Times wires
Thursday, March 24, 2011
DALLAS — Timberwolves coach Kurt Rambis said there is a chance All-Star forward and double-double machine Kevin Love could miss the rest of the season because of a strained left groin.
Love sat out Thursday's 104-96 loss at Dallas after he was hurt in a home loss to Sacramento on Sunday.
The Timberwolves, who have been eliminated from playoff contention, have 10 games left.
"There is an outside chance (Love will miss the rest of the season). I don't know how great that chance is," Rambis said. "Obviously, with hamstring or groin injuries, you want to be cautious with them because they can linger for a long period of time, and we don't want that to happen with Kevin."
Love, averaging 20.3 points and a league-high 15.4 rebounds per game, had his string of 53 consecutive games with a double double end March 13 against the Warriors. He was injured in the next game.
Mavericks win 50 for 11th straight season
DALLAS — Dirk Nowitzki had 30 points and 11 rebounds, Jason Terry added 18 points and the Mavericks rallied for a 104-96 victory over the Timberwolves, giving Dallas 50 wins for the 11th straight season.
On just about every fourth-quarter possession, coach Rick Carlisle called for the pick-and-roll with Nowitzki and Terry. Dallas finished with an 11-2 run over the final 2:38.
"It's no secret, if it's a close game late in the fourth quarter, Coach is going to ring up our numbers, and we need to answer," Terry said.
Anthony Randolph scored a career-high 31 for the Timberwolves. He made his first start of the season in place of Love.
Game highlights: Emeka Okafor banked in a 20-footer at the buzzer to force overtime, and reserve Aaron Gray scored six points in the extra period to lead the visiting Hornets to a 121-117 victory over the Jazz. David West scored 29 for the Hornets before being taken off in a wheelchair holding his head in pain after going down hard on a dunk that tied the score at 103.
Mavs 104, Timberwolves 96
MINNESOTA (96): Beasley 4-11 4-4 12, Randolph 14-20 3-3 31, Milicic 0-2 0-0 0, Ridnour 2-6 0-0 4, Johnson 3-12 2-2 11, Pekovic 1-2 0-2 2, Flynn 5-10 0-0 13, Ellington 4-9 0-0 8, Tolliver 4-5 1-1 11, Webster 2-3 0-0 4. Totals 39-80 10-12 96.
DALLAS (104): Marion 8-14 1-2 17, Nowitzki 12-26 5-5 30, Chandler 4-7 1-1 9, Kidd 0-5 0-0 0, Beaubois 1-5 0-0 3, Barea 2-4 0-0 4, Terry 7-12 2-2 18, Haywood 1-1 2-3 4, Stojakovic 6-10 0-0 16, Mahinmi 1-1 1-2 3, Stevenson 0-0 0-0 0, Cardinal 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 42-85 12-15 104.
Minnesota 23 24 25 24— 96
Dallas 17 32 27 28— 104
3-Point Goals—Min. 8-18 (Flynn 3-3, Johnson 3-7, Tolliver 2-2, Beasley 0-1, Ridnour 0-2, Ellington 0-3), Dallas 8-27 (Stojakovic 4-8, Terry 2-5, Beaubois 1-3, Nowitzki 1-5, Marion 0-1, Kidd 0-5). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Min. 42 (Randolph 11), Dallas 47 (Nowitzki 11). Assists—Min. 21 (Flynn 5), Dallas 31 (Kidd 13). Total Fouls—Min. 19, Dallas 17. A—20,296.
Hornets 121, Jazz 117, OT
NEW ORLEANS (121): Ariza 5-9 1-3 14, West 12-25 5-6 29, Okafor 5-8 2-2 12, Paul 8-15 8-9 24, Belinelli 5-8 1-1 14, Jack 5-11 4-5 15, Landry 0-3 3-4 3, Green 0-2 0-0 0, Smith 0-0 0-0 0, Gray 3-5 4-5 10. Totals 43-86 28-35 121.
UTAH (117): Miles 5-12 1-1 11, Millsap 13-20 7-8 33, Jefferson 11-17 0-0 22, Watson 5-9 1-2 14, Bell 3-11 5-6 13, Favors 1-5 0-0 2, Hayward 4-9 4-4 13, Price 2-3 2-2 8, Evans 0-0 1-2 1. Totals 44-86 21-25 117.
New Orleans 27 29 22 27 16— 121
Utah 32 22 24 27 12— 117
3-Point Goals—N.Orl. 7-13 (Belinelli 3-4, Ariza 3-5, Jack 1-2, Paul 0-2), Utah 8-18 (Watson 3-4, Price 2-2, Bell 2-5, Hayward 1-3, Miles 0-4). Fouled Out—Millsap. Rebounds—N.Orl. 44 (Ariza 9), Utah 52 (Jefferson 13). Assists—N.Orl. 25 (Paul 12), Utah 23 (Watson 8). Total Fouls—N.Orl. 20, Utah 22. Techs—N.Orl. three seconds, Utah three seconds. A—18,840.