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Nowitzki not affected by ankle injury as Mavs roll

Dec 23, 2006 - 6:43 AM DALLAS (Ticker) -- Josh Howard scored 25 points and Dirk Nowitzki had 20 and 12 rebounds despite playing on a bad ankle as the Dallas Mavericks destroyed the stumbling Los Angeles Clippers, 115-83.

Devean George scored a season-high 21 points for Dallas, which converted 15-of-27 from the arc in posting its sixth straight win.

"That's something we can build on (3-point shooting) and something we can just gain confidence and know that we've got a well-rounded team. We've got a nice bench," George said. "It just gives us all confidence."

Nowitzki left Wednesday's game with Seattle in the first quarter after injuring his left ankle and was questionable for this one. The 7-0 forward made his decision at game time and shot 7-of-15 from the floor, including 3-of-5 from the arc, in 26 minutes.

"I actually decided right before the game (to play)," Nowitzki said. "I worked out this morning and it felt OK. Before the game the ankle was a little stiff so I wasn't sure, but it felt good during warmup.

"I know a lot about ankle injuries by now. I've had so many over the years so I knew nothing worse could happen to my ankle by playing tonight. It was a little stiff after the first quarter, but I'm glad I played and glad for the win."

The Mavericks led, 26-22, after the first period before outscoring the Clippers, 71-37, over the next two quarters. Howard scored eight points during a 21-4 run in the third quarter that built an 84-53 lead with four minutes left.

"I was just out there playing my normal game," Howard said. "Overall, as a team, we just jumped on them early and came out and played as a team. We didn't give them a chance to get back into the game."

In the last 40 seconds of the period, Howard hit consecutive 3-pointers and George added another as Dallas opened a 97-59 bulge entering the fourth.

George made 7-of-12 shots, including 5-of-6 3-pointers, and added five rebounds in 21 minutes.

"I felt good tonight, comfortable. I'm feeling more and more comfortable," George said. "Different guys have to step up at different points in the season. With Dirk hurt we needed to step up and give him a night where he didn't have to carry us."

Dallas led by as many as 43 points in the fourth quarter.

Corey Maggette scored 19 points and Elton Brand added 18 for the Clippers, who have lost six straight games.

"This isn't our first game like this. It's the second or third badly played game. They badly outplayed like this," Brand said. "We just have to bond together, band together and have some pride in playing defense."

The Clippers allowed the Mavericks to shot 51 percent (42-of-82) and only forced 10 turnovers while getting outrebounded, 44-33.

"You know the offense will always come around," Brand said. "We have enough threats offensively. It was just defense, layups, open threes, open shots. We just have to play hard and get a victory under our belt and start feeling good about ourselves and get some confidence."