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Nowitzki inspires Mavericks to win

Dallas Mavericks guard Devin Harris, left, looks for the call from the official after battling for a loose ball with Houston Rockets guard John Lucas III during their NBA game on Tuesday in Dallas. PHOTO: AP

Dirk Nowitzki and Devean George each sparked crucial rallies with consecutive 3-pointers, helping the Dallas Mavericks overcome 45 points by Tracy McGrady in a 109-96 victory over the Houston Rockets on Tuesday.

McGrady scored 21 points in the first quarter and had 29 at halftime. He made a 3-pointer that put Houston up 65-52 midway through the third quarter, but it couldn't last.

George answered with a pair of 3s, sparking a 15-2 run that let Dallas tie it. A few minutes later, Nowitzki powered a 20-4 run that he finished off with back-to-back 3s, celebrating each with gusto.

Nowitzki, who was named the conference player of the week earlier in the day, had 30 points, 10 rebounds and six assists. Josh Howard added 28 points and George scored 14 with six assists. Jerry Stackhouse scored 13.

Hornets 84, Magic 78, OT

At Oklahoma City, Jannero Pargo scored a season-high 25 points and New Orleans held Orlando to one basket in overtime.

Desmond Mason scored 21 points, and Rasual Butler had 19 points and tied his career high with 11 rebounds as the Hornets won their third straight.

Dwight Howard had 17 points and 15 rebounds for the Magic, who lost their third in a row.

A jumper by Butler to start overtime gave the Hornets a 77-75 lead. Orlando then missed two shots and turned it over twice before Devin Brown sank two free throws for a 79-75 lead. After Mason made one of two free throws with 27.4 seconds left, Butler kept the ball alive and Pargo added two more free throws to make it 82-75 with 23.1 seconds to play.

SuperSonics 101, Cavaliers 96

At Seattle, Ray Allen scored 22 points and dished out 11 assists to help Seattle beat Cleveland.

Allen struggled to follow up his career-high 54-point performance against Utah last Friday. Allen was constantly harassed by Cleveland's Larry Hughes, and when Allen did find space to get off an open look, his shot was off.

LeBron James led Cleveland with 30 points, including 13 of 15 at the free-throw line.
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