebounds against Atlanta
http://accesswdun.com/article/2007/12/205289