Chapter 148: Desperation.
At halftime, the Mavericks led the Grizzlies 55-48.
Nowitzki had scored 21 points in the first half, shooting 8-of-9 from the field and making all five free throws. He only missed one shot.
Han Sen, meanwhile, scored 18 points in the first half, going head-to-head with Nowitzki in the latter parts of both the first and second quarters to keep the score close.
Without Han's performance, the Grizzlies would've crumbled under Nowitzki's insane first-half showing.
In the second half, Han Sen immediately attacked the paint and drew a shooting foul on Nowitzki, heading to the free-throw line.
Down in the score, Han needed to focus on attacking the inside to guarantee points.
But on the next possession, Nowitzki's low-post play drew a double-team, allowing him to pass the ball to Jason Kidd at the top of the arc.
Kidd swung it to the corner where Shawn Marion drained a three-pointer.
Nowitzki, despite being a scorer, was also a capable playmaker. Though not as good as Garnett, he was more than adequate, especially with Kidd orchestrating.
Kidd not only moved the ball quickly but also developed a reliable three-point shot after joining Dallas, shooting at a 40% clip—something defenses couldn't ignore.
This left the Grizzlies' defense in a tough spot. They couldn't defend Nowitzki one-on-one, but doubling him left open shooters.