WASHINGTON -- Dirk Nowitzki is the 13th-leading scorer in NBA history. [url=https://www.raptorsrookiesshop.com/Og-Anunoby-City-Edition-Jersey/] OG Anunoby Raptors Jersey[/url] . On Wednesday night, in his words, he was reduced to "an expensive decoy." Nowitzki was held to a season-low nine

WASHINGTON -- Dirk Nowitzki is the 13th-leading scorer in NBA history. OG Anunoby Raptors Jersey . On Wednesday night, in his words, he was reduced to "an expensive decoy." Nowitzki was held to a season-low nine points, and missed 11 of 14 shots from the field, but the Dallas Mavericks still beat the Washington Wizards 87-78. Monta Ellis scored 16 of his 23 points in the second half and Vince Carter had 13 as the Mavericks won despite equaling their season low in points. "It was an ugly game. I think we set the NBA back a couple years today," Nowitzki said. He rolled his left ankle in the games first minute, for "probably the 200th time in my career," Nowitzki said. "It was obvious that I wasnt moving well. I didnt get any elevation on my jumper." The key to the game was Dallas holding Washington scoreless for more than 4 minutes late in the game. The Wizards led 74-70 with 4:58 to play, but the Mavericks scored nine straight points on a 3-pointer by Carter, a hook shoot by Brandan Wright, two free throws by Carter and a jumper by Ellis to give Dallas a 79-74 lead with 2:14 to play. Washington didnt score again until John Wall, who led the Wizards with 22 points, made two free throws with 46 seconds to play. The Mavericks won despite shooting just 38.5 per cent, but they held Washington to 37.5 per cent. "It was a beautiful game," Dallas coach Rick Carlisle laughed. "It was such a competitive game, up and down the stretch, whoever won was going to be the survivor." Trevor Booker had 10 points and a career-high 19 rebounds for Washington. "We wasted a good defensive effort," coach Randy Wittman said. It was Dallas fourth straight win on the road and their eighth straight over the Wizards (14-15), who failed in their attempt to rise above .500 for the first time since Oct. 31, 2009. It was the second time this season Washington failed to get over the .500 mark. "Its a great opportunity in front of us, and we continue to get there and we just lay an egg in the next game," Wizards guard Bradley Beal said. Beal, who shot 4 for 13, was pleased that Washington thwarted Nowitzki. "Whenever you can hold a great scorer like that down to a minimum, you always love your chances," Beal said. Ellis, who signed with the Mavericks as a free agent last summer, was a career 77 per cent free throw shooter. This season, hes boosted his percentage to 83, and on Wednesday made 9 of 10. "I thought tonight was Monta Ellis best game with us. He had such great command of the game offensively. He was under control, he was finding people," Carlisle said. Ellis hit all six of his free throws in the fourth quarter. "I want to get better, for that opportunity down the stretch to make those free throws, because I know theyre going to put the ball in my hands," Ellis said. In its last game, Dallas escaped with a win at Minnesota on Monday. On Tuesday, the NBA released a statement saying that the Timberwolves Kevin Love should have been awarded two free throws late in a two-point Mavericks win. Shawn Marion should have been assessed a foul, the NBA said. The Mavericks finished the first quarter Wednesday on a 15-5 run to take a 25-20 lead. Washington went on a 9-0 run to take a 36-35 lead with 3:48 to play in the first half. The Wizards led 42-39 at halftime. The Wizards led through nearly the entire third quarter, surrendering the lead briefly on a 9-0 Dallas run, but led 61-59 after three. Wall, who had seven rebounds and five assists, but tied a season high with seven turnovers, left the court with about 3 minutes to play in the first quarter. His left eye was cut and after the game he continued to wear a bandage. Wall said he was elbowed in the eye in a scrum, but wasnt sure who hit him. "I just know there was four of us down there," Wall said. NOTES: Carlisle declined comment on the NBAs statement about Mondays game. ... Washington swingman Glen Rice, who had surgery on his right wrist last month, had the sutures removed from it Tuesday, Wittman said. ... This was the second consecutive year the Mavericks and Wizards played on New Years Day in Washington. Matt Thomas Raptors Jersey . Costa Rica followed up its wins over Uruguay and Italy by holding England to a dour 0-0 draw on Tuesday, enough to finish first in Group D. Dewan Hernandez Raptors Jersey . The Opening Day starter played 53 games this season hitting .192 with nine home runs and 25 RBI. Red Sox manager John Farrell has decided to start Jose Iglesias at third base as of late instead of Middlebrooks. https://www.raptorsrookiesshop.com/Serge-Ibaka-City-Edition-Jersey/ . Pospisil, whose season-ending goal is to improve his ATP Tour ranking enough to qualify for one of the 32 seedings at Januarys Australian Open, dominated Karlovic in 59 minutes. The world No. 40 never faced a break point and limited the big mans threatening ace count to a mere eight, while striking five key aces of his own.PHILADELPHIA - LeSean McCoys left toe turned an ordinary preseason game into one worth watching. When the NFLs reigning rushing champion missed a practice because of a minor toe injury, it raised some anxiety among Eagles fans and fantasy football owners everywhere. But McCoy is expected to play when Philadelphia (0-2) hosts the Pittsburgh Steelers (1-1) on Thursday night. "In this league, you have to learn how to play through pain if you can," McCoy said. "And if you can, you have to go out there and work hard." Coach Chip Kelly downplayed McCoys toe injury which forced him to watch practice Sunday. "Hes fine. Its not as big an issue as I think anybodys made it out to be," Kelly said. McCoy set a franchise record with 1,607 yards rushing in 2013. The two-time All-Pro has his sights set on a 2,000-yard season this year. It wont be easy if his toe slows him down. "My track record, I dont miss a lot of games, I dont miss a lot of practices," McCoy said. So, there will be plenty of eyes focused on McCoy to see how much he plays and how well he plays against the Steelers. The third preseason game is the closest to a real one because starters usually play into the third quarter and then sit out the final game to be ready for the opener. Both teams are looking for improvement after so-so performances the first two weeks. Nick Foles and the rest of Philadelphias offence havent been too sharp. Penalties, turnovers and various mistakes cost them in losses at Chicago and New England. But this will be the first game starting wide receivers Jeremy Maclin and Riley Cooper play together. The first-team defence is a bigger concern because it struggled both games. Theyve allowed three touchdowns on six drives in two games. "This is an evaluation phase. Sometimes evaluation looks painful, but sometimes it looks promising," defensiive co-ordinator Billy Davis said. Lucas Nogueira Raptors Jersey. "Sometimes those growing pains that youre looking at hurt, you dont want them to happen, but they happen. The goal is that every day were punching through and we continually move forward with getting better in both growing assignments and techniques of the young guys and the backups and some of the older guys that are new to the scheme." The Steelers are eager to test themselves against Philadelphias up-tempo offence and face a 3-4 defence. Ben Roethlisberger and the offence will get to try their no-huddle approach on the road. On defence, rookie linebacker Ryan Shazier looks to build off his dazzling debut against the Bills. "Were excited about it, particularly some of the challenges that the Philadelphia Eagles present offensively with the no-huddle stuff and the up-tempo pace," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. "Theyre a 3-4 defence. Weve seen some 4-3 defences. Were excited about that and theyre capable of being multiple (formations), particularly on situational downs, third downs and so forth. They give you a lot of looks. Thats an exciting opportunity for us to check our in-game readiness." Roethlisberger is working hard on perfecting the no-huddle, which is becoming a regular part of more offences around the league. He threw for a pair of touchdowns during his three series of work in a win over Buffalo last week. "This week is the last week to get it right," he said. Shazier, the 15th pick in Mays draft, had 11 tackles and one interception in one half in his first NFL game. He missed the preseason opener because of a knee injury. "One week I might have 11 tackles; one week I might have five," Shazier said. "Im just doing whatever they want me to do." ___ AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org ___ Follow Rob Maaddi on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_RobMaaddi ' ' '