NBA Capsules: Mavericks hold off Timberwolves behind Nowitzki

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Dirk Nowitzki and his smooth, soaring jump shot were in prime form.

What truly made the Mavericks too tough for the sloppy Timberwolves to handle was the presence of their savvy old point guard, Jason Kidd.

Nowitzki welcomed Kevin Love back from his two-game suspension with a season-high 33 points, winning the matchup of Western Conference All-Star power forwards and helping Dallas stave off a Minnesota in a 104-97 victory over on Friday.

"He makes the game so much easier for everyone," said Jason Terry, the other part of the veteran trio that steadied the Mavericks down the stretch after a 19-5 run spurt by the Wolves brought them within 78-75 on Nikola Pekovic's putback to open the fourth quarter.

Kidd, playing for the first time in seven games due to a strained right calf muscle, responded by swishing a 3-pointer to stretch the lead to six with 10:15 left.

"He's a big part of our heart and soul. When we're without him, we can win some games but we're not the same team," Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said.

Terry had nine of his 16 points in the final period. Kidd had eight points, 10 assists and five rebounds. The Mavericks blamed most of his eight turnovers on teammates unprepared for his slick passes, since they hadn't seen them in a while.

Kidd joked it must've been fan appreciation night because of all the balls being thrown into the seats. He didn't have time to think about his big shot because he was huffing and puffing on the stationary bike behind the bench — riding all the way across the river to St. Paul, he joked — until entering the game 17 seconds before.

"Whatever I can do to help my team," he said.

Nowitzki topped 24 points for the fourth straight game by shooting 11 for 19 from the floor, including 4 of 7 from 3-point range. Love finished with 32 points and 12 rebounds, going 14 for 14 from the free-throw line, but the Wolves missed a chance to sweep the season series from a Western Conference foe since beating the Memphis Grizzlies all three times in 2008-09.

"That is definitely vintage Dirk. He's a Hall of Fame player and when he decides he wants it, more often than not he's going to have success," Love said.

The Wolves had a season-high 28 turnovers and shot just 6 for 23 from 3-point range.

"Just being a youthful team, we're going to have lapses like that and unfortunately it was against a team that we beat a couple of times," Love said.

Love was punished for stepping on Luis Scola's face against the Houston Rockets last weekend. He was by far Minnesota's most productive player in his return, but his was still a rather quiet performance. He made nine of 12 shots from 3-point range over the Wolves' two previous wins over the Mavericks, but he went 0 for 3 behind the arc in this one.

Nowitzki, named to his 11th straight All-Star game despite a relatively slow start to his 13th season, has clearly worked himself back into shape. After averaging less than 10 points over the three games prior to this spurt, Nowitzki is averaging 28 points in the last four games while shooting 60.5 percent. Though he lost his touch late, he seemed to have an extra edge against Love. The two of them bumped elbows and torsos in the post all night.

"He's been fun to watch. He's an animal on the glass. We all know that. He's tough to play," Nowitzki said.

The Wolves (13-14) still haven't had a record this good this late in a season in six years. The Mavericks (16-11) didn't have to be convinced. They were blown out in both of the first two meetings.

But the league's oldest team still has plenty of pride — and championship rings on their fingers. They showed the Wolves, who were the second-youngest team in the NBA when this lockout-sliced season began, that they're still a team to be reckoned with in the top-heavy West.

The Wolves made only two baskets outside the lane in the first quarter and fell behind 29-16; Love and Wes Johnson combined to shoot 1 for 8 in that frame. Nowitzki's first 3-pointer made it 11-6 Mavericks, and the Wolves didn't get back within five again until a flying putback dunk by Derrick Williams at the end of the third.

"We threw passes away when we worked hard defensively and got the ball back. We just threw it away like there was no value to the ball," coach Rick Adelman said, lamenting what he called a lack of concentration.

The Mavericks took advantage of the small Wolves backcourt by posting up Vince Carter often, and Nowitzki made them pay when they switched to a zone.

"His presence opens so much up for everyone else. That's called an All-Star presence, to me. It's not always about the numbers," said Mavericks backup Delonte West, who had 10 points.

NOTES: The Mavericks are 8-1 when they score 100-plus points this season. ... Ricky Rubio reached 10 points with a late push and had eight assists for the Wolves. Pekovic had 12 points, and Michael Beasley scored 20 points in his new reserve role.

Kidd returns to Mavs lineup after six-game absence

Love was suspended for stepping on Rockets forward Luis Scola last weekend. He missed a win over Sacramento on Tuesday and a loss at Memphis, reducing the two-time All-Star to a role he wasn't used to playing while he watched the games from his couch at his downtown Minneapolis home.

"I felt like I almost needed some pom-poms I was cheering so loud," Love said on Friday morning after the team's shootaround in preparation for the game against Dallas on Friday night.

Love is averaging 25 points and 13.7 rebounds this season. He also leads the NBA with 39.4 minutes per game. Rookie Derrick Williams started in Love's place the previous two games and delivered two solid performances, but certainly not to the level the Wolves expect from Love.

Williams had 14 points and eight rebounds and hit a crucial 3-pointer down the stretch to help the Wolves beat the Kings and had 13 points and nine rebounds in the loss to the Grizzlies.

"It was very tough. I was sitting on my couch tweeting," Love said. "I felt a little bit helpless. I wasn't able to go out there and help those guys win and I wasn't able to make plays for them. I'm looking forward to getting back on the court and back to business."

And the Wolves can't wait to see their leader back out there with them.

"It's great," center Nikola Pekovic said. "We missed him these two games. In the first one we succeeded without him but in the second game you saw that we really miss him. I'm happy to have him back."

Love was named a Western Conference All-Star on Thursday. Last year he was named as an injury replacement to Yao Ming. This time around, he made it in without any help.

"I've had a great season thus far. I attribute that a lot to the coaching staff and my teammates and my coaches in helping me through the season," Love said. "To me, it's definitely a big deal seeing my name at the top of everybody's list, so I was very happy about that because I've put in a lot of work in these first 3½ seasons and I don't have any intentions on stopping."

Three years ago, former Timberwolves center Al Jefferson went down with a knee injury just before the All-Star break. He said he threw one of his shoes through a flat-screen television while watching his teammates play without him.

Love's television survived his brief time away. But the same couldn't be said for his sound system.

"I did actually break some speakers," Love said. "I turned it on really loud on the last play (during the Kings game). The two speakers in my kitchen broke. They're repaired today. Don't worry about it."

-- Jon Krawczynski

Cavs' Irving out next two games with concussion

Irving is sitting out Cleveland's next two home games — against Milwaukee and Philadelphia — as the Cavs follow the NBA's new guidelines on treating head injuries with their young star.

"He's getting better but we are going through NBA protocol," coach Byron Scott said following Friday's shootaround. "He'll be out tonight and tomorrow and we'll go from there. He's making improvement but we're not going to risk putting him out there until the doctors say he's fine."

Irving's next chance to play will be Wednesday against Indiana. The Cavs play their next eight games at home.

The 19-year-old Irving was at the team's facility Friday, but Scott said the point guard did not do any physical activity. Under the league's concussion guidelines, which were implemented at the start of training camps, players are not permitted to do anything physical until their symptoms subside completely.

Scott would not address if Irving is still experiencing any symptoms.

Irving, the No. 1 overall draft pick who has helped the Cavs to a surprising 10-14 start, complained of a headache on Wednesday, when he was diagnosed with the concussion shortly before Cleveland hosted the Los Angeles Clippers.

On Tuesday in Miami, Irving was knocked down in the foul lane while driving to the basket in the fourth quarter and his head struck Heat guard Dwyane Wade's knee. Irving did not have any symptoms following the game and returned with the team from Florida. However, the team said his headache worsened during the night and when he warmed up before the game.

The Cavs intend to be extra careful as they treat Irving, who was evaluated on Thursday at the Cleveland Clinic.

"We all know how serious this thing can be and that's why we are taking such a cautious look at this to make sure that when he comes back he's OK," Scott said. "We don't want to put a young man at risk — that's the biggest thing. The NBA has done a terrific job as far as trying to diagnose and figure out what to do with concussions."

Ramon Sessions started Tuesday night and scored a season-high 24 points with 13 assists as the Cavaliers beat the Clippers in their first game this season without Irving.

Sessions will continue to start while Irving is out. The Cavs also signed Ben Uzoh from Rio Grande of the NBA Development League to a 10-day contract as an insurance policy. Uzoh played in 42 games for New Jersey last season.

Irving is the first high-profile player to sustain a concussion since the league applied its policy to determine when players return from head injuries.

After a player is diagnosed with a concussion, he must complete a series of steps to confirm he's healthy enough for competition. Once he's symptom-free, the player must make it through increasing stages of exertion — from a stationary bike, to jogging, to agility work, to non-contact team drills — while ensuring the symptoms don't return after each one.

During this process, the neurologist hired to lead the concussion program needs to be consulted before the player is cleared.

The NBA followed the NHL and Major League Baseball in instituting a concussion protocol.

Scott, who won three championships during 14 seasons as a player, believes the policy is needed — and perhaps overdue.

"I was asked the other day if I had a concussion and I don't know," he said. "I got hit back in the day so many times and had headaches and woke up and still went to practice. It wasn't a big deal then so being cautious about it is important and Kyrie understands right now.

"He wasn't real happy about it the other night, but we're doing this all in his best interests."

-- Tom Withers

GM King, Nets will stand pat amid injuries

King's declaration comes after the team lost reserve guard Keith Bogans to a broken ankle during Wednesday's loss to Detroit. Bogans was just signed as a free agent two weeks ago, but his broken ankle will require surgery on Monday, more than likely ending his season.

"I don't expect to bring anyone else in," King said in a Friday morning conference call. "I don't think we'll waive anyone to create a spot. We have 15 guaranteed spots on the roster and we'll go from there. I'm OK with the roster."

There was some good news on the injury front. Rookie guard MarShon Brooks, fresh off being named to the Rising Stars Rookie/Sophomore Challenge as part of NBA All-Star weekend, has improved dramatically over the last two days in his recovery from a broken right pinky toe.

"MarShon's status has changed and he's progressed faster than anyone thought," King said. "He'll now be a game-time decision (for Friday night's game at the Detroit Pistons). Earlier in the week, we weren't sure, but he's much better. A lot of it is his tolerance for pain, but he's progressing nicely."

Brooks, one of the bright spots in the Nets' dismal 8-19 season, was averaging 14.8 points per game before his injury two weeks ago, second among NBA rookies. King said that the injury to Bogans had nothing to do with Brooks' return. The Nets have lost four in a row.

"The big thing is how you recover," King said. "Even if Keith was still playing, we'd bring MarShon back. It would be foolish to rush a kid if he's not ready. But we think he's ready."

King also thinks that reserve forward/guard DeShawn Stevenson might be ready for a return shortly. Stevenson has been hobbled for the last two weeks with a sore knee, but has been working out with the team in pregame shootarounds.

However, there is nothing to report in terms of center Brook Lopez. Lopez, who suffered a broken foot in the final game of the preseason, requiring surgery, is in the seventh week of a recovery that was initially said to be up to eight weeks.

"He's been following the rehab," King said of Lopez, who averaged 20 points per game last season. "He's doing a little bit more and taking part in shootarounds. But his progression is the same. We have no timetable on when he'll be back on the court.

"He's on schedule, but we'll see how he feels."

A reporter asked if Lopez could return to practice next week.

"Right now," King said, "I doubt it."

After the Nets lost Lopez, King acquired veteran and former All-Star center Mehmet Okur in a trade, even though Okur played in just 13 games for the Utah Jazz last year after injuring his Achilles tendon.

Okur has now been out of action with the Nets for eight consecutive games with back spasms and soreness. He underwent an epidural medical procedure earlier in the week to try to alleviate the pain, but his status is also unknown.

"We'll increase his activity Sunday and Monday and see where he stands," King said. "He's getting better every day. He's going to be back. It's not a situation where he's done. We're just being extra careful with him. When we added Okur, it was to add to our depth. I still think he's going to help us."

The team already lost small forward Damion James to foot surgery. He's out for the season.

"The injuries have been the underlining theme all season," King said. "Our team has battled and played hard. We've managed to use the short amount of practice to try to improve. The guys in uniform are giving everything they can and that's all we can ask for. It's the nature of the sport. We're not saying, 'Woe, me,' It's just how you deal with it. We can't sit around and mope.

''It is what it is."

Hornets G Jack expected to miss a week

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The Hornets say starting point guard Jarrett Jack is expected to be out at least a week because of soreness in his left knee.

Jack had already missed three games because of the injury when he returned on Wednesday night in a loss to Chicago. Jack played nearly 28 minutes against the Bulls, scoring only four points to go with three assists, well below his averages of about 15 points and seven assists.

Jack's absence means the Hornets are without four of their top players for Friday night's game against Portland. The Hornets also are without shooting guard Eric Gordon (sore right knee), power forward Carl Landry (sprained left knee) and 7-foot forward Jason Smith (concussion).

Hornets coach Monty Williams says Greivis Vasquez is expected to start in Jack's place.

Hornets C Kaman sprains ankle in warmups

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose did not start Friday night's game against the Charlotte Bobcats due to a lower back strain and is not expected to play.

Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said about an hour before tipoff that he'd make a game-time decision on Rose after the reigning MVP injured his back earlier in the week. Rose was not on the bench at the start of the game against the NBA-worst Bobcats. C.J. Watson started in place of Rose, who is averaging 22.0 points.

WNBA

Wiggins was a valuable reserve during last season's run to the franchise's first title. Her defensive energy off the bench and perimeter shooting proved pivotal in the playoffs. Her best performance came in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals against Phoenix when she scored 14 points and hit four 3-pointers in a 95-67 romp.

Coming off of knee surgery that limited her to eight games in 2010, Wiggins averaged career lows with 5.9 points and 17.1 minutes per game. But she made a career-high 49 3-pointers, which was good for second on the team.