ASS News » The steady progress of Devin Harris had a lot to do

DALLAS -- Dirk Nowitzki was watching when the Dallas Mavericks took a double-digit lead for good against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The steady progress of Devin Harris had a lot to do with the surge. Nowitzki scored 23 points, Harris had a season-high 16 and the Mavericks pulled away from Cleveland 124-107 Monday night, handing the Cavaliers their fifth straight loss. Nowitzki was on the bench for most of a key third-quarter stretch led by Jose Calderon, Brandan Wright and Harris, who was playing his eighth game after missing the first 41 following off-season toe surgery. "Just trying to get comfortable out there," Harris said. "I am trying to make the most of my minutes." Harris had seven points on a 9-2 run that gave the Mavericks their first 15-point lead, and Wright scored nine of his 14 points in the third. Jose Calderon had four of his game-high 10 assists in the quarter and hit a pair of 3-pointers. "Were just passing the ball and trying to get a really nice pace," said Calderon, who scored 11 points. "I think it was good for us." Kyrie Irving had 27 to lead the Cavaliers, who have dropped seven of their last eight. Anthony Bennett, Clevelands rookie No. 1 pick averaging just 2.8 points per game coming in, had eight in the second quarter and finished with 11. "There were a few instances in this game where we gave ourselves a legit chance to get into the game, but we just couldnt get over the hump," said Irving, who scored at least 20 for the ninth time in 10 games. Dallas Monta Ellis started fast after going most of the first half without scoring Friday against Sacramento and finished with 22 points and seven assists. Harris had his previous season high of 14 points in three straight games before getting seven in Fridays win over Sacramento. He finally broke the 14-point mark with two free throws, and then assisted on a dunk by Samuel Dalembert that gave Dallas its biggest lead at 106-87. Dalembert had 18 points -- two off his season high -- and two blocks after not even attempting a shot and getting three rebounds when the Mavericks held on to beat the Cavaliers last month in Cleveland, despite a combined 37 points and 31 rebounds from Tristan Thompson and Anderson Varejao. "I cant guarantee you the offence because some days the ball is coming to me and some days I only take one field goal," Dalembert said. "What Im trying to do is make sure the guys are crashing the boards." Five days after Cleveland general manager Chris Grant questioned his teams will, the Cavaliers didnt quit. They scored eight quick points and had a chance to make it nine when Jarrett Jack got fouled after making a 3-pointer. Jack missed the free throw, and the Cavaliers couldnt get the deficit under 10 after that. Luol Deng scored 18 points, Thompson had 17 and both had eight rebounds for the Cavaliers, who had seven players in double figures. "I thought offensively we did some nice things out there," Cleveland coach Mike Brown said. "Weve got to keep grinding until we get out of it. The only thing we can do is work, keep our head up and keep looking forward." Nowitzki, who was averaging 33 points in his previous three games, had 16 in the first half and matched Dalembert with eight rebounds for the game. Nowitzki scored the last eight points on a 13-2 run that put the Mavericks up 52-39, but he missed his last three shots of the first half as the Cavaliers got back within seven at halftime. Ellis followed up an 11-point fourth quarter that boosted a rally to beat Sacramento with 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting in the first half against Cleveland. NOTES: Mavericks F Shawn Marion missed his second straight game with lingering issues from shoulder and rib injuries. Hes missed six games since getting hurt Jan. 7 against the Lakers. ... Varejao started after being questionable with a left knee injury. He recorded both the 4,000th point and 4,000th rebound of his career. ... Rookie G Shane Larkin was back with the Mavericks after a one-game stint with their D-League affiliate in suburban Dallas. His playing time has dipped significantly since Harris return. ... Ellis had six of Dallas 13 turnovers after ending a 114-game streak with at least one turnover by going without one against Sacramento. The Mavericks had a season-low four as a team against the Kings. Rashan Gary Youth Jersey . Julien coached the Bruins to the Stanley Cup championship in 2010-11 and is the longest serving coach in consecutive seasons in the teams history. Claude is one of the top coaches in the NHL and has consistently shown a passion for winning, general manager Peter Chiarelli said Sunday in announcing the signing. Clay Matthews Womens Jersey . The Canadian tennis players first full season on the WTA Tour was a strong one. She has risen to No. 32 in the world rankings and will likely be seeded at the first Grand Slam event of the 2014 season. http://www.shoptheofficialpackers.com/Elite-Paul-Hornung-Packers-Jersey/ . -- Creighton apparently has Villanovas number. Aaron Rodgers Jersey . -- Jane Kish stopped all 25 shots she faced as the Weyburn Gold Wings blanked the Sudbury Lady Wolves 3-0 on Friday to advance to the gold-medal game at the Esso Cup. Dexter Williams Womens Jersey . There is no argument that the line of Pacioretty, David Desharnais and Thomas Vanek was one of the hottest in the NHL leading into the post-season, and they did combine for three goals and seven points, but it was the depth of all four lines that helped propel Montreal.GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP, N.J. -- Stacy Lewis moved into position to take the top spot in the world, shooting a bogey-free 8-under 63 on Saturday to match the 36-hole record in the ShopRite LPGA Classic. The second-ranked Lewis had a 12-under 130 total on the Bay Course at Stockton Seaview Hotel and Golf Club. A victory Sunday would guarantee Lewis the No. 1 ranking, which Inbee Park has held for 59 straight weeks after taking it from Lewis. Park, playing in the windier afternoon session, had three bogeys on her final five holes to shoot 70 and fall six strokes behind Lewis. "It would be huge," Lewis said. "I was only there for four weeks last year, so I never really got to enjoy it. I definitely want to get back because I know kind of more now what to expect with it. Honestly, Im kind of tired of hearing all the scenarios and hearing everybody talk about it. I would like to take care of that here this week." Lewis, the 2012 winner, won the North Texas LPGA Shootout four weeks ago. Christina Kim was a stroke back after 67. First-round leader Jennifer Johnson followed her course record 62 with a 70 to finish at 10 under. "When you shoot your lowest round ever, its hard to follow that up," Johnson said. "Everything went my way yesterday and nothing was dropping today." Lewis also had shot 130 through two rounds at the ShopRite Classic in her 2012 victory. The only other players to finish the first two rounds of the ShopRite Classic at 130 were Amy Benz at Greate Bay Country Club in 1996 and Denisee Killeen at Seaview in 2004.dddddddddddd "I like this golf course and the fans just seem to come out of the woodwork for this tournament," Lewis said. "Its awesome." Lewis came on strong in the second round after admitting she felt "uncomfortable over the ball" during her first nine holes Friday. She also climbed to the top of the leaderboard despite a crazy travel week. After tying for 10th at the Airbus LPGA Classic in Mobile, Alabama last weekend, Lewis flew to Pinehurst, North Carolina, to play two practice rounds in preparation for the U.S. Womens Open on June 19-22. She then travelled to Seaview for Wednesdays Shoprite Classic Pro-Am, flew in a private helicopter to New York City to participate in a press conference announcing the KPMG Womens PGA Championship, and returned to the Jersey Shore on Thursday. "I know my game is in a good place," Lewis said. "It was a lot but I didnt think it was going to be too much." Kim had her first bogey of the tournament on the par-4 16th but rallied for five birdies on her next eight holes, the most memorable of which came when she drained a long putt on No. 5. Anna Nordqvist (65) and Gerina Piller (67) were tied for fourth place at 8 under. Karrie Webb, last years winner, followed her opening-round 69 with 70 to reach 3 under. Third-ranked Lydia Ko (75) avoided missing her first cut in 27 career LPGA starts with birdies on her final two holes to finish at 1 over. The 17-year-old had five bogeys and triple bogeyed No. 4. ' ' '