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  Tuesday, Oct. 31 8:00pm ET
Mavs stop 7-game skid against Bucks
 
  RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME FLOW

DALLAS (AP) -- Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban was a happy man.

Eduardo Najera
Dallas' Eduardo Najera tries to elbow his way past Scott Williams' defensive pressure.

"This definitely wasn't just one game out of 82. The season opener is obviously special. I've been looking forward to this night since April 18," Cuban said after Dallas' 97-93 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday night.

Michael Finley scored 26 points to lead the Mavericks, who snapped a seven-game losing streak to the Bucks.

Ray Allen scored 26 points to lead the Bucks, whose winning streak over Dallas included sweeps the last three seasons.

Finley leaped high for a rebound that he shoveled in for a basket in the last two seconds of the third quarter, giving the Mavericks an 81-73 lead going into the last 12 minutes.

"Finley was the leader out there and wouldn't let anybody let up," Cuban said.

Tim Thomas scored on a drive and a 12-foot jumper, starting a 7-point run that cut the Mavs' lead to 81-80 with 8:46 to play.

But 7-foot Dirk Nowitzki almost personally kept Milwaukee at bay, hitting two 3-pointers in a 10-2 Dallas run over the next three minutes.

Allen pulled the Bucks within six points on a field goal and two free throws, but Nowitzki brought the crowd of 16,600 to its feet with another 3-pointer from the right corner for a 97-88 lead with 1:26 to play.

Bucks coach George Karl said his team didn't play smart enough to win.

"We made it a game, but then they made their 3s. There was a stretch there where it was a 4-point game, then it goes up to 9," Karl said.

"Dirk, the ice man with those backbreaking 3s!" Cuban yelled from across the dressing room, throwing a high-5 from 15 feet away, over a crowd of writers. "He was up and down early in the game, but when the money was on the line, Dirk was the man."

Finley scored 10 points and Steve Nash added eight as the Mavericks took a 30-21 first-quarter lead.

Sam Cassell added 15 points for Milwaukee, while Thomas and Lindsey Hunter added 12 each and Glenn Robinson had 11.

"The first game is important to win, sure, but it's the entire first week that's important for us. We have to get off to a good start," Finley said.

"Last year, we had the lead late in a lot of games, but let it get away. I think we learned from that. We didn't play well tonight, but still managed to win."

Nash had 20 points and Nowitzki added 16 for the Mavericks.

Game notes
Dallas won 16 of its final 21 games last season. ... Finley played in his league-high 381st consecutive game. ... Karl was hoping for five assists a game from Allen. The Olympic gold medalist was Milwaukee's leading scorer, but got only two assists.

 


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RECAPS
Charlotte 106
Atlanta 82

Cleveland 86
New Jersey 82

Orlando 97
Washington 86

Dallas 97
Milwaukee 93

Philadelphia 101
New York 72

Detroit 104
Toronto 95

Sacramento 100
Chicago 81

Minnesota 106
Houston 98

San Antonio 98
Indiana 85

Utah 107
LA Clippers 94

Golden State 96
Phoenix 94

LA Lakers 96
Portland 86

Vancouver 94
Seattle 88

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 Eduardo Najera goes baseline and hits the reverse layup for the score.
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