Mavs end worst losing skid as Lakers stay hot
THE Dallas Mavericks put the worst start in franchise history behind them on Sunday, downing the Milwaukee Bucks 86-75 in overtime for their first win of the NBA season.
The Mavs had opened the season with five straight defeats, a skid that billionaire owner Mark Cuban said was “driving me nuts”.
Wit h a f i rst win i n t he books t he Mavs can now, perhaps, begin f ulf illing Cuban’s aim of building moment um, even wit h long t i me sta r Dirk Nowitzki still sidelined by injur y.
With Nowitzki looking on, Harrison Barnes scored a career high 34 points and Juan Jose Barea added 21 – including five in overtime.
“It’s definitely good to get that monkey off our backs,” said Barnes, who connected on 13 of 26 shots and pulled down eight rebounds.
In Los Angeles, the Lakers survived a second-half scare en route to a 119-108 victory over the Phoenix Suns.
The victory moved the Lakers to 4-3, and a perfect 3-0 at home. It’s the first time the once-proud club has had a winning record through seven games since a 4-3 start in 2011-12.
L a ker s coach Lu ke Wa lton had voiced concern that his team would feel an “emotional hangover” after an upset of the Golden State Warriors on Friday.
But t he La kers were fa r f rom f lat, taking the lead midway through the f i rst qua r ter a nd lead i ng 54-43 by half-time.
Phoenix responded in the second half, with the Arizona team out-scoring the Lakers 9-2 in the first two minutes of the third period.
They narrowed the gap to 93-92 in the fourth period before the Lakers regained control.
Jordan Clarkson drained a jump shot, and after Nick Young was fouled making a three-pointer and made the freethrow to complete the four-point play the Lakers were up 99-92, and the Suns wouldn’t get any closer.