Foul start, ending for Mavs in 121-90 loss

[MavsFanFinley]

Foul start, ending for Mavs in 121-90 loss
Mavs' Fortson could draw suspension for flagrant foul; Nowitzki injured in blowout defeat vs. Phoenix

Thursday, November 27, 2003
By EDDIE SEFKO / The Dallas Morning News

PHOENIX - Danny Fortson is expecting the worst - and Phoenix owner Jerry Colangelo is demanding it - after Fortson committed a flagrant foul late in a blowout loss that will sideline talented Suns' rookie Zarko Cabarkapa for six to eight weeks.

"He's a thug, and I want him out - at least as long as our guy is going to be out," Colangelo said after the Suns crushed the Mavericks 121-90 on Wednesday night.

It already had been a disastrous night for the Mavericks, who saw Dirk Nowitzki knocked out in the first quarter with an ankle sprain that is expected to keep him out of Friday's game at Denver and perhaps longer.

But it was Fortson's action with 2:58 to play in a lopsided game that bordered on the incredible.

Cabarkapa, the 17th overall pick who got his first start of the season Wednesday, was free for a breakaway basket. But Fortson moved into the paint and gave the 6-11 forward a two-handed push in the solar plexus.

Cabarkapa hit the ground hard, and X-rays postgame revealed a fractured right wrist.

The 6-8, 265-pound Fortson was apologetic afterward, although he figures his reputation will lead the NBA to a stiffer penalty. The NBA rulebook states that a second-degree flagrant foul, which was called on Fortson, is subject to a maximum fine of $35,000 and/or suspension by the commissioner.

"It was a bad play," Fortson said. "But I was more concerned about getting in trouble with my defensive position. By the time I put my hands on him, he was flying through the air and I knew it could be ugly.

"There was no evil intent. Considering that it's me, I expect the worst. I've had a lot of flagrant fouls in my career. But I do apologize. I wouldn't want to be hit like that."

Colangelo sought out Mavericks coach Don Nelson after the game, "as a courtesy," he said, and told him his feelings about the incident. He reiterated them to media members.

"I've seen a lot of situations in all my years in the NBA, but I've never seen where a guy does something like that in the last minutes of a blowout. It's a travesty. There's no room for that anywhere in our game.

"I'll do everything I can to see that he pays for it. And I'll say this, whatever they (NBA officials) do to him, it won't be enough."

Colangelo already had spoken after the game with Stu Jackson, the NBA's senior vice president of basketball operations.

It was a wild finish to an otherwise forgettable blowout. Nowitzki's injury happened early and he was declared out for the rest of the game after he went down with under five minutes left in the first quarter.

"It swelled up, and it's a little worse than the last couple of times I've sprained my ankle," Nowitzki said. "The X-rays look fine, so I don't think it'll be too long. But I don't know about Friday."

Nowitzki said he landed on a Suns' players foot and suffered the injury.

It was no surprise that the Mavericks fell to pieces after that, watching their four-game winning streak get flushed.

"I don't like games like this; I hate them," Nelson said. "We never played well enough to give ourselves a chance to get back into the game."

Without Nowitzki, the Mavericks floundered badly in the second quarter. They missed 15 of their first 19 shots, falling behind 56-36 in the process, and never got closer than 13 the rest of the game.

"You know at the end of the year, you're going to have some good wins and some close losses," Nelson said. "You're also going to have some ugly wins and some bad losses. You just have to hope you have more positives than negatives."

So far, the 10-5 Mavericks have. But this wasn't one of them.

The Suns were without forward Shawn Marion, who sprained an ankle Tuesday at Denver and did not suit up Wednesday. The Suns had lost 110-80 to the Nuggets and clearly wanted to make amends against the Mavericks. Nowitzki's injury didn't make things any easier for Dallas.

And then there was Fortson's regrettable error.

"I want to apologize to the Suns' organization," Nelson said. "It was a bad basketball play that shouldn't have happened."

Nelson talked with Fortson after the game and said he would discuss the issue further Thursday.

The loss sent the Mavericks' road record to 2-5. They didn't lose their fifth road game last season until Jan. 17, when they were 13-5.

[Simon2]

"I'll do everything I can to see that he pays for it. And I'll say this, whatever they (NBA officials) do to him, it won't be enough."

Nellie on the play.

While I love Nellie not condoning such behavior, it just kills me that he isn't protecting his player. Way to get Fortson's back Nellie! I'm sure Fortson will now be forever loyal to Nellie.

[bernardos70]

Originally posted by: Simon2

Nellie on the play.

While I love Nellie not condoning such behavior, it just kills me that he isn't protecting his player. Way to get Fortson's back Nellie! I'm sure Fortson will now be forever loyal to Nellie.

Nellie didn't say that, Colangelo did.

[Simon2]

Sorry. I'm blinded by disgust.

[sike]

[quote]
Originally posted by: Simon2

"I'll do everything I can to see that he pays for it. And I'll say this, whatever they (NBA officials) do to him, it won't be enough."

sounds like a man I dont want to mess with...."I'll do everything I can".....wow how bad was this play?

[MightyToine]

What the hell is colangelo going to do?

My Prediction is that his cries for an 8-week suspension will fall on deaf ears and it will wind up being only a 5-game suspension TOPS!



Oh and let's focus on more pressing issues LIKE DIRK'S INJURY FOR INSTANCE!

"It swelled up, and it's a little worse than the last couple of times I've sprained my ankle," Nowitzki said. "The X-rays look fine, so I don't think it'll be too long. But I don't know about Friday."

Friday we know Dirk can't go....And maybe he will sit out the game AFTER that one, too. And hearing Dirk say this statement is good news at least.


GO MAVS!!

[Walkerforthree]

Originally posted by: MightyToine
What the hell is colangelo going to do?

My Prediction is that his cries for an 8-week suspension will fall on deaf ears and it will wind up being only a 5-game suspension TOPS!



Oh and let's focus on more pressing issues LIKE DIRK'S INJURY FOR INSTANCE!

Friday we know Dirk can't go....And maybe he will sit out the game AFTER that one, too. And hearing Dirk say this statement is good news at least.


GO MAVS!!

Uh, we don't know dirk won't go friday, he said mabye