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Friday, Dec. 8 8:00pm ET
Nelson will leave team to fight cancer

RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME FLOW

DALLAS (AP) -- The Dallas Mavericks gave Don Nelson a nice sendoff.

Nelson picked up his 939th coaching victory to move past mentor Red Auerbach into fourth place on the career list as Dallas beat Chicago 105-86.

Nelson revealed before the game that he would be away from the team for an undetermined period as he seeks treatment for prostate cancer. He will meet with doctors Sunday in Salt Lake City to get a second opinion on his condition, then decide his course of treatment.

Nelson had said he would be happy to remain tied with Auerbach, his coach when Nelson played for the Boston Celtics. But Nelson's players weren't about to let that happen, not with Nelson leaving the team and certainly not against the hapless Bulls.

"I tied Red, now I moved ahead of him, and I'm happy about that," Nelson said. "Now I'm going to take some time off and get a second opinion.

"I told the team that I don't know exactly how long it's going to be. I could join them again, but eventually I'm going to have to get this taken care of. I need more information and I'll get that in Salt Lake City."

Top assistant Del Harris will fill in during Nelson's absence.

Steve Nash scored 22 points and Christian Laettner added a season-high 17 points, 15 in the third quarter. Michael Finley and Dirk Nowitzki had 14 points each for the Mavericks, who extended their winning streak against the Bulls to five games.

The Bulls were without top scorer and rebounder Elton Brand, who missed his third straight game due to a hyperextended left knee.

Khalid Ed-Amin had 18 points, and Ron Mercer and Corey Benjamin added 16 each for the Bulls, whose league-worst record fell to 2-17.

Dallas closed the second quarter with a 16-4 run to build a 53-40 halftime lead.

Nash had 18 first-half points, hitting 9 of 11 field goal attempts, most on slashing drives.

"I just tried to be aggressive," said Nash. "We saw some opportunities to push the ball."

The Bulls had 13 first-half turnovers and got poor offensive looks. They seemed intimidated by 7-6 Dallas center Shawn Bradley, who had five first-half blocked shots.

"Offensively we didn't do anything from start to finish," said Bulls coach Tim Floyd, who was ejected in the third quarter. "Turnovers and our lack of ability to guard were the story. Our ballhandling and soft defense are things I don't want to tolerate."

Mercer said the Bulls don't play with the same intensity on the road as they do at home.

"I have no idea why, but we have long stretches on the road when it isn't there," he said.

The Mavericks put the game away when they opened the third quarter with a 16-0 run. Chicago went scoreless over the first 5:19 of the third period to fall behind, 69-40, and the Bulls went on to lose their fourth in a row.

Dallas took an 84-58 lead into the final quarter after going 12-for-19 from the field in the third quarter.

"It was a wonderful game for us," Nelson said. "We did what we were supposed to and that is to take care of business at home."

Game notes
Next up for Nelson on the coaching victories list is Bill Fitch with 944. ... Floyd was ejected with 7:34 remaining after collecting two technicals for protesting a no-call. ... The Mavericks placed guard Greg Buckner on the injured list and activated rookie forward Donnell Harvey. Harvey made his NBA debut in the fourth quarter. ... Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has hired former NBA referee Woody Mayfield as a consultant. Mayfield will attend practices and home games to advise the team on rules interpretations and how to interact with game officials. ...In addition to Brand, the Bulls were also without Fred Hoiberg (sprained left ankle) and Jake Voskuhl (foot tendinitis). ... Mavericks guard Howard Eisley left the game in the third quarter with a pulled hamstring.
ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard

Chicago Clubhouse

Dallas Clubhouse

Mavs' Nelson takes leave to take care of prostate cancer


RECAPS
Indiana 104
Boston 91

Charlotte 92
LA Clippers 87

Miami 80
Atlanta 76

New Jersey 86
Phoenix 84

Dallas 105
Chicago 86

Philadelphia 107
Portland 94

Toronto 108
Golden State 92

Seattle 103
LA Lakers 95

Sacramento 111
Houston 98


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