Along about the time Thursday night's game was ready to receive FDA approval as a sleep aid, the Mavericks' defense woke up.
Proving once again that they can generate energy from the defensive end of the court, the Mavericks shut down the Charlotte Bobcats just long enough to grind out a 95-90 win at American Airlines Center. "We escaped," coach Rick Carlisle said bluntly.
Perhaps still stunned from their double-overtime loss to San Antonio on Tuesday, the Mavericks needed nearly three quarters to get back into a winning mode. When they did, it was Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Terry and Jason Kidd who provided the defensive spark, and enough offense to succeed in a tough game.
The Mavericks surrendered 54 points in the first half, then held the Bobcats to 36 after halftime. In the fourth quarter, the Mavericks had four steals and won the rebounding game that had been weak for them in the first three quarters. Shooting 31.8 percent in the fourth quarter hurt, but it was more proof that the defense won it for them.
So was there a hangover from the loss to the Spurs?
"There might have been," Nowitzki said. "But there are really no excuses. In the first half, our defense wasn't good enough. They got confidence and then the next thing you know, they make plays. We were a little lucky to get the win, but wins count."
The Mavericks could gather some momentum from the win because they had to make several plays down the stretch to secure it.
After Emeka Okafor, who was huge all night with 27 points and 17 rebounds, made a free throw to draw the Bobcats within one at 90-89, the Mavericks missed three shots. But Kidd came up with the defensive play of the game when he stepped in front of a D.J. Augustin pass with 50 seconds to go.
That led to Nowitzki's 3-pointer with 28.3 left, as the shot clock was running down.
"It gave us a chance to win down the stretch," Kidd said. "I knew [Matt] Carroll was in the corner. I was just hoping I could entice Augustin to throw it to him."
Terry had 11 points in the fourth quarter, including two free throws with 2:54 left that put the Mavericks ahead for good at 90-88.
The Bobcats played without Gerald Wallace, who was at the game but did not play after missing two games because of a death in the family. They also didn't have newcomers Raja Bell or Boris Diaw, acquired Wednesday in the Jason Richardson trade.
His hero: Growing up, Augustin's favorite player was Michael Jordan.
"Now, I'm playing for him," the former Texas Longhorn said.
Jordan is minority owner of the Bobcats, who took Augustin ninth overall in last summer's draft after two seasons at UT.
