Los Angeles - The New York Knicks paid too much attention to Dirk Nowitzki, and it cost them. Josh Howard scored 19 points, Jason Kidd added 16 and the Dallas Mavericks beat the Knicks at home for the ninth straight time, 99-94 on Thursday night, despite a miserable shooting game by Nowitzki.
The German juggernaut entered the contest as the NBA's fourth leading scorer at 26.2 points per game. However, the former league most valuable player, who had 39 points in the first meeting, was often double-teamed, and finished with just 10 points on a dismal 3- of-13 field goal shooting, although he did collect seven assists and seven rebounds.
"We kind of expected that coming into the game and we were prepared for it," said Kidd, referring to the two defenders Nowitzki would draw most of the game.
"You have to erase your floppy disk, and for me I become a shooter or scorer. I thought it was great on Dirk's part to accept the double-team. That's what great players do."
However, afterward, it was revealed that Nowitzki was ill.
"I didn't realize it, but Dirk was sick tonight. He had a 101 degree temperature or something," Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said. "I didn't know that, he just didn't tell anybody, he didn't tell me.
"That was one of the reasons he labored out there. But he battled, he helped us get a couple of stops and a couple of rebounds."
Nowitzki, however, said it was nothing more than a head cold, and it was the Knicks' defence that caused him to struggle with his shot.
"I didn't have a great rhythm shooting the ball," the blond bomber said. "When it was winning time, I was able to get some assists when they double-teamed me."
Antoine Wright had 13 points, Brandon Bass contributed 12 and 11 rebounds while Jason Terry finished with only 10 points for Dallas (22-13) which has not lost at home to the Knicks since December 16, 1999.
"Tonight wasn't really a good offensive night for us," Bass said. "They double-teamed Dirk, but J-Kidd, Josh and Jet (Terry) knocked down some big shots for us. That's what it's going to take when they double-team Dirk."
Chris Duhon scored 24 points, but just two in the second half for the Knicks (13-21) who have dropped nine of their last 11 contests.
Wilson Chandler added 20 while David Lee finished with 13 and 15 boards.
"They are playing just as hard as they can play and giving themselves a chance to win. We just haven't done it yet" Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni said. "We just have to figure out how to win."
With Duhon scoring 22 points on 9-of-9 shooting, the Knicks led 59-54 at halftime, and 86-85 after Tim Thomas nailed a three-pointer with 6:20 remaining. However, Kidd, and Howard hit baskets and Bass made one-of-two free throws, giving the Mavs a 90-86 advantage.
New York pulled within one on a Nate Robinson three-pointer, but Kidd countered with a triple of his own, keeping Dallas in front 93- 89 with 4:10 remaining.
Al Harrington's basket and three-point play around a tip-in by Howard at the other end, drew the Knicks within 95-94 at the 2:18 mark. With a chance to regain the lead, Chandler was called for traveling and Duhon blew a wide open layup.
Nowitzki grabbed the rebound and made two free throws, after being fouled by Lee, extending the Mavs' lead to three with 40 seconds to go.
After Harrington had his layup blocked by Bass, Nowitzki drew a double-team at the other end, but he found a wide-open Terry, who buried a long jumper from the right corner to seal the victory.
"I might not hit a shot all night," Terry said. "But fourth quarter, when it's time, I'm right there."
Elsewhere:
San Antonio Spurs 106, LA Clippers 84
Frenchman Tony Parker scored 19 points, Roger Mason added 18 and Spurs sailed to their ninth win in the last 10 games, by extending the sinking Clippers losing streak to nine, despite a sub-par scoring night by Tim Duncan.
The perennial All-Star forward - averaging 20.8 points per game - had just eight on four-of-11 shooting, but handed out nine assists.
Michael Finley had 15 points, Argentine Manu Ginobili chipped in with 13 for Southwest Division-leading Spurs (24-11) who have taken 18 of the last 19 meetings in the lopsided series.
Eric Gordon and Al Thornton tossed in 21 points apiece for the spiraling Clippers (8-27) who led by one at halftime, but were outscored 63-40 after intermission, including 31-15 in the final quarter en route to their 11 consecutive defeat in San Antonio.
