LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Danilo Gallinari had 28 points, including the go-ahead free throws with 24 seconds left, and the Los Angeles Clippers scored the last 13 points of the game to rally past the Dallas Mavericks 104-101 on Monday night.
On a night when his last name was misspelled on the back of his jersey, Dallas forward Dirk Nowitzki became the sixth player in NBA history to reach 50,000 career minutes. Nowitzki finished with 12 points, but the Mavericks failed to score in the final 4:42.
DeAndre Jordan won a jump ball with 4.5 seconds remaining, tipping it to Avery Bradley for a layup that made it 104-101. Yogi Ferrell had a chance to tie it with 0.4 seconds to play, but he stepped out of bounds before his shot bounced off the rim.
Wesley Matthews led the Mavericks with 23 points and Devin Harris added 16 off the bench.
Tobias Harris had 19 points for the Clippers, and Lou Williams scored 15.
Nowitzki passed Elvin Hayes (exactly 50,000 minutes) for fifth place on the career list for minutes played in the regular season.
Nowitzki has played an additional 5,895 minutes in the playoffs. Next among active players on the regular-season minutes list is Utah’s Joe Johnson at 43,806.
TIP-INS
Mavericks: F Harrison Barnes was held out with a sore left ankle. … Mavs coach Rick Carlisle on Nowitzki: “I just really believe Dirk’s record of high level of excellence, of longevity, durability, is one of the most remarkable I’ve ever seen in sport.” . Carlisle does not expect the Mavs to be active
before Thursday’s trade deadline: “I don’t think we’re going to make any trades. Of course, that’s been my opinion every year in the 16 years I’ve been coaching. This time of year there’s a lot of talk, and normally not a lot of activity.”
Clippers: G Austin Rivers (ankle) might return to action Friday in Detroit. Rivers has missed 18 games. … The Clippers had a season-high 38 fast-break points in their previous game against the Bulls, the first game for Harris and Bradley with Los Angeles since they were acquired from Detroit. Clippers coach Doc Rivers said the up-tempo game was by design. “We told Tobias and Avery, it doesn’t matter who gets it, that’s the start of the break,” he said. “We don’t look for a point guard and then get the ball up the court. We’re gone.”
UP NEXT
Mavericks: End their four-game road trip Thursday at Golden State.
Clippers: Play the first of seven consecutive road games Friday night against the Detroit Pistons, where they will face former teammate Blake Griffin for the first time since he was traded.