DALLAS -- Monta Ellis scored 26 points, Dirk Nowitzki added 21 and the Dallas Mavericks pulled away from the Denver Nuggets in the fourth quarter of a 122-106 victory Friday night. Tony Dorsett Jersey . The Mavericks avoided a season sweep by the Nuggets, who ran away with a win in Denver two weeks ago to hand Dallas its longest losing streak at three games. Dallas (42-28) got a boost in the playoff race when Miami rallied from seven down in the last 3 1/2 minutes to beat Memphis 91-86 Friday night. The Mavericks and Grizzlies (40-28) started the day in a virtual tie for the final post-season spot in the Western Conference. Vince Carter shook off a dislocated pinkie on his left hand in the first quarter to finish with 13. J.J. Hickson led Denver with 18 points and eight rebounds before leaving with an apparent injury in the fourth quarter. Ty Lawson had 17 points and nine assists after missing a game with a sinus infection, and Randy Foye scored 15, all on 3-pointers. The Mavericks led by 15 early in the fourth quarter but couldnt put the Nuggets away until late. Denver was within 99-96 after a 3-pointer and dunk from Dallas native Darrell Arthur, who had nine of his 11 points in the second half. But Nowitzki hit back-to-back fadeaway jumpers and Brandan Wright and Shawn Marion took turns feeding each other for baskets, the last one Marions dunk for a 109-99 lead with 4 minutes to go. Wright, a 6-foot-10 centre, had all three of his assists in a 4-minute stretch of the fourth quarter and finished with 13 points. Marion scored 14 as the Mavericks had seven players in double figures. Ellis, who scored 12 straight Dallas points to force overtime in a loss to Minnesota on Wednesday, ran off eight straight to put the Nuggets away and clinch a winning season after a 12-year run of winning records ended with a 41-41 mark last season. Ellis was 11-of-14 shooting and had seven assists. Hickson helped keep Denver close with 10 second-half points and was four shy of his season high against the Mavericks in November before going out. The Mavericks avoided the slow starts that plagued them the last time they played Denver and in an overtime loss to Minnesota, another West also-ran, in their last game. Jae Crowder really got Dallas going in the second quarter, going 4 of 4 from 3-point range, including three straight Dallas baskets that put the Mavericks up 50-36. Averaging 4.7 points per game coming in, Crowder led Dallas in the first half with 12 points but didnt attempt another shot. NOTES: The teams combined to go 25 of 52 from 3-point range. The Nuggets had 13 from long range and the Mavericks had 12. The season high is 12 for both teams. ... Nuggets C Kenneth Faried got a technical in the third quarter after colliding with Jose Calderon and knocking the Dallas guard to the floor. ... The Nuggets swept the season series with Dallas in 2008-09 and won four straight over the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons. ... The Mavericks recalled G Gal Mekel from the Texas Legends of the D-League. Hes played 31 games for Dallas and four games for the affiliate. The 26-year-old rookie from Israel missed nearly two months with a knee injury. Stephen Paea Jersey .com) - The Los Angeles Dodgers made it official Tuesday and signed pitcher Brandon McCarthy to a four-year contract. Michael Irvin Jersey .Stanton suffered fractures in his face and other injuries when he was hit by a pitch Sept. 11. The Marlins are confident hell fully recover and be ready for spring training, and they hope to reach a long-term agreement with him.European Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke has no doubt that Rory McIlory will conquer his Augusta demons and claim a career Grand Slam. The Northern Irishman followed Saturdays disappointing 77 with a one-under-par final round at the Masters, leaving him well adrift as Danny Willett emerged victorious in a dramatic finale.Having claimed US Open, The Open and two US PGA titles in the last five years, McIlroy is just one short of a full house and admitted he needs to overcome a mental hurdle to finally conquer Augusta National. Compatriot Clarke is confident that success will come sooner rather than later. Danny Willett attempted to describe how he felt after winning the 2016 Masters Speaking at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, Clarke told Sky Sports News HQ: I have no qualms about Rory. He is probably the most talented golfer in the world. Hes so good its only a matter of time before he wins aat Augusta. Charles Tapper Jersey. He didnt play his best at the weekend over there but you know he wants to win too much and too badly. Im sure hes going to get back to winning ways very very soon. Augusta is set up perfectly for him and I have no doubt he is going to win there at some stage.The picture is looking rosy for European Ryder Cup backers at this stage with seven European players finishing in the top 10 at the Masters, but Clarke says there is still plenty of time for others to stake their claims for a place in his 12-man team. Captain Paul McGinley celebrates Ryder Cup success at Gleneagles in 2014 He said: Any time you seen seven European in the top 10 at a major that is going to be good news, especially in Ryder Cup year. It was wonderful to see - I just hope they are all in the same form when it come to September at Hazeltine!There is a long way to go yet before qualification ends. Im sure the team make up will change between now and then. My stats people say there are four people that are 100 per cent certain to be there but there is still long way to go and a lot can change. Even as a captain, Im excited like everyone else to see who is going to make the team and who is going to miss out.The 2016 Ryder Cup is being held at Hazeltine in the United States and takes place from September 30 to October 2. You will be able to follow every shot with us on Sky Sports TV and on the Sky Sports website and apps. Also See: Rory: Augusta mindset needed More to come from Willett Dougherty: Greatest Masters ever Golf live on Sky Sports 4 Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys China NFL Cheap Jerseys ' ' '
