Kidd loves Nowitzki's second-half intensity

Published Mar. 6, 2012 11:29 p.m. ET

foxsports

It wasn't a postseason game Tuesday night at American Airlines Center but Dirk Nowitzki's second-half emotion would certainly allow some to believe it was.

The Mavericks superstar scored 24 of his game-high 28 points in the second half, helping Dallas hang on for a 95-85 win over the New York Knicks.

"I loved the emotion that he showed tonight," Kidd said of Nowitzki. "No matter make or miss, he was into the game with his emotion and that's kind of like the playoff-type, his emotion tonight, and that's good to see."

After burying a baseline jumper late in the fourth quarter, giving the Mavs an 88-78 lead with 2:28 to play, Nowitzki slapped the hand of a youngster in the front row so hard that it left a red mark on the inside of the spectator's arm.

The young boy loved it, taking a photo of the mark with his cell phone.

But when asked about the extra emotion, Nowitzki denied that it was anything different than his usual self.

"It's just an emotional game," Nowitzki said. "Off the court I don't get emotional at all, I'm a laid back guy. I like to have fun. But once I'm on the court I get fired up.

"I get fired up no matter if it's a national team game in the summer or it's a fricken pickup game. Once I'm out there I want to win and compete."