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Nowitzki, McGrady intensify the game

Kobe Bryant of the Lakers passes as Jason Richardson of the Warriors defends during the first half in Los Angeles on Friday. PHOTO: AP

Dirk Nowitzki grabbed a rebound, dribbled up the court and nailed a long jumper. Then he ran back, got another rebound and turned it into another swish.

Then it was Tracy McGrady's turn.

He hit two free throws, then stepped back and made a long shot. Next came a steal and a layup, followed by a long 3-pointer.

Had the perennial All-Stars just been playing a friendly game of one-on-one, this would've been good stuff.

But this exchange came in a real game between the Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks on Thursday. And it happened in the first nine minutes, providing the first hint that both players were on their way to one of the best games-within-a-game the NBA has seen in years.

The Mavericks won 113-106 in overtime, with Nowitzki scoring 53 points, the most ever by a Dallas player and tops in the NBA this season. McGrady had 48, also beating the previous league best.

"This was by far one of the best I've ever been a part of, two of the league's superstars both putting their teams on their backs," Houston forward Juwan Howard said.

"I'm going to be telling my kids about this one," said Dallas forward Josh Howard.

Nowitzki had the most points by a foreign-reared player, but the big German was more than just an offensive marvel. He also had season highs in rebounds (16) and blocks (four), plus three steals and two assists. He was simply everywhere he had to be for 49 minutes, including the foul line, where he went 21-of-22, making more than Houston attempted.

"There are some nights when the basket had a lid on it, but tonight it looked big," Nowitzki said. "I made my first couple shots and got my confidence up and it stayed up from there. It was amazing."

While McGrady scored 62 and 50 last season, his stat line this time included nine assists and nine rebounds, narrowly missing the third triple-double of his career. He still called this game "No. 1 for me."

The last time one game featured two such huge outings was Dec. 6, 2000, when Los Angeles' Kobe Bryant and Golden State's Antawn Jamison each scored 51.

This one tops it, though, because Nowitzki and McGrady are both perennial All-Stars. That puts this game into the class of Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals in 1988, when Larry Bird scored 20 of his 34 in the fourth quarter to lift Boston past Atlanta despite 48 points by Dominique Wilkins, and the 1987 game when Wilkins scored 57 and Michael Jordan 41.

They knew it, too.

"We winked at each a couple of times," Nowitzki said.

When it was over, McGrady waited for Nowitzki at halfcourt. They slapped hands and hugged, with McGrady whispering congratulations and Nowitzki dropping his game face for a smile.

"That was fun," McGrady said. "It was the first time I've been a part of something like that."

It may not be the last. After all, this was just their first meeting since they became state and division rivals. The Rockets and Mavs meet three more times this season, starting next Saturday in Houston, and Dirk and T-Mac could keep going head-to-head for many years since both are signed to long-term contracts.

McGrady's breakout gives hope to Rockets fans who were concerned that coach Jeff Van Gundy was playing his tightest defense on his most talented player. The two-time scoring champion came in averaging 20.2 points per game, just 24th-best in the league. Only twice in 14 games had he passed 28 points, his average last season.

A chat McGrady and Van Gundy had before the game could lead to more scoring outbursts.

"I understand what he wants me to do now, which is to be aggressive, the way I was in Orlando," McGrady said. "I was passive."

Cuttino Mobley scored 34 points in his second game back from a groin injury and made two key hustle plays down the stretch Friday to lead the Orlando Magic past the New York Knicks 104-98.

In a matchup of first-place teams, Orlando's guards were better than New York's at the key moments. Mobley had an offensive rebound and a steal off an inbounds pass during the final 45 seconds to help snap New York's six-game home winning streak.

"That was timing. I watched his eyes," Mobley said of his deflection, which led to a steal and prevented the Knicks from having a chance for a tying 3-pointer.

Mobley made six 3-pointers and shot 10-for-21 overall, while Steve Francis had 26 points, six assists, seven rebounds and four steals.

Stephon Marbury led New York with 28 points, but the 90-percent free-throw shooter missed a pair that would have given the Knicks the lead with 47 seconds left.

"I didn't think I was going to miss, but it happens," Marbury said. "You have to rebound from it."

Jamal Crawford added 23 points, but it was his inbounds pass that Mobley deflected with 18.7 seconds left and the Magic ahead 99-96 that deprived the Knicks of a chance to go for a tying 3-pointer.

New York got only 10 points from its reserves to Orlando's 39.

Grant Hill added 21 points for the Magic, who were without Mobley for nine straight games until he returned Wednesday against Toronto.

Wizards 114, Hawks 90

Ini Atlanta, Larry Hughes scored 19 points and Juan Dixon added 17, and Washington beat Atlanta to go four games over .500 for the first time in almost three years.

The Hawks' eighth straight loss left them with their worst record (2-13) after 15 games since moving to Atlanta in 1968. The 2000-01 Hawks were 2-12 before winning their third game.

Washington (9-5) had not been four games over .500 since Feb. 15, 2002, when it was 27-23.

Antoine Walker had 26 points for the Hawks.

Celtics 91, Raptors 89

In Boston, Gary Payton saved his biggest contribution for last, going scoreless for the first time in Boston but stealing the ball in the final seconds to help the Celtics beat Toronto.

Mark Blount, who had 22 points, hit the go-ahead basket with 34 seconds left and Paul Pierce added two free throws to give Boston a four-point lead with 24 seconds to play.

Payton was 0-for-6, he did not shoot a free throw and had just one rebound to go with his five assists. Pierce scored 20 for the Celtics. Jalen Rose had 19 points for the Raptors.

Grizzlies 94, 76ers 86

In Memphis, Tennessee, Pau Gasol had 34 points and 15 rebounds to lead Memphis over Philadelphia for its first win under new coach Mike Fratello.

Fratello was hired Thursday to replace Hubie Brown, who retired Nov. 27 for unspecified health problems. Mike Miller added 19 points for Memphis.

Allen Iverson had 25 points and seven steals for the Sixers.

Heat 105, Bulls 81

In Chicago, reserve Christian Laettner scored 23 points, Eddie Jones 21 and Shaquille O'Neal 18 as Miami downed Chicago.

When O'Neal went to the bench with his fourth foul at the 3:29 mark of the third quarter, the Heat had a 72-64 lead. Instead of struggling, they went on a 14-4 run -- including 10 straight -- to pull away.

Kirk Hinrich scored 17 points, but was scoreless in the second half, and rookie Chris Duhon added a career-high 15 for the Bulls, now 2-11.

Spurs 80, Pistons 77

In San Antonio, Ben Wallace's return from a six-game suspension couldn't help Detroit overcome San Antonio, with Tony Parker scoring 20 points and Brent Barry hitting two critical free throws in the final seconds for the Spurs.

Chauncey Billups scored all of his 18 points in the fourth quarter, including a 3-pointer that cut the lead to 78-77 with 7.9 seconds left.

But the Pistons fouled Barry three seconds later and he hit both free throws for his only points of the night.

Malik Rose stole the inbounds pass, but missed both free throws. Rasheed Wallace's desperation 3-pointer missed at the final buzzer.

Ben Wallace was back in the lineup after his suspension for his role in last month's brawl with the Indiana Pacers and fans. Wallace played 33 minutes but had a miserable night, finishing with five points on 2-of-9 shooting with nine rebounds.

Tim Duncan added 18 points and 18 rebounds for the Spurs.

Timberwolves 97, Suns 93

In Phoenix, Kevin Garnett had 23 points, 19 rebounds and eight assists, as Minnesota ended Phoenix' nine-game winning streak.

Sam Cassell scored 11 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter to help the Timberwolves win their fourth in a row and hand the Suns just their third defeat in 16 games. Garnett had 11 offensive boards, and has 65 rebounds in the last four games. Latrell Sprewell scored 22, making 4-of-5 3-point shots.

Amare Stoudemire had 28 points..

Lakers 97, Warriors 88

In Los Angeles, Kobe Bryant, hardly a factor for the first three quarters, had 10 points, 10 assists and a season-high 12 rebounds for his second triple-double of the season and the Los Angeles Lakers beat Golden State.

Caron Butler scored 27 points and Chris Mihn had 15 points and 10 rebounds, helping hand the Warriors their fourth straight loss. The Lakers have won 19 of their last 21 home games against Golden State dating to 1993-1994.

Jason Richardson scored 22 points for the Warriors and Troy Murphy had 13 points and 13 rebounds.
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