Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, March 25, 2002
Wang Zhizhi Scores Career-High 18 Points for Dallas
China's Wang Zhizhi scored a career-high 18 points, as the Dallas Mavericks beat visiting Memphis 111-100 Saturday night. This win sealed Dallas' four-game season series sweep of Memphis.
Dirk Nowitzki scored 24 points, and Steve Nash had 13. Michael Finley added another 13 to surpass the 10,000-point mark for his career.
Finley has become the 238th NBA player to reach 10,000 points.
Pau Gasol scored 23 and Stromile Swift added 20 for the Grizzlies, who have lost six straight games and won just twice in their last 17 games.
Blazers Beat Minnesota 108-99
In Minneapolis, Damon Stoudamire scored 21 points, and Scottie Pippen added 18 - 13 in the fourth quarter - as the Portland Trail Blazers beat Minnesota 108-99, moving ahead of the Timberwolves in the Western Conference standings.
The Blazers, a league-best 18-3 since the All-Star break, trailed by 10 at the half but got back into it by taking advantage of a balanced scoring attack and cold shooting by the Timberwolves.
Kevin Garnett had 23 points to lead the Timberwolves, who have lost eight of 10.
Atlanta Beat Chicago 112-96
In Atlanta, Jason Terry scored 23 points and matched a career- high with 13 assists as Atlanta beat Chicago 112-96.
The Hawks, playing without leading scorer and rebounder Shareef Abdur-Rahim, have won six of seven.
Atlanta had seven players score in double figures, including 17 from DerMarr Johnson and 16 for Alan Henderson, who made his first start of the season with Abdur-Rahim in California for the birth of his son.
Jalen Rose's 26 points led Chicago, which has lost 11 of 12 and fell to 4-30 on the road.
Utah Earned its 22nd Victory
In Salt Lake City, Donyell Marshall scored 25 points as Utah earned its 22nd victory in 23 games against Golden State. The home side won this time 112-103.
Karl Malone added 24 points, 12 rebounds and six steals, rookie Andrei Kirilenko had 21 points, and John Stockton had 13 points and 15 assists for the Jazz.
Utah has won four of five to strengthen its hold on the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
Antawn Jamison led Golden State with 28 points, and Bob Sura added 21. The Warriors have dropped 15 straight in Utah.
Spurs Beat the Heat 89-79
In San Antonio, Tim Duncan scored 23 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead San Antonio to its 12th straight win. The Spurs beat the Heat 89-79.
Five Spurs scored in double figures to extend the NBA's longest current winning streak. San Antonio went on a 16-6 run to end the third quarter and take command.
Jim Jackson led Miami with 17 points, and Alonzo Mourning had 16 points and 11 rebounds.
David Robinson added 11 points and 10 rebounds for the Spurs.
Denver Beat Seattle 88-85
In Denver, Juwan Howard had 22 points and 10 rebounds, and hit a jump hook with 35 seconds left as Denver ended a seven-game losing streak by beating Seattle 88-85.
Voshon Lenard added 24 points for the Nuggets.
Seattle had won three straight to move into seventh place in the Western Conference, but is just a half-game ahead of eighth- place Utah.
Rashard Lewis had 16 points and 15 rebounds to lead Seattle. Predrag Drobnjak added 16 points, and Brent Barry had 15.
Denver lost point guard Tim Hardaway for the remainder of the season after he broke his left foot in the first quarter.
Phoenix Defeated Los Angeles Clippers 97-94
In Los Angeles, Shawn Marion had 32 points and 14 rebounds, and Phoenix defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 97-94 to snap a seven- game road losing streak.
The Suns won on the road for the first time since February 21 at Memphis. They also ended a season-worst six-game losing skid.
Except for the opening basket and a third-quarter tie, Phoenix led the entire game. Stephon Marbury added 24 points and 11 assists for the Suns, who had lost nine of 11 coming in.
Quentin Richardson scored 20 points in reserve for the Clippers. Jeff McInnis added 18 points, Elton Brand had 16 points and 14 rebounds, and Michael Olowokandi had 16 points.
Wang Zhizhi Bridges Chinese Basketball with World
By signing a two-year contract with the Dallas Mavericks on April 4, Chinese center Wang Zhizhi is set to make a historical debut as the first Asian player to play in the National Basketball Association (NBA), the most competitive basketball league in the world.
At the 2000 Olympic Games, Wang averaged a team-leading 13.5 ppg and added five rebounds while playing only 26.8 minutes per game. He shot 53.7 percent from the field and 90 percent from the free throw line. He scored a team-high 13 points against the United States in the only game the two countries played.