Too bad, there was still 12 minutes to go.
Denver again used strong fourth-quarter defense and shot-making, running the Mavericks out of the Pepsi Center and back to Big D with a 117-105 victory Tuesday night to take a 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven Western Conference series.
Carmelo Anthony and Nene Hilario each scored 25 points for the Nuggets, while J.R. Smith (21 points), Chauncey Billups (18 points), and Kenyon Martin (12 points) also scored in double figures.
The Mavericks were led by Dirk Nowitzki's 35 points and nine rebounds. Jason Terry added 21 points.
Denver broke open a three-point game at the start of the fourth quarter with a 16-4 run.
"It's the playoffs," Anthony said. "We knew we wouldn't blow out the Mavericks. In the fourth quarter, we made some shots and got some stops."
How do Dallas fans feel after an alarming loss?
ShawnChrys Can someone inform the dallas mavericks that an NBA basketball game is FOUR quarters and not three :-/
WRECKAMIC The Dallas Mavericks are making me want to bang my head on sharp objects!
WillieGreen1 Did Dallas send their NBDL team in Mavericks masks? Impostors from a dimension where you don't play with heart in the 4th quarter?
romeo46 Its official I now disown the Dallas Mavericks as my basketball team...
Denver on the other hand has reason to rejoice (and gloat):
adamatus If you are an NBA team and not leading the Nuggets by at least 10 at the start of the 4th in Denver, don't bother leaving the locker room.
DiosLibre Denver Looking like a Complete Team. It would be an interesting finals if Nuggets Vs Cavs happens. We will see.
TheLoungeReport How crazy is it that Detroit loses Billups and now they suck, but Denver gets him and now the Nuggets is HOT?! "Well Damn"!
a_broo DENVER NUGGETS up 2-0 over Dallas. Birdman, Nene, Anthony killed it tonight.
"Nuggets!!!!."
(Posted by @imtheraccoon, Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado)
Game 3 is Saturday night (5:00 pm EST) in Dallas, Texas.
IN-GAME BLOG:
The Dallas Mavericks were thoroughly beaten 109-95 in Game 1 of their Western Conference second-round basketball series against the No. 2 seed Denver Nuggets.
One more quarter to go! This has been a good one with Dallas' comeback in the third quarter. Nuggets still hanging on to a three-point lead.
Lots o' talkin' 'bout Billups', Dirk's, and Jason Terry's big shots:
jwittman And that's why you have Chauncey Billups. Greatest trade of the year.
jrfaulkin Dirk Nowitzki is the Randy Moss of the NBA. Stop quitting every time a call doesn't go your way. Your defender is scoring on the other end!
sexysigma Jason Terry a.k.a. 6th man of the year, is ballin tonight. He has to be going on pure adrenalin with those ankle injuries.
ricoexplainsit Chauncey Billups makes any team better. I'm convinced he coulda stopped the Fat Boys from breaking up.
TheTrafficker Dirk Nowitzki > Larry Bird
Third quarter underway. Who's gonna take it?
csstieber Hey, we'll take any lead when we shoot 2-for-eleventy-billion from 3. BRING YA BEST DALLAS, AND YOUR WIMPY KRAUT! #nuggets #mavericks #NBA.
chasecolston it's amazing how much better of a team denver is with chauncey billups at point guard. mavs need to step it up.
Mavs point guard Jason Kidd is trying to keep it close in Game 2 with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer signaling halftime. Nuggets still lead though 58-55.
_Tashiba Jason Kidd w/ a 3 @ the buzzer! Yeeeaaaahhhhhhh!
macdaddydwj I was against the Jason Kidd and Devon Harris trade... Jason Kidd just score a HUGE 3... I feel better about the trade now.
SportsFanatic31 Good ending for Jason Kidd 3 points and 3 rebounds in those last 5 minutes. He really needs to step up.
The Nuggets held a 30-22 lead after the first quarter of Game 2 and it looks like it could get away from the Mavericks if they don't convert on offense and play defense. It's a 10 point Denver lead and getting close to halftime.
spittywill @straightbangin Dirk is weak Kenyon Martin beatin him up on every play. Dirk can't hang
N50datdude CAN SUMBODY PLS TELL 2 ME WAT 3POINT SHOOTING CAMP JR SMITH WENT TO DURING THIS LAST OFF-SEASON CUS HE CNT SEEM 2 MISS ANYMORE LOL
Inkognegro a missed dunk then a Three. They dont want this.
akennedy23 JR Smith has the most post-3 point swag I've ever seen...ever
CedJrLoc JR Smith.... LIGHTS OUT!!!!! The Nuggets are starting to make me a believer!
Mavs won the first quarter 24-16 in Game 1, but got blown out. Denver holds a 30-22 edge at the moment, but will the Nuggets succumb to their foe this time around?
Interesting thoughts around Twitternation on the first 12 minutes, including Dallas forward Josh Howard heading off the court with an apparent injury (now confirmed by head coach Rick Carlisle that he is done for the game):
geekycyberdad RT @dallasmavs: Josh Howard's night is over. Who will step up?
jdyates Josh Howard is out for the rest of the game due to his rolled ankle from game 1. This is quickly getting ugly. Go MAVS!!!!
CRM_alumnigonzo I feel bad for Josh Howard. Ankle sprains suck. Give that man a beer.
tdavis1024 Watching this Denver vs. Dallas game, pretty good game I must say and it's only the 1st quarter!
G_HAD Now this is the Denver I know....they got their "mojo" back... let's see what happens now
Lots of twitchattering about Dirk, Chauncey Billups, and the ever-tattooed Chris Andersen:
ColitoGigante Dirk nowitzki needs to take a trip on the yellow brick road and find some heart
Crusah TNT just put up a graphic with Chauncey Billups in the role of Commander-In-Chief. Haha, Dallas has to win this game!
KevinRossen Why do Nuggets fans hate Dirk Nowitzki so much?
tonyishood Watching the Mavericks. Fouling Dirk like it was in style. Shame shame. Birdman Andersen needs to get his hair redid...
Is there a mile-high solution for Dallas? Will Nene Hilario come up big again for the Nuggets? Will Dirk Nowitzki ever lead the Mavs to the NBA Finals?
Here's what Tweeters think prior to tipoff:
mattcraine RT @Alexis Gentry Woo hoo! Go Nuggets! RT @fitbrotha: Can't wait 2 see Denver give Dallas another BEATDOWN 2nite!!
SDUTSullivan Fining Kenyon Martin $25,000 for his shove of Dirk Nowitzki seems excessive, but I'd sure like to see more intentional fouls callled.
TreyEley Did the whole NBA on TNT crew just call Dirk Nowitzki soft??? LOL!!! #NBA
angrybanana I can't believe Charles Barkley just predicted the Denver Nuggets to win the NBA title this year... I'm shocked
SharonMcGowan Wishing the Dallas Mavericks beat the Nuggets tonight in Game 2. Go Mavs!!
