Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki busted out for 29 points in the fourth quarter in the Mavericks 96-85 win. (AP Photo/Donna McWilliam)
Nov 4 –
Lakers tested
They’re coming! Don’t say I didn’t warn you. The Oklahoma City Thunder had an epic showdown with the world champs Tuesday night, and didn’t back down until the final whistle.
“Durantula” and Co. lost a heartbreaker to the Lakers, 101-98 in overtime. The Thunder even had a chance to win in regulation, but Durant airballed a 27-footer, (after already having gone 0-7 from 3-pt. land) for some reason refusing to take Ron Artest off the dribble.
Related: Manu, KG and more… Eric’s Nov. 2 entry
Don’t worry, young fella, you’ll learn. But OKC showed tremendous grit, toughness, confidence and skill in almost knocking off the champs. When they get clicking, they’re a fun team to watch.
One ri-Dirk-ulous quarter
This is why Dirk Nowitzki is still one of the best players in basketball. Trailing the Jazz by 15 in the fourth quarter, the former MVP went berserk, dropping a team-record 29 points in the frame in the Mavs 96-85 comeback win.
With an array of pull up jumpers, turnarounds, hard drives to the cup, and dead-eye 3-pointers, Nowitzki was virtually unguardable. He finished with 40 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, 5 blocks and 2 steals, making his owners in fantasy leagues everywhere salivate. For the quarter, Dallas outscored Utah 44-18, as the Jazz simply fell apart because of Dirk’s “blitzkrieg.”
Unwarranted Lucky Guy of the Week Award
Sasha Vujacic — L.A. Lakers. The rarely-used, and even more rarely-effective Vujacic scored the biggest achievement of his 25 years on this earth recently. Not being drafted. Not winning a title with L.A. Not even unbelievably banking a $5M per year contract.
No, the self-monikered “Machine” reportedly has started dating tennis über-hottie Maria Sharapova. Ugggh. I just threw up a little bit. Oh, to be a 20-something Slovenian with gorgeous hair!
Play of the Day
Few great options here. Bucks rookie point guard Brandon Jennings no-look, behind-the-back dime was sick. So was LaMarcus Aldridge’s throwdown over Josh Smith. But the nod has to go to newly-paid Rajon Rondo of the Celtics, who channeled Larry Legend in dropping a shot over the backboard to end the first quarter in Philly. And it counted.
Eric Yates is SDNN deputy managing editor.
Tags: brandon jennings, dallas mavericks, dirk nowitzki, kevin durant, lamarcus aldridge, Los Angeles Lakers, maria sharapova, nba, oklahoma city thunder, rajon rondo, sasha vujacic, SDNN, utah jazz
