Leicester are the front-runn

WASHINGTON -- Dirk Nowitzki is the 13th-leading scorer in NBA history. Denny Mclain 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. Detroit Tigers Hoodie . The Thunder earned the Game 1 win with a 100-86 victory Saturday night. Oklahoma City dominated the first half and led by 22 at the break, but saw its lead shrink to just two points in the fourth quarter. Lance Parrish Tigers Jersey .com) - The Oklahoma City Thunder will try to get back on track Monday night when they welcome the Minnesota Timberwolves to Chesapeake Energy Arena. http://www.baseballtigersgear.com/Miguel-Cabrera-Jersey/ . The outdoor event will be played on Dec. 31 between alumni of the New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers at Citizens Bank Park, the home of the Philadelphia Phillies.Eric Dier says Tottenham have adjusted their ambitions and have now set their sights on winning the Premier League this season. Spurs are five points behind Leicester with seven games to play and will begin their assault on winning the clubs first top-flight title since 1961 with a trip to Liverpool on Saturday Night Football.Dier admits second place would have been seen as a success at the start of the season, but Mauricio Pochettino and the players are now aiming higher. There have already been some big weekends and there will be big weekends to come, he said in an exclusive interview with Soccer Saturday.Its the first of seven finals. Were looking forward to it and well go game-by-game, like we have all season. Its going to be a very tough match and great match for the neutral fans.If youd said to us at the beginning of the season youd finish second in the Premier League, I think everyone would be very happy.But now with the situation were in, we are an ambitious group, with an ambitious manager, and we want to do as well as we can.If thats finishing first then thats what we are going to go for. Dier says he always wanted to play for England Dier scored his first international goal last weekend, heading home the winner for England in Germany, during his fourth appearance for his country.He was joined in the squad by Spurs team-mates Harry Kane, Danny Rose, Kyle Walker and Dele Alli - as well as Leicester duo Jamie Vardy and Danny Drinkwater.And he admitted the players couldnt help but discuss the excitement of their Premier League title battle. Eric Dier told Soccer Saturday that Tottenham have now set their sights on winning the Premier League We spoke a little bit about it, but not too much to be honest, he added.We had some jokes about it. It was all light-hearted and a bit of fun. We just spoke about how they were doinng, how we were doing, what they were feeling like and how we were feeling. Custom Detroit Tigers Jerseys. It was just normal causal conversation about it. Nothing too serious.Its a very exciting title race. The fans that dont support Tottenham, Leicester, Arsenal or Man City, theyre enjoying it because its a different title race to the norm. The fans that dont support Tottenham, Leicester, Arsenal or Man City, theyre enjoying it because its a different title race to the norm. Eric Dier For ourselves, its very enjoyable because its the first time being in this situation. Its a new experience but were enjoying it.Dier would not have been involved with England last week if he had accepted an approach to play international football for Portugal instead.He spent his childhood in Lisbon and came through the youth set-up at Sporting before joining Tottenham in 2014, but insists he always wanted to play for the country of his birth. Spurs and Leicester are the front-runners for the Premier League title When asked if he might have played for Portugal, he said: I had conversations about it out in Portugal when I was younger but there was never really any conversation where it was close to being done.In my mind, I always wanted to play for England. Its right for me to play for England.Both my parents are English. I was born in England so although I do feel Ive got some Portuguese in me, Im definitely English.Watch the full interview with Eric Dier on Soccer Saturday from 12pm on Sky Sports News HQ and then tune in for Liverpool v Tottenham on Saturday Night Football from 5pm on Sky Sports 1. Also See: Jamie Redknapp on Dele Alli Liverpool v Tottenham preview Poch vows to fight Title race predicted Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys ' ' '