DALLAS -- Dirk Nowitzkis new pick-and-roll partner put on quite a show for the old one. [url=http://www.thedallasstarshockey.com/mike-modano-hockey-jersey/]Mike Modano Stars Jersey[/url] . Monta Ellis had 30 points and nine assists, Nowitzki was another of seven Dallas players in double figures with

DALLAS -- Dirk Nowitzkis new pick-and-roll partner put on quite a show for the old one. Mike Modano Stars Jersey . Monta Ellis had 30 points and nine assists, Nowitzki was another of seven Dallas players in double figures with 11 points and the Mavericks beat the Los Angeles Lakers 123-104 Tuesday night. Steve Nash, Nowitzkis buddy and old running mate, had an up-close view as Ellis did a little bit of everything, scoring on drives and pull-up jumpers while finding open teammates with nifty passing that has come as a pleasant surprise to the Mavericks. Ellis was 11 of 14 from the field, made all eight of his free throws and had just one of 12 Dallas turnovers against 34 assists. "The lane was wide open, so I just attacked, and when they came over, I passed the ball and thats what we wanted," said Ellis, who had at least 30 points and eight assists for the second time in his four games with Dallas. "Me being aggressive opened everything else up." Nash was scoreless until the second half and finished with five points. Nick Young led the Lakers with 21. "We obviously had a hard time containing Ellis," said Nash, who was Nowitzkis teammate in Dallas for the big Germans first six seasons. "He got into the guts of our defence all night, getting easy buckets, resting buckets for his teammates and just really spacing us out with his penetration." The Mavericks never trailed, led by 20 late in the first half and pushed the lead to 26 early in the second half after Ellis got them off to a quick start with a jumper and two assists, including one when Nowitzki took the pass and ducked under a defenders arm for the layup. "Monta Ellis was fantastic tonight, all aspects of the game," Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said. "He defended, he made plays at the rim, he was under control, he hit midrange shots, he hit guys cutting to the basket." Jose Calderon had 12 points on 4-of-6 shooting from 3-point range, including one that put Dallas ahead 90-60 with 4:33 left in the third quarter. The Mavericks were 13 of 27 from long range. The Lakers tried to make it interesting with a 19-4 run, but DeJuan Blair stopped it by blocking a layup attempt by Chris Kaman, leading to a 3-pointer by rookie Gal Mekel after Nowitzki passed out of a double team. Mekel scored again on layup off a steal from Blair, who had 10 points -- all in the first half -- and eight rebounds. Jae Crowder kept the Lakers from getting any closer by going 4 of 4 from 3-point range in the fourth quarter, and getting a breakaway dunk on assist from Ellis. He finished with a career-high 18 points. The top three scorers came off the bench for the Lakers, who were blown out for the second time in two road games without Kobe Bryant. After Young, Jordan Farmar and Jodie Meeks had 11 apiece. "You cant get blown out and then think now we need to learn to win," Lakers coach Mike DAntoni said. "No, we need to learn how to play. Were not playing right now. We dont come out with the same grit and determination." Nowitzki didnt get his first points until he faked Pau Gasol and drove for a dunk to put the Mavericks up 59-39 with 3 minutes left in the first half. When Ellis wasnt running the offence in a first half that featured 21 Dallas assists against just two turnovers, Mekel kept it rolling with Blair, the backup centre. Mekel had nine points and six assists, with four of each coming before halftime. Ellis had two free throws to start an 11-2 Dallas run late in the first quarter, featuring mostly backups. Three straight buckets came on assists from Mekel -- a 3-pointer by Vince Carter and consecutive buckets from Blair. Carter hit a 3-pointer and a layup, and Shawn Marion hit a jumper in the lane to give Dallas its first 20-point lead at 57-37 with 3:39 left in the first half. Gasol was on the only Los Angeles starter in double figures with 10 points. Kaman had all 10 of his points before halftime in his first game against the Mavericks and spending last season in Dallas. NOTES: Kaman was critical of Carlisle on Tuesday after spending just one season under him. He characterized Carlisle as among "coaches who say one thing in one ear and then behind your back theyre saying something else." Carlisle said it "didnt work out well here with Chris and I take my share of the responsibility." Kaman had a good start with Dallas but barely played late in the season and skipped his exit interview because he figured he wasnt coming back. ... Ellis had three steals Saturday against Memphis to give him 900 for his career. Gump Worsley Stars Jersey . -- Manchester United thrilled a record crowd with a brilliant opening goal -- and even Cristiano Ronaldos unexpected entrance proved futile for Real Madrid. Dino Ciccarelli Jersey .com) - The 12th-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes continue a four-game homestand at Value City Arena on Wednesday night when they face off against the High Point Panthers in a non-conference matchup. http://www.thedallasstarshockey.com/customized/ . Its the second time this season that Milan has been sanctioned by the league judge, after fans also subjected Napoli supporters to discriminatory chants. The ban will come into effect for Milans next match, against Udinese on Oct.EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - The New York Giants have a pretty good hunch what to expect from Minnesota with newcomer Josh Freeman taking over at quarterback for the struggling Vikings. Adrian Peterson to the left. A.P. to the right. Peterson more often than not in the nationally televised game on Monday night between two of the leagues biggest flops this season. Watch the game on TSN starting with Monday Night Countdown at 6:30pm et/3:30pm pt. The Giants (0-6) are reasonably sure Freeman isnt going to know the offence totally after just a couple of weeks with the Vikings (1-4). That leaves Peterson to carry the load off, and thats not a bad option with the halfback coming one of the best rushing seasons in league history. "I think hes a different guy," Giants defensive co-ordinator Perry Fewell said when asked to compare him to some of the better backs in the league. "I watched him in the off-season study and hes really good. I see guys hit him, tackle him, beat him up, punch him and he just keeps coming. Hes got an iron will, and hes just a strong runner, and hes got a great determination to make those yards, and so we all have to be on the same page. Well have to swarm tackle. Well have to gang tackle. Well have to see what we hit and hit what we see." Freeman is the bigger question mark for the Giants defence, which has given up a league-high 209 points. He was released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers earlier this month after a miserable start and signed by Minnesota because starter Christian Ponder hurt his ribs. Ponder is expected to be the backup this week. Freeman started 59 games over four-plus seasons in Tampa with his best being in 2010 when he threw 25 touchdowns and six interceptions. He had four TDs and 12 interceptions in his last six games and his quarterback rating of 59.3 this season was last in the league when he was released. "From the moment he stepped in the building, he wanted to learn. And the way he handled himself in that practice, it changed my mindset about the possibilities," Vikings coach Leslie Frazier said. "We had a timeframe in mind originally, but watching what he did from the day he arrived, that cemented it for me that sooner was a possibility. Neal Broten Jersey. ." When he was with Carolina, Giants middle linebacker Jon Beason played against Freeman a lot, and he knows the quarterback is a competitor. "Hes more than capable, hes a good dude," said Beason, who had a team-high 12 tackles against the Bears on Oct. 10 in his first start. "I know him personally, and he can make all the throws, he scrambles better than people think, so not having him on tape kind of hurts us on the defensive side because it leaves you guessing." Beason said the Giants need to stop the run first, something the team has done well in recent games LeSean McCoy of the Eagles and Matt Forte. Peterson, who rushed for 2,097 yards last season, is special, Beason said. But its a challenge he relishes. "Thats how you define yourself," Beason said. "Its all about what you do against the man. If hes the standard, then you want to see where you measure up." With the Vikings trailing against Carolina last week, Peterson was limited to 62 yards on 10 carries, a season-high 6.2 yard average. He was limited at practice on Thursday and Saturday and did not practice on Friday because of a hamstring injury. He has been listed as probable for the game. The Giants running game is a more iffy with Brandon Jacobs also fighting a hamstring. He did not practice on Saturday and is questionable for the game. If he cant go, the Giants will have to use either veteran newcomer Peyton Hollis, who was signed this week, rookie Michael Cox or feature fullback John Conner. The result is the Giants might have to rely more on Eli Manning, who leads the league with 15 interceptions. The only certainty is that this is a game between two teams desperate for a win. "Certainly we have to approach it that way in our preparation, and when were on the flight to go over there we have to approach this with a must-win mentality," Vikings linebacker Chad Greenway said. "And our coaches need to coach like that. Our players need to play like that. We just have to have that approach all week, that every game at this point is a must win." ' ' '