THETRUTHSPORTS

The Houston Rockets defeated the Dallas Mavericks in OT. Kyle Lowry finished with a career-high 26 points and 10 assists off the bench.

Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki was ruled out of the remainder of Friday night’s game against Houston after Nowitzki’s elbow caught the Rockets’ Carl Landry in the mouth as he drove to the basket early in the second quarter. Five of Landry’s teeth were cracked on the play, knocking the Rockets’ forward out of the game as well. Landry was called for fouling Nowitzki as the All-Star forward drove hard to his left to set up a short jumper and caught Landry with his right elbow. The Mavericks found pieces of two teeth imbedded in Nowitzki’s right elbow and had to spend 30 minutes cleaning the gash before adminstering X-rays which were found to be negative. The Mavericks have listed him as questionable for Cleveland on Sunday with a deep laceration in his right elbow. An update to his status is expected on Saturday. Landry was immediately taken to an emergency room for treatment. Nowitzki shot two free throws left-handed immediately after the play, which occurred early in the second quarter. By taking the free throws — Nowitzki made 1 of 2 — he remained eligible to return to the game. But a return was ruled out entering the fourth quarter, with Nowitzki having already received three stitches. Carlisle and Dallas’ Erick Dampier received their second technical fouls of the night late in overtime and were ejected. Dallas finished with six technicals and Houston had one. … More than an hour after the game, Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said his team was protesting the game because the referees had made “multiple misapplications of the rules” regarding the technical fouls in overtime. The cost of protesting a game is $10,ooo, which to Mark Cuban is like a dime to us mere mortals.

I really hope the Rockets have a good “dental plan” because Landry needs it. On April 24, 2008, Landry lost tooth after being hit by Carlos Boozer during a playoff game, and in that same month lost a tooth after being elowed by Dikembe Mutumbo in practice.

(AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Four of the Celtics’ five losses this season have come on a Friday. Every other day of the week, Boston has posted a .944 win percentage while averaging 10 points more a game. Unfortunately they played the hungry Sixers on Friday, and let a 15 point lead vanish. Leading to a tip in win for the Sixers, there second win in 13 games.

The Celtics played most of the game without Rasheed Wallace, who was ejected in the second quarter after drawing two technicals and having to be restrained by assistant coach Tom Thibodeau. ”Whether he’s right or wrong doesn’t matter. You’ve got to try to control yourself to stay in the game,” Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. “He understands his value to the team, and his teammates understand his value. At some point, they’ll talk to him.” Wallace was ejected for the 30th time in his NBA career — the most for any player since 1992. He also has 10 technicals this season; 16 is an automatic suspension. The Celtics had a pregame ceremony to recognize Ray Allen’s 20,000th point, which came Dec. 10 against Washington. Garnett presented him with the official game ball. He’s the sixth player to reach the milestone as Celtic, and the 33rd in NBA history.

The New Orleans Hornets remember the 58 point beat-down they suffered from the Denver Nuggets in last years playoffs. The first half was a dominant one by the Nuggets, but Chris Paul refused to let his team be embarrased again. Paul finished with 30 points, a season-high 19 assists and nine rebounds, most of it coming during a sensational second half that helped the Hornets overcome a deficit that reached 15 points in the second quarter. ”This is what you play for,” Paul said. “Our coach told us before the game, ‘When you lose to a team in the playoffs, it’s always a rivalry.’ And this team embarrassed us when we played here last year. We definitely wanted this one. Yes, it’s just one win. But we really wanted to beat those guys.” Paul has seven straight double-doubles since returning from his left ankle sprain.

Gilbert Arenas had season highs with 45 points and 13 assists and the Washington Wizards ended a six-game losing streak, beating the Golden State Warriors 118-109 Friday night.