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The Sports Network TSN
(Sports Network) - Celebrations don't seem to be agreeing with the Dallas
Mavericks and the reigning NBA champs are probably glad they can put the
ceremonies in the rearview mirror as they get ready to host the Utah Jazz.
The Mavs finally got their rings on Wednesday and followed that with a 105-90
setback to Minnesota. Dirk Nowitzki participated in the ceremony but not the
loss, missing his third straight game with a sore knee. Jason Terry had a
team-high 17 points and Shawn Marion chipped in 15, as the Mavericks' seven-
game home win streak came to an end.
Dallas also failed to extend a 15-game franchise record in which it held its
opponent to under 100 points.
For the Mavs, the scene was fairly reminiscent of Christmas Day, when the team
unfurled its first-ever NBA championship banner to great excitement, then
suffered a season-opening shellacking at the hands of the Heat.
"I think we're all happy that we don't have any more ceremonies for our
championship so we can just concentrate on basketball," said Mavs guard Jason
Kidd.
Dallas, which is 7-3 in North Texas this season, will finish up a four-game
homestand against San Antonio on Sunday.
When the Mavs originally sat Nowitzki his absence was pegged at four games,
meaning he will sit out again tonight as he continues to rest his knee and
work on his conditioning.
The Jazz, meanwhile, are coming off a tough double-overtime loss to Toronto on
Wednesday. Andrea Bargnani and Linas Kleiza scored 25 points apiece in that
one as the Raptors snapped a 12-game losing streak against Utah with a 111-106
win.
It was Toronto's first win in the series since December 22, 2004.
The back-breaker for the Jazz in the second overtime was Jose Calderon's
three-pointer from 10 feet behind the arc to beat the shot clock, giving
Toronto a six-point lead with 86 seconds left.
The Jazz played without leading scorer Al Jefferson because of an inflamed
right ankle, but still had an 18-point lead in the first quarter.
"It's a tough loss for us because we know we should have won the game," said
Paul Millsap, who scored 31 points. "(It fell apart) in the second quarter.
Our defense was poor."
Derrick Favors started for Jefferson and scored 16 with 12 rebounds. Raja Bell
and C.J. Miles both had 11 points for Utah, which finished a four-game
homestand at 2-2.
Jefferson didn't practice Thursday and will be a game-time decision tonight.
The Jazz have dropped five straight to the Mavs, including a 94-91 loss in
Salt Lake City on Jan. 19. Utah has also lost two straight and 14 of its last
16 trips to Big D.
The Sports Network