Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Texas, Jeff Caplan Column: MAVERICKS PLAYBOOK

Mar 29, 06:21 AM

Current Headlines: By Jeff Caplan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Texas

Mar. 29--DALLAS -- On most nights like this one, Mavericks coach Avery Johnson might have harped on the team's defensive rating or the four missed free throws in the final 30 seconds.

Instead, Johnson called the come-from-behind 105-103 victory over Milwaukee on Wednesday in front of 20,398 at American Airlines Center one of his favorite wins of the season.

The franchise-tying 60th win, the eighth in a row, and 13th in 14 back-to-backs this season came on the heels of a perfect six-game road trip and with Dirk Nowitzki out of the game for almost all the second half with a sore left ankle.

The Mavs (60-11) face New York at home Friday before Sunday's showdown in Phoenix.

"I am really excited about this one because this is what you call a gutsy win," Johnson said. "If gutsy is a word in the dictionary, then the Mavericks that were out on the floor tonight, all of their pictures would be right next to it."

Nowitzki still scored 17 points in 16 minutes before he turned his ankle in the second quarter. Jason Terry and Jerry Stackhouse took over the offense, draining nine 3-pointers between them.

Devin Harris and Josh Howard helped stymie Milwaukee's red-hot Michael Redd after a blistering first half. Redd poured in 23 of his game-high 34 in the opening 24 minutes to push the Bucks to a 62-54 lead.

Terry scored 19 of his team-high 27 in the second half. Stackhouse finished with 21 points and had a huge block on Redd in the final minute of the third quarter with the Bucks (25-45) looking to go back up by six points.

Do the hustle

Tied at 103-103, hustle plays put the Mavs ahead. Greg Buckner made a steal, then Jerry Stackhouse missed a jumper, but DeSagana Diop tipped the rebound out to Buckner. After a timeout, Jason Terry was fouled with 29.8 to go.

He made only 1 of 2 free throws, but Milwaukee then had a turnover.

Buckner, George better

Greg Buckner played 19 minutes, his most in four games since returning from a left knee strain. He had four points, three rebounds, two assists and three steals.

"It'll take a little bit of time," Buckner said. "But we've got a couple more weeks for myself and [Devean] George to get back into it and get ready for the playoffs."

George did not play as a precaution after he logged 18 minutes Tuesday night in his second game back from an injured right knee. He said he's coming along and will be in the lineup Friday.

Briefly

Josh Howard limped off with 2:31 left in the game after turning his right ankle. He hobbled into the timeout and immediately returned. "We already had one guy out and I needed to be out there for my team," Howard said. He said the ankle is sore and he'll receive treatment today and expects to be ready for Friday's game against New York.

Looking at possibly adding a third center for the playoff run, the Mavs will take a look at 44-year-old Kevin Willis in a workout today. The 7-foot, 245-pounder last played in 2004-05 with Atlanta.

This is the third time this season that the Mavs have allowed at least 60 points in the first half. It is the first time they came back to win.

SPOTLIGHT: DIRK NOWITZKI TRIPS ON WAY TO 15,000

Dirk Nowitzki came into Wednesday needing 18 points to reach 15,000 for this career. He got 17 before clipping the heel of Milwaukee center Brian Skinner, effectively ending the night of the Mavs' leading scorer.

Nowitzki left for the first time with 3:42 left in the second quarter. According to him, bone spurs in his left ankle jammed together. He retreated to the locker room, tried to loosen up at halftime and started the third quarter.

After laboring a couple trips up and down the floor favoring the ankle, it was obvious Nowitzki needed out for good. Austin Croshere checked in at the 10:56 mark of the third.

"No need to make this worse at this point of the season," Nowitzki said. "Avery [Johnson] told me to sit it out, so obviously it was killing me in a close game to sit back and watch, especially listening to [TV analyst] Bob Ortegel talk. That was a pain."

Nowitzki remains one point shy of being the 105th player in NBA history to reach 15,000. Tracy McGrady most recently reached that plateau.

Nowitzki, second on the franchise scoring list, is 25th all time in scoring average at 22.1 points per game.

It's been quite an ordeal lately for Nowitzki, who was ill in Oklahoma City and almost didn't play Tuesday against the Hornets. He did, of course, and notoriously a quick healer, especially with ankle sprains, will likely return Friday at home against New York.

-- Art Garcia

Breakdown

Why Dallas won: The Mavericks overcame the injury to Dirk Nowitzki, poor free-throw shooting down the stretch and some defensive mental lapses with clutch shooting and a couple of stops in the closing minute. Jason Terry and Jerry Stackhouse combined for 48 points on 17-of-30 shooting.

Why Milwaukee lost: For the second time in six weeks, the Bucks couldn't hold a fourth-quarter lead against the Mavs. After shooting 55 percent through three quarters, managed 35 percent (7-of-20) in the final period.

Three keys

Back home: The return home after 11 days away proved tougher than some might have expected, but the Mavs prevailed to run their record to 32-4 at the AAC and 13-1 on the second night of back-to-backs.

Shorter bench: Not having Devean George meant more time for Jerry Stackhouse, who responded with 21 points in 30 minutes.

Seeing Redd: Bucks sharpshooter Michael Redd scored 34, but was hounded into a scoreless fourth quarter by Devin Harris and Co.

Up next: Knicks at Mavs, 7:30 p.m. Friday, FSN SW.

Jeff Caplan, 817-390-7760 jcaplan@star-telegram.com

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