Last Game of 2006: Mavs 89, Nuggets 85

The Nuggets, continuing to play without the League's top scoring tandem, blew a substantial 4th quarter lead for the sixth time in 28 games this season and lost to the League leading Mavericks at home 89-85. The Mavericks were without their top scorer, PF Dirk Nowitzki, who was out with a sinus infection. PF Josh Howard stepped up and had 17 rebounds and 28 points on expert 10/16 shooting. Coach Avery Johnson is one of the best coaches in the League and is one of the best at directing 4th quarter surges on the road.

Dallas got off to a quick start and led it 20-11 in the 1st, but Boykins and Iverson led a furious rally to give Denver a 24-20 lead at the end of the 1st. Denver led 50-44 at the half and 69-63 after three quarters.

With less than 8 minutes to play a reverse layup from Najera gave the Nuggets a 76-69 lead, but it was all downhill from there. Erick Dampier rejected two point blank shots from Najera, and a 3-pointer from Jason Terry made it 79-77 Nuggets. With 2 1/2 minutes to play, the Nuggets led 82-81. A Devin Harris layup and free throws from Dampier and Howard due to successive Najera fouls made it 87-82 Dallas with 1:16 to play. Iverson made a couple of free throws but Josh Howard responded with a jumper for 89-84 with 54 seconds to play.

Diawara missed the key jump shot and Najera missed the tip in. Najera hit one of two free throws on a loose ball foul making it 89-85 Dallas with 43 seconds left. Kleiza took and missed the last shot for the Nuggets. I would have tried a few intentional fouls but George Karl elected to not do so.

Najera, in 33 minutes, was 5/10 and 4/5 from the line for 14 points, and he had 7 rebounds and 4 assists. Kleiza, in 25 minutes, was 2/7, 0/2 on 3's and 2/2 from the line for 6 points, and he had 3 rebounds and 0 assists. Reggie Evans, in 15 minutes, was 0/1 and 3/5 from the line for 3 points, and he had 3 rebounds and a nice 3 of the Nugget's 12 steals.

Diawara, in 40 minutes, was a nightmare 0/11, 0/4 on 3's, and 1/4 from the line for 1 point. He tried alot more close-in shots, but got no reward for it.

With some of the Nugget's top rebounders (K-Mart and Nene) out on injury and Reggie Evans playing just 15 minutes, Camby was the only major defensive presence on the court for the Nuggets, who were outrebounded 49-37. Camby had 13 rebounds and 3 blocks. His 4-game long finger injury disrupted his shooting touch to where he was only 5/15, and 3/5 from the stripe for 13 points.

Iverson and Boykins combined for 48 points, matching the Melo-J.R. tandem, but it wasn't enough mostly due to the Diawara scoring drought. Boykins was 8/17, 1/3 on 3's and 3/3 from the line for 20 points. Boykins had 2 rebounds, but only 1 assist.

A.I., played the role of "the answer" at point guard instead of the role of "the only hope of winning" that he played for the Sixers for many years. But the Nuggets may need him to take 25-35 shots to win many of these suspension games, because Najera and Evans are falling short and Diawara is not dependable yet. The expert point guard was 10/17 and 8/8 from the line for 28 points, and he had a nice 8 assists. Iverson is one of the all-time greatest ball thieves and in some games, like this one, he goes on a rampage. He had 7 steals.

Iverson's performance was just about as good as it gets for a point guard. Trouble is, the Nuggets are lacking at 3 of the other 4 positions due to the suspensions and the injuries. Before the marathon suspensions are over, George Karl is probably going to have to ask A.I. to put up 30+ shots if A.I. doesn't decide to do so on his own. A.I. can resume his star point guard only role when Melo returns.