The rest was an unabridged anthology of how to lose a basketball game that should have won.
Kobe Bryant was gimping around the court with a bad back. The Los Angeles Lakers were playing a Texas rival for the second night in a row, having been steamrolled by San Antonio on Tuesday. And the Mavericks had Nowitzki's milestone and a juiced-up crowd. Those facts alone should add up to a win. But the Lakers became the latest team to come into American Airlines Center without any fear, walking off the court with a 100-95 victory Wednesday night as Andrew Bynum dominated the Mavericks, and Bryant had one, lonely Kobe moment, which was enough for the win. With 10:57 to go in the fourth quarter, Nowitzki faded away on the left baseline and tossed in a 15-foot jumper to push his career point total to 20,001. Those were the first of 15 fourth-quarter points, which should have been enough for the Mavericks. But the laundry list of Mavericks miscues was enough to throw a wet blanket on Nowitzki's historic night. "When you play from behind, it's dicey at best," coach Rick Carlisle said. "Look at the whole league. When you enter the fourth quarter behind, you're going to lose most of the time. That's how it is. There is a collection of little things we have to be better with that would take us out of these situations." Little things, like Nowitzki making a terrible foul on a Ron Artest no-hope 3-pointer at the first-half buzzer. Little things, like all five players forgetting to play defense in the last seven seconds of the third quarter, when Jordan Farmar was left wide-open for a 3-pointer. Little things, like Erick Dampier trying to lay in a point-blank shot rather than going up strong with two hands and dunking it with 22 seconds left. OK, maybe that last one is a big thing. In a game that neither team led by more than eight points, the Mavericks rallied from a 95-87 deficit to tie it at 95 on a Nowitzki 3-pointer with 42.9 seconds left. Bryant and Josh Howard had been exchanging tough defensive possessions against each other, but Bryant broke through with a fadeaway 18-footer to break the tie. He ended with just 10 points while struggling with a bad back all night. The Mavericks ran a perfect pick and roll for Dampier, but Bryant made the smart play by fouling him hard before Dampier could make the layup. When Dampier missed both free throws, the Mavericks were left to fight a losing battle. "If Damp dunks the ball and makes a free throw, we're all singing a different tune," Carlisle said. They fouled Bynum, who had 22 points and 11 rebounds. He missed the second free throw, giving the Mavericks a chance to tie. They worked the ball to Nowitzki, who finished with 30 points and a season-best 16 rebounds. But he couldn't get the shot off against a Lakers double team. He found Howard, whose 3-pointer skimmed off the rim with seven seconds left. Farmar's two free throws ended it. It took all the sheen off of Nowitzki's big night. Before the game, all the attention was on him becoming the 34th player in league history to reach 20,000 points. "We had our chances, but we never got enough stops, and we never jumped on them," Nowitzki said. "Kobe barely played in the first half, and we should have had a lead." Last-play blues: Nowitzki said he tried to make the right basketball play in the closing seconds when he passed out of an LA double team. The Mavericks ended up getting Josh Howard's 3-pointer that missed. "You can't de-program a guy from making the right basketball play," Carlisle said. Said Nowitzki: "I always want to have the ball and make plays at the end. Sometimes, the right play is a pass." All-Star update: Tickets to the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam go on sale Thursday at 10:00 a.m. at Ticketmaster.com or by calling 800-4-NBA-TIX, offering fans the opportunity to experience the fun and excitement of NBA All-Star action in Dallas. The T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam will be at American Airlines Center on Friday, Feb. 12, and will feature this year's top rookies taking on the league's best second-year players. Injury update: Tim Thomas said it was a misstep in Monday's practice that left him with a strained right Achilles. "I stepped on Drew Gooden's size 17s," Thomas said. Eddie Najera, meanwhile, probably won't play for a few more games, coach Rick Carlisle said. Najera is trying to strengthen his back, which has given him troubles, and is recovering from a sports hernia. "He could play," Carlisle said. "But we want to work on his conditioning and a couple of health issues. If it's a situation where we really need him, he can play. But if not, we'll take our time." Briefly: Mark Cuban spent last weekend in Las Vegas at the annual Consumer Electronics Show and came away with one lasting impression. "They have a 150-inch plasma TV," he said. "I can't wait to get one." ... Cuban said before the game that he'd like to see the Dallas area get in the regular rotation for hosting the All-Star Game. "I would like it because I think it's great for the community," he said.
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