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Nowitzki returns to propel Mavericks to key Warriors win
2008-04-03
Dirk Nowitzki made a triumphant return from injury by helping the Dallas Mavericks post a crucial 111-86 win over the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday. The German-born Nowitzki scored 18 points and gave the Mavericks a psychological boost after missing four games with a sprained left knee and ankle. "If it was November, there was no way I would play right now," Nowitzki told reporters. "But we are in a playoff race and we are still trying to get the seventh or eighth seed so I just had to gut it out." The victory pushed Dallas, currently in seventh place in the Western Conference, a game ahead of Denver for the final playoff spot. Golden State dropped to ninth, two games behind Dallas. "It was definitely a boost," Mavericks head coach Avery Johnson said of Nowitzki's return. "Dirk's our leader. We depend on him for a lot and he's a warrior." Jason Terry had a season-best 31 points and Josh Howard scored 28 points for the Mavericks. Jason Kidd added 17 assists and 11 rebounds. Monta Ellis had 27 points for Golden State. Wednesday also marked the return of NBA standouts Pau Gasol, Elton Brand and Gilbert Arenas. Gasol, returning from an ankle sprain, scored 10 points to help the Los Angeles Lakers overcome the Portland Trail Blazers 104-91. Brand, meanwhile, played his first game since rupturing his Achilles' tendon in August, scoring 19 points as the Los Angeles Clippers beat the Seattle SuperSonics 102-84 on the road. Arenas made a surprise appearance for Washington against the Milwaukee Bucks, but the Wizards suffered a 110-109 loss. Arenas had missed 66 games with a knee injury. He scored 17 points. His two free throws with 15 seconds to play gave Washington a one-point lead before rookie Ramon Sessions' jumper won the game for Milwaukee at the buzzer. (Writing by Gene Cherry in Salvo, North Carolina; Editing by Alastair Himmer)
Chicago Bulls win No. 1 pick in NBA draft lottery (2008-05-21)Hornets roll past Clippers to clinch Southwest Division (2008-04-16)Nowitzki returns to propel Mavericks to key Warriors win (2008-04-03)Yao helps Rockets soar over Spurs (2007-11-07)Warriors close in on playoff spot (2007-04-18)
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