The Basketball Diaries-Mavs Start a New Streak

Dallas Mavericks 92 New Jersey Nets 75

Apparently, the Mavericks don't like losing too much. A day after they had their 12-game win streak snapped by the Wizards, they took out their frustration on the Nets. Dirk Nowitzki had 26 points, and Josh Howard added 23 as the Mavericks never trailed in this game. "It just seemed like Dallas had a great sense of urgency and we weren't able to meet it," Nets coach Lawrence Frank said. "We just didn't seem, for whatever reason, to have a great deal of pep in our step."

Houston Rockets 118 Golden State Warriors 90

Maybe the Rockets should hit Tracy McGrady over the head with something before every game. After suffering a concussion when hit by teammate Dikembe Mutombo's elbow on Saturday, McGrady came out and scored 31 to lead Houston past the slipping Warriors. "I was trying to do some explosive things that I haven't been doing all year," said McGrady, who hit 13 of 25 shots and dished out seven assists. "This was a great opportunity to go out and try that because we had a comfortable lead. I'm just trying to take it to another level now."

Los Angeles Clippers 101 Miami Heat 97

Dwyane Wade may be Sports Illustrated's Sportsman of the Year (apparently SI thought that commercial where Wade gives that junior basketball team all that equipment and their coach that SUV was real) but that doesn't mean he can lead the Heat back to a championship by himself. Wade scored 33 points but it wasn't enough, as Elton Brand added 33 points and 17 rebounds for the Clippers.

Elsewhere...

• Blazers 88 Pistons 85
• Suns 127 Kings 102
• Sonics 102 Hawks 87