MAVERICKS 105, WIZARDS 102
WASHINGTON (AP) _ Dirk Nowitzki limped off to the locker room after a fourth-quarter fall, then returned to make a key 3-pointer, and Monta Ellis scored 24 of his 34 points in the first half to lead Dallas past Washington for its fifth straight win.
Nowitzki went down in the key with about eight minutes left after twisting his left ankle. But he came back in with 3 1/2 minutes to go and Dallas trailing by a point. With 80 seconds left, Nowitzki sank a 3 to put the Mavs ahead 102-97.
Washington lost at home for the first time this season, despite Bradley Beal’s first action following left wrist surgery.
Beal was terrific, too, leading Washington with 21 points, and even drawing a charge on Ellis with about 30 seconds to go. But with a chance to tie the game, John Wall missed a 3-pointer at the other end. Ellis then made two free throws to push Dallas’ edge to five points.
