Except for nights like Tuesday, when the Mavericks needed every point from the charity stripe, and needed every Pacers choke from their own in gritting to a 141-140 double-overtime victory.

Only because of free throws did it matter less that the Mavericks blew a 10-point lead at the end of regulation. Because the Pacers bricked on six clutch free throws at the end of both overtime sessions, choked on the opportunity to put away the game on three different occasions, and the Mavericks celebrated their first victory on a trying six-game road trip.

"The free throw won it for us and lost it for them," Mavericks coach Don Nelson said, simply. "They certainly had opportunities to put us away, and didn't. Chances are, somebody's going to get a break when you miss your free throws.