NBA News Wire
Mavericks 93, Heat 72
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
MIAMI — The Dallas Mavericks went on a 23-0 second-half run and snapped their four-game losing streak, defeating the Miami Heat 93-72 on Friday night at AmericanAirlines Arena.
The Mavericks overshadowed another impressive performance by young Heat center Hassan Whiteside, who had 16 points and a career-high 23 rebounds in 29 minutes.
Whiteside, who was playing in the YMCA two months ago, had 14 rebounds in the first quarter, a franchise record.
Dallas (31-17) was led by reserve forward Charlie Villanueva, who had a season-high 20 points in 22 minutes. Villanueva made 6 of 11 3-pointers and scored 11 of his points in the fourth quarter.
Miami (20-26), which lost both games of this week’s homestand, got 12 points and eight rebounds from forward Chris Bosh.
Dallas improved to 12-9 since acquiring point guard Rajon Rondo from Boston. Rondo had four points and four assists.
It was the first time Dallas has beaten the Heat since the 2011 NBA Finals, a span of seven straight losses. That includes a Mavericks loss to Miami at Dallas in November.
Both teams started slowly in the first quarter, at least offensively. Miami led 15-13, which is Dallas’ lowest scoring first quarter of the season. Dallas shot 17.6 percent from the floor, and Miami was not much better at 23.1 percent.
Miami stretched its lead to 45-33 at halftime, earning a 20-10 advantage in points in the paint.
Whiteside had 12 points and 16 rebounds at halftime, leading all players. He tied Kevin Willis’ franchise record for most rebounds in a first half.
Dallas had its best offensive quarter in the third, shooting 52.6 percent. The Mavericks closed the quarter on a 19-6 run, heading into the fourth tied 60-60.
NOTES: Dallas F Chandler Parsons (illness) missed the game and was replaced in the starting lineup by F Richard Jefferson, 34, who made his third start of the season. … Miami F Luol Deng (calf) missed his second straight game. … Heat C Chris Andersen (elbow, back) returned after missing one game. … Miami rookie PG Shabazz Napier made his third start. … Miami SG Dwyane Wade is expected to miss three weeks with his third hamstring injury of the season. … Wade and F Chris Bosh are the Heat’s representatives at the All-Star Game, both as reserves. But because of Wade’s injury, it’s unlikely he will play. … Dallas has no All-Stars, the second time in the past three years that has happened. Among those left off the team is Dallas F Dirk Nowitzki, a 12-time All-Star. … Miami signed rookie SG Tyler Johnson to a second 10-day contract. … Up next, Miami starts a four-game road trip at Boston on Sunday. Dallas plays at Orlando on Saturday.
