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Nowitzki's game-winner propels Mavericks past Lakers, 92-90

Xinhua, January 27, 2016 Adjust font size:

Dirk Nowitzki hit the game-winner with 2.1 seconds to play, and the Dallas Mavericks hung on for a 92-90 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers, who lost their seventh consecutive game on Tuesday night at Staples Center.

Nowitzki scored eight of his 13 points in the fourth quarter as the Mavericks snapped a two-game skid with their 10th consecutive victory over the Lakers.

He put the Mavericks ahead on a jumper with 2:31 to play, but Jordan Clarkson tied it moments later. Both teams missed open shots before Lou Williams electrified the crowd with what looked like a go-ahead basket with 13.5 seconds left, but was called for an offensive foul on Jose Barea, setting the stage for Nowitzki to hit a pull-up jumper, then took a moment to point to the Lakers star Kobe Bryant, who stood by the Lakers' bench in street clothes.

Julius Randle started off the game hot, making four mid-range jumpers in the first half, but he missed at the buzzer for the Lakers when he got a good look at an open three-point. Randle ended the night with another double-double, putting in 16 points and 11 rebounds.

"Got to put the ball in his hands. That was a great shot. It was extremely well-timed, and i noticed after he hit it, he went and gave Kobe (Bryant) a little pat," Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle said to media after the game.

The sore shoulder prevented Bryant from facing Nowitzki for the 50th and final time in the careers of the NBA's top two active scorers. Nowitzki is two months older than the 37-year-old Bryant, and the German 7-footer entered the NBA in 1998, two years after Bryant's debut.

Bryant had harsh words of motivation for his young teammates after their most recent loss in Portland, but decided he shouldn't play through the re-occurring pain in his shoulder.

Clarkson scored 18 points, seven assists and six rebounds for the Lakers. D'Angelo Russell scored 12 points with no assists in 24 minutes off the bench.

"They're learning. Our younger guys are really starting to understand what we're trying to do on a night-night basis. The mistakes were a lot less tonight, especially on coverages, than they had been," Lakers head coach Byron Scott said to media. Endit