CCTV9英语新闻：NBA: Barea's double-double leads Mavericks to big win

In the NBA, the Dallas Mavericks are fighting for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference, ahead of this game against the Denver Nuggets, the Mavs were in ninth place, half a game back of the Houston for the last seed.

And with only nine games remaining for Big-D, they know that every one is important if they want to make the post season for a 15th time in the last 16 seasons.

The Mavs would be without Chandler Parsons, who just had season ending knee surgery, and Deron Williams.

But coming off the bench, J.J Barea scores 18 points to go with 11 assists to help short-handed Dallas halt a three-game skid.

The Mavericks had seven players score in double figures including all of their starters.

Dwight Powell scored 10 of his 16 points including 8 straight at a critical point in the fourth quarter, and the Mavericks win it 97-88.

Dallas 97 - Denver 88

Los Angeles use balanced attack to take down Celtics

Winners of four straight, the Boston Celtics vistied the L.A. Clippers and Chris Paul hooks up with DeAndre Jordan for a monster jam to set the tone early at the Staples Center.

Then they move it around to Wesley Johnson who connects on the corner three to make it 29-21 Clippers, late in the first quarter. 

Clips up by six when the kind rebound is sent back to Austin Rivers and he has lots of time to dial in from distance. He would finish with a team high 16 points.

Boston counter with a long ball of their own as Avery Bradley hits from beyond the arc.

But the hosts are up 14 and Paul Pierce is going to drive in for the lay-up but then goes down clutching his knee. He's in obvious pain and would not be able to return.

Paul then lets fly from way outside at the buzzer and the Clips have a 67-50 lead at half. 13 points and 14 assists for CP3. 

With four minutes left in the third, Isaiah Thomas nails this nice fadeaway jumper to pull the Celtics within 11. And Doc Rivers is not happy.

But he doesn't have much to worry about as Jamal Crawford hits two straight three-pointers to make it 92-70 Los Angeles at the end of the third quarter. And they would cruise in the fourth to a 114-90 win.

In other games, the Heat sailed past the Nets110 to 99. Russel Westbrook got his 16th triple-double of the season and seventh in March as OKC routed Toronto for a eighth straight win. San Antonio avoided losing two in a row by beating Memphis. And Utah handed Kobe Bryant his worst career loss 123-75.