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Nowitzki's buzzer-beater drops Sixers

Jan 19, 2009 - 11:36 PM PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- Dirk Nowitzki drilled a fadeaway 20-footer at the buzzer, lifting the Dallas Mavericks to a 95-93 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday.

Nowitzki scored 24 points and Jason Kidd was 6-of-8 from 3-point range en route to 22 for Dallas, which squandered a 12-point lead in the final two minutes.

"We need to take wins however we can get them," Nowitzki said. "We got some ground to make up in the Western Conference playoff picture. That was a big shot, and we didn't have to go into overtime."

"We ran the play looking for Dirk," Kidd said. "Once he got the ball, he was determined to do it all by himself. He's done it for all season. He enjoys those moments. He stepped up and he answered."

Louis Williams scored 25 points off the bench for Philadelphia, which had its seven-game winning streak snapped. The Sixers fell to 9-7 without star forward Elton Brand.

"It hurts but, for us to be in a position to have a chance to win a basketball game, says a lot about our team," Williams said.

"It says a lot about the player Dirk is and the shot that he made. It was a tough-fought game. They made a run and we made a run. At the end, they got the last break."

The Mavericks built a seemingly comfortable 13-point lead with a 27-7 run that bridged the third and fourth quarters. The run was fueled by five 3-pointers from Kidd - a career 33 percent shooter from beyond the arc.

"Jason Kidd was the X-factor for the game," said Sixers swingman Andre Iguodala, who was instrumental in the late comeback. "We didn't expect that - him to make that many 3-pointers, and that's what determined the game."

"They are going to give me the three point shot," Kidd said. "I've been missing some of late, but I have been staying with it. My teammates have been encouraging me to shoot it and, in that third quarter, I caught fire."

Dallas maintained the sizable lead provided mostly by Kidd for the better part of the fourth quarter, and went ahead 93-81 on a 3-pointer from Jason Terry with 2:15 left.

That's when the Sixers began their valiant comeback, one that Iguodala was proud of.

"We could have just dribbled the game out, ran the clock out and gone home," said Iguodala, who scored seven of his 18 points during the 12-0 run and tied the game at 93-93 on a layup with eight seconds left.

"We just kept fighting we kept saying the game isn't over and we kept going. I hit a three and Lou hit a three. We got a couple of baskets, and we got back in it."

The rally went for naught, though. Dallas inbounded the ball on the side after a foul, and Nowitzki took a pass at the free-throw line extended.

The 7-foot German then hoisted his patented turnaround jumper over a helpless defender, who could only watch as the ball hit nothing but net.

It was a terrific ending to an otherwise poor day for Nowitzki, who finished just 7-of-23 from the floor.

While Nowitzki was off, Kidd kept the Mavericks in control. Kidd also finished with 12 rebounds and six assists.

"It was a good feeling especially since I never had a good rhythm all game," Nowitzki said. "We got the ball in on time and we looked to set a screen. Nobody was open, so I went to the ball and caught it. I had a lot time to dribble and get off a good shot."

Thaddeus Young scored 11 points for Philadelphia in place of Brand, who is expected to return from a shoulder injury Saturday against the New York Knicks.