DALLAS - For the better part of a week, the Dallas Mavericks have wanted to plant a seed of doubt in the collective mind of the Nuggets . And while they've yet to do that, on Monday night they at least found a way to stay alive for one more game.
Facing the ignominy of a four-game sweep, the Mavericks somehow pulled out a victory, despite leading for all of 3 minutes, 29 seconds. Now down 3-1, they have a much tougher challenge, winning in Denver, where they were blown out the first two games of this series. "We didn't want to go home," Mavericks all-star Dirk Nowitzki said. "We've got a lot of pride on this team. We're not done yet."
They aren't done because of Nowitzki. As has been the case for the entire series, the 7-footer was all but unstoppable, scoring 44 points, including 19 in the fourth quarter, as the Nuggets played him straight up and rarely double-teamed. Nowitzki also added a game-high 13 rebounds.
However, a major difference Monday night was that Nowitzki got help. Josh Howard, who has been bothered by sore ankles, had by far his best game of the series, scoring 21 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. And point guard Jason Kidd also came up big with 13 points, 10 rebounds and six assists.
"We need everything we can get," Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said. "This is a tough team we're playing, and the margin of error is very thin."
To their credit, the Mavericks had numerous opportunities to fold. The Nuggets took an early 13-point lead. Even more important, whenever Dallas made a run, it seemed the visitors had an answer, until late in the game.
"Our guys overcame a lot tonight," Carlisle said. "Denver was incredible early, but we just hung in there, hung in there and kept playing."
The final result was Dallas' best overall effort of the series. To be sure, the Nuggets' cause, particularly on the offensive boards, was hurt by the absence of Chris Andersen, who was sick and did not play. Without having to deal with the energy that the reserve center usually provides, the Mavs outrebounded Denver 50-34. And, after scoring 20 second-chance points Saturday in Game 3, the Nuggets had just seven Monday.
Andersen would have also put another big body in play for Denver against Nowitzki, but on this night the Birdman might not have fared any better. Nowitzki is by no means a "classic" player - his herky-jerky style certainly lacks the seamless flow of a Kobe Bryant, and he doesn't play with the explosive power of LeBron James.
But there may not be anyone else in the NBA who is more effective at pinballing off defenders to make off-balance shots. That may be why Carlisle, himself a former NBA player, chose to go old school in describing his star's performance.
"There are very few guys I've come across who are as strong-willed as he is," Carlisle said. "Kidd is tough, Larry Bird was, Reggie Miller was mentally tough, but Dirk is right up there with them.
"I just can't say enough about what he did out there. Some of those shots - I know he was exhausted, but he just mentally willed them in, and that's what the great ones do."
Anthony Cotton: 303-954-1292 or acotton@denverpost.com
