David Robinson, meet the new and vastly improved Dallas Mavericks.
The San Antonio Spurs center got a good look at how well Jason Kidd, Jamal Mashburn and Jim Jackson are coming together up in Dallas. Despite Robinson's 42 points, the young Mavs came from behind to beat the Spurs 124-121 in overtime Tuesday night.The win broke Dallas' 16-game losing streak to San Antonio.
"Confidence for this team is high right now," Kidd said, "and as long as we can keep learning while we're improving, this team is going to be very fun to watch."
Jamal Mashburn scored 34 points and Jimmy Jackson 28 to key Dallas' comeback victory. Roy Tarpley had season highs with 22 points and 14 rebounds. Though Robinson came in leading the NBA in rebounds, Dallas outrebounded the Spurs 62-33.
In a fourth quarter that featured six lead changes and nine ties, Robinson's layup and foul shot gave the Spurs a 110-108 lead with :43 left in regulation. A Lucious Harris 3-pointer and Mashburn free throw forced overtime.
Mashburn's free throw came after Kidd came up with a late steal with 13 seconds remaining.
"I knew we needed a big play in that situation," said Kidd, who had 10 points, a career-high 13 assists and five steals. "I gambled and was lucky to come up with the big play."
Robinson fouled out with 54 seconds left in overtime, and Jackson's basket with 37 seconds left gave Dallas the lead for good.
Kidd's presence was the difference in the game, San Antonio coach Bob Hill said.
"He is unbelievably advanced," Hill said. "He manhandled us. He played like a veteran and kicked our butts all by himself."
Magic 114, Cavaliers 97
Anfernee Hardaway scored 10 points and Shaquille O'Neal had nine in Orlando's 42-point first quarter as the Magic won at Cleveland. O'Neal and Nick Anderson finished with 26 points each and Hardaway with 20 for the Magic, which has won nine of 10 games.
The Cavs were without forward Tyrone Hill, who had the flu. Center John Williams played despite a sore hamstring. Williams and Terrell Brandon scored 14 points each for Cleveland.
Knicks 104, Celtics 90
Charles Smith had 20 points, and New York shut down Boston in the second half. The Knicks led by as many as 20 early in the final period. The visiting Celtics, who dropped their third straight, made only 12 of 36 shots after halftime.
Dino Radja had 23 points to lead Boston, which was outrebounded 54-28. Dominique Wilkins added 20.
Pacers 90, Pistons 83
Dale Davis had 19 points and 11 rebounds, and Reggie Miller made a key 3-pointer to stop a late Detroit rally. The Pacers led by 13 with 5:30 remaining, but Detroit used a 12-2 run to pull within one on a 3-pointer by Terry Mills with 1:47 remaining. Mills scored 11 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter, going 3-for-3 from 3-point range.
Miller nailed a 3-pointer with 22 seconds left.
Nuggets 102, Timberwolves 95
Dale Ellis scored 14 of his 18 points in the second half, and rookie Jalen Rose started a fourth-quarter rally to lead Denver. Rose scored six straight - his first points of the game - to turn a one-point deficit into an 88-83 lead with 6:08 to play. A 10-1 spurt capped by Ellis' baseline jumper sent the Timberwolves to their 12th straight home loss.
Hawks 94, Nets 91, OT
Craig Ehlo converted a breakaway layup and foul shot with 0.3 seconds remaining as Atlanta wonn its third straight game. Mookie Blaylock finished with 17 points and 12 assists; Stacey Augmon added 17 points. Grant Long 16 for visiting Atlanta. Kenny Anderson led the Nets, who have dropped five of their last six, with 24 points and 11 assists.
SuperSonics 103, Rockets 90
Gary Payton scored a season-high 30 points to lead Seattle past visiting Houston, which struggled without Hakeem Olajuwon. Olajuwon injured his right wrist last Thursday when he fell onto a camera during a game against Golden State.
Sacramento 108, Milwaukee 95
Olden Polynice had 22 points and 16 rebounds and Walt Williams added 20 points to lead Sacramento. The win gave the Kings their best early season record in more than a decade - eight wins in 15 games - and the best since the franchise's 1982-83 season in Kansas City.
Glenn Robinson had 31 points for the visiting Bucks.
Lakers 113, Warriors 101
Los Angeles made a franchise-record 11 3-pointers. Cedric Ceballos had 28 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Lakers, who outrebounded Golden State 61-42 and beat the Warriors for the first time since April 18, 1993.
Tim Hardaway scored 23 points for the Warriors, who have lost seven of their last eight games.
Phoenix at Washington, ppd
The game between the Suns and Bullets was postponed after a 90-minute delay because of moisture on the court at the USAir Arena. The wetness was caused by the humidity outside, combined with the new ice surface under the court. A decision on a makeup date will be made by Thursday.