Nowitzki leads Mavs over Nuggets

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02/08/2012 - Denver, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Dirk Nowitzki scored 25 points and pulled down nine rebounds as the Dallas Mavericks defeated the Denver Nuggets 105-95 at Pepsi Center on Wednesday.

Dallas had five players in double figures, including 17 from Vince Carter and 13 points apiece from Shawn Marion and Rodrigue Beaubois as the Mavericks snapped a three-game losing streak.

Al Harrington and Rudy Fernandez each scored 17 points, and Ty Lawson added a 16 point, 10 assist performance for the Nuggets, who have lost four straight games, and six of their last seven.

The Mavericks trailed only once in the game at 5-3 as they took an early 33-25 advantage at the end of the first quarter.

Dallas added to its lead as a Brandan Wright putback capped a 10-2 Mavericks run to give them a 49-33 lead with seven minutes to play in the half.

The Nuggets made a 10-1 run late in the second, but Marion's three-pointer put the Mavericks back up double-digits, 64-53.

Denver turned the ball over nine times in the first half, allowing the Mavericks to lead by as many as 17 early on.

Denver got itself back in the game with a 12-2 run that cut the deficit to nine, 87-78, going into the final stanza.

An Aaron Afflalo layup to start the fourth made it a seven-point difference, but the home team would get no closer as Dallas reclaimed, then maintained a double-digit lead for the majority of the quarter to take home the 10-point victory.

With the game in hand, Nowitzki's jumper with 1:36 to play put him ahead of Adrian Dantley (23,177) for 21st all-time on the NBA scoring list. Nowitzki now has 23,178 career points.

Game Notes

Danilo Gallinari missed his first game after injuring his left foot in Monday's game against Houston. Gallinari is the team's leading scorer averaging 17.0 points per game and is expected to be out for a month...Denver hosts Golden State on Thursday in second of a back-to-back, while Dallas travels to Minnesota on Friday to wrap up a three-game road trip.

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Problem with Bears?

Chicago, IL - New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they're simply not true.

"There's nothing between us," Cutler said Thursday, when he reported to training camp. "I just want to put that to rest. There never has been anything between us."

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Urlacher added: "I never said what I was quoted as saying and that's it. I have a lot of respect for Jay. I think Jay knows that."
Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade caused a stir when he told Minneapolis radio station KFAN-AM that Urlacher used a profanity while questioning Cutler's manhood during a conversation in Las Vegas last weekend. Wade, who now plays for the Vikings, said Urlacher used a profane version of the word "wimp" during the interview that had to be edited out.
go radio station WSCR-AM also reported that Urlacher had to be restrained from confronting Cutler during organized team activities.
"I wouldn't go face-to-face with Brian, anyway," Cutler said. "No, that's never happened. I've hung out with Brian away from the facility numerous times and we've always gotten along."
Urlacher, noting he was limited by a groin injury, denied the reports in an interview with the Chicago Tribune and did it again when he reported to camp.
"I didn't practice this summer, so I don't know how I would fight the guy if I didn't practice," Urlacher said. "We have no problems. I'm excited about football starting. I'm excited to have him as our quarterback."
Why would Wade say that?
"I don't know," Urlacher said. "Maybe he's jealous because we have a good quarterback now."
Cutler said the first he heard of any friction was when he got a call from Urlacher to clear the air. Urlacher, however, said he had already taken several calls from teammates wondering if the reports were true when Cutler phoned.
"He called me and I said, What's up (expletive), what are you doing?'" a grinning Urlacher said, uttering the same word he allegedly used with Wade. "It's so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did and then here we are."
better place after going 9-7 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. They have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades after acquiring Cutler in an offseason trade with Denver. But there are questions about his attitude following a fallout with Broncos management and new coach Josh McDaniels.
His critics include former Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Indianapolis and Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy, one of Smith's mentors. Smith, however, said Cutler has been a model teammate so far while denying any animosity with Urlacher.
"There's no issue with Jay and Brian, except Brian and Jay are both excited about being teammates for our club this year," coach Lovie Smith said. "No more than that. We can't spend a whole lot of time on something that isn't true. I have talked to the players. Whenever something comes out, you have to address it, but it's a non-issue."
In some ways, Cutler is getting a second chance in Chicago, an opportunity to repair his reputation.
Smith said another quarterback - Michael Vick - deserves one, although he doesn't see it happening with the Bears, who lack an experienced backup. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who served a 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring, said Thursday he is getting close to signing with a pro football team.
"A second chance, like everyone in society who has paid their debt to society," Smith said. "He deserves a second chance. As far as we're concerned, we like this team that we have right now."
Particularly the new quarterback.
"Me and Brian have been on a good relationship since I've been here, and I expect it to continue that way," Cutler said.

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