When the Mavs explode for a 70 point half, and No. 5 scores 30 for the game, you'd expect the W to follow.

Against the up tempo Denver Nuggets (who scored 168 points in their last home game), it just wasn’t enough. Josh fought wire to wire, attacking the rim and converting a number of acrobatic shots, but when the final buzzer sounded, the Mavericks fell, 118-105.

The Show shot 50 percent (12-24) from the field, added five rebounds, and two assists in a team high 43 minutes.

TALE OF TWO HALVES
With both teams desperate to stay in the playoff race, Thursday resembled a crazed boxing match more than a game of basketball. After No. 5 and the Mavs raced out to a 70- 60 first half lead, Dallas scored a mere 35 points in the final two periods.

The Dallas Morning News caught up with Josh after the game:

“I don’t know how to elaborate,” Howard said. “We made silly mistakes and turnovers and they were able to capitalize on it.”

MOMENTUM
With 3:17 left in the third quarter and the Mavs trailing by just one, momentum took a swing as Carmelo Anthony headed to the free throw line after a call on No. 5.

Coach Avery Johnson questioned the call on Josh, and was hit with a technical. Seconds later, Howard was slapped with a technical.

Anthony made all four free throws to turn a one-point lead into an 86-81 edge.

“Bad call and we addressed it, that was it,” Howard said. “He [official Bill Kennedy] felt it wasn’t so he tech’d both of us.”

NEXT UP
Josh and the Mavs (45-27) continue their critical road trip Sunday as they visit a familiar foe: the Golden State Warriors (44-27). The game tips at 6 PM PST.

The Mavs still hold the seventh seed in the West, but the playoff chase tightened up even more after a loss to Denver. Heading into Oracle arena in Oakland, the Mavs hold a .5 game lead on the eightth seed Warriors and a single game lead on the ninth seeded Nuggets, who now own the tiebreaker with Thursdays victory.

RELATED STORIES
Dallas Mavericks waste golden opportunity in loss to Nuggets, (Dallas Morning News, Mar. 28, 2008)
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/basketball/mavs/stories/...
Dallas Mavericks give Nuggets technical assistance, (Dallas Morning News, Mar. 28, 2008)
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/basketball/mavs/stories/...
Playoff berth in danger as Mavs fall to Nuggets, (Star-Telegram, Mar. 28, 2008)
http://www.star-telegram.com/287/story/550077.html
Refs’ quick T’s aggravate Avery, (Star-Telegram, Mar. 28, 2008)
http://www.star-telegram.com/287/story/550080.html
Mavs- Nuggets Box Score, (NBA.com, Mar. 27, 2008)
http://www.nba.com/games/20080327/DALDEN/boxscore.html

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