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Cloudy skies Mavs add insult to injury with 104-99 victory over Suns
Posted: Sunday March 12, 2000 02:09 AM
DALLAS (AP) -- The Dallas Mavericks retired Rolando Blackman's jersey in halftime ceremonies on Saturday night. An inspired Erick Strickland then put on a fair imitation of the Mavericks' career leading scorer. Strickland scored a career-high 36 points as the Mavericks ended a six-game losing streak with a 104-99 victory over the Phoenix Suns. With Blackman looking on with his family and cheering from a courtside seat after becoming the second Mavericks player to have his number retired, Strickland energized his sagging team. A loss would have pushed the Mavericks 14 games under .500 for the first time this season. "I got to meet Ro at a team dinner for him last night," Strickland said. "I got to know him, where he came from, how he got where he got. It was like looking inside myself. It gave me a renewed focus. This game was definitely for Ro." Strickland, shooting 35 percent from the field in his previous four games, received encouragement from Blackman at Friday night's dinner. "He told me I have the skill," Strickland said, "but I need to go hard and play to the best of my ability. He totally inspired me." Strickland, whose previous career high was 31 points, went 11-for-19 from the field and 13-of-17 from the free-throw line. Strickland missed two free throws in the final minute, but the Mavericks were still able to hold on for their first victory since Feb. 28. The Suns learned earlier in the day that forward Tom Gugliotta is out for the season with torn ligaments in his left knee. Gugliotta was injured in the fourth quarter of Friday night's 99-96 loss to Utah.
Michael Finley added 22 points for the Mavericks, including a 3-pointer in the final minute to put Dallas in front for good. With the game tied at 99 after Penny Hardaway made one of two free throws, Finley connected from the top of the key with 59.5 seconds left for the 102-99 lead. Clifford Robinson's 29 points paced the Suns, who had won five of their previous six and five of seven on the road. Shawn Marion added 18 points for Phoenix. With the game tied at 99 after Penny Hardaway made one of two free throws, Finley connected from the top of the key for a 102-99 lead. Jason Kidd of the Suns, who had 19 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists, was called for an offensive foul and fouled out with 54 seconds remaining. Strickland missed both free throws, but Phoenix's Marion shot an airball with 22 seconds left. Dallas continued its late-game jitters from the free-throw line when Finley missed two foul shots with 17 seconds left. But Mavericks rookie Greg Buckner blocked Hardaway's jumper and Finley hit two free throws with 6.6 seconds left for the final scoring. "We did a lot of things that could have cost us this game, like missing four straight free throws," Mavericks coach Don Nelson said. "But we really defensed it at the end, got two big blocks and probably had a couple of breaks along the way." Losing Kidd on fouls was a blow to the Suns, but Phoenix coach Scott Skiles said that wasn't the only factor that led to the defeat. "Of course, it had an effect on us," Skiles said. "But those things happen in an NBA game. We should not be in that position, such a close game, whether Jason is in or not." Shawn Bradley had 17 points and 12 rebounds, and Dirk Nowitzki added 15 points for Dallas. Phoenix held an 81-77 lead early in the fourth quarter, but Strickland scored eight of Dallas' next 12 points as the Mavericks assumed an 89-83 advantage with 5:48 to play. Robinson converted a three-point play on the Suns' next possession, then Robinson hit a 3-pointer with 4:42 left to tie it at 89. The Suns took a 77-73 advantage into the fourth quarter. Phoenix held a 51-50 halftime lead despite Strickland's 23 first-half points.
Notes: Blackman set 50 team records during his 11 years with Dallas. He joined Brad Davis as the only Mavericks players to have their jerseys retired. ... The crowd of 18,187 was Dallas' fifth home sellout of the season. The previous three came during the 12-game stay of Dennis Rodman, waived by the team last week. ... Phoenix lost three of its four games to Dallas in the season series that concluded on Saturday night. ... Strickland's previous career high was 31 points.
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