The Dallas Mavericks rallied from an 11-point deficit to strengthen their hold on the Southwest Division lead with a 95-85 road win over the Orlando Magic on Friday.
The Mavericks (34-21) had looked on course for defeat until they embarked on a 19-0 run spanning the end of the third and start of the fourth quarters.
Dirk Nowitzki initiated the surge with back-to-back baskets before Jason Terry hit a three-pointer at the end of the third to narrow the deficit to four points.
PHOTO: RETUTERS
Jason Kidd’s three-pointer a minute into the fourth put the Mavericks ahead for good and he added two more points to the lead after Brendan Haywood scored five straight points to extend the lead to 77-69 with a little less than nine minutes to play.
Nowitzki led the Mavericks with 23 points, including 15 in the second half, with four of the German’s teammates chipping in with double-digit contributions.
Dwight Howard led all scorers with 29 points for the Magic (37-19) and added 16 rebounds to record his league-leading 44th double-double.
The victory moved Dallas two games ahead of San Antonio in their division after the Spurs lost to Philadelphia.
BOBCATS 110, CAVALIERS 93
In Charlotte, North Carolina, the hosts capitalized on Antawn Jamison’s disappointing debut for Cleveland on Friday, dealing them their second straight NBA defeat 110-93.
Stephen Jackson scored 29 points for the Bobcats, who used a strong run at the end of the third quarter to beat the league-leading Cavaliers for a third straight time.
Jamison, acquired two days earlier from Washington, came off the bench for Cleveland and went 0 for 12 from the field. He was blocked five times and coughed up two airballs.
LeBron James had 22 points and nine assists for Cleveland.
Jamison, who hails from Cleveland, didn’t go scoreless. With James and Shaquille O’Neal on the bench, Jamison hit two free throws with 41 seconds left for his only points.
By then the Bobcats had put the game out of reach, shooting 55 percent to again prove they have the Cavaliers’ number — although the Bobcats lost three days earlier to the NBA-worst New Jersey Nets.
Boris Diaw had 18 points and nine assists, Gerald Wallace had 17 points and eight rebounds and Tyrus Thomas had nine points and 12 rebounds for the Bobcats.
CELTICS 96, TRAIL BLAZERS 76
In Portland, Oregon, Ray Allen scored 21 points, including eight straight early in the fourth quarter to stymie a run by Portland and guide Boston to victory.
Kevin Garnett scored 13 of his 16 points in the first half, helping the Celtics on the second night of a difficult West Coast two-step. After holding off the Lakers 87-86 on Thursday night in Los Angeles, the Celtics easily dispatched a rested Portland team and handed the Blazers their biggest loss of the season.
Garnett and his frontcourt mates dominated the interior in the first half, as Boston built an 18-point halftime lead.
SUNS 88, HAWKS 80
In Phoenix, Amare Stoudemire scored 22 points for his ninth straight game over 20, leading Phoenix over Atlanta.
Grant Hill added 16 points for the Suns, who used a 13-0 run in the fourth quarter to pull away.
Josh Smith’s 21 points the Hawks, who were out-rebounded 50-36 and shot just 39.5 percent for the game.
Stoudemire also had eight rebounds, one night after the Suns decided to keep him in Phoenix rather than trade him, risking losing him this summer with no compensation if he opts out of the final year of his contract.
HEAT 100, GRIZZLIES 87, 2OT
In Memphis, Tennessee, Michael Beasley scored a career-high with 30 points as undermanned Miami won its season-best fifth straight by defeating Memphis in double overtime. The Heat, playing without Dwyane Wade and Rafer Alston, blew an 18-point lead in regulation and then rallied in the second overtime behind Udonis Haslem, who scored eight points in the final five minutes.
In other NBA action, it was:
● Wizards 107, Nuggets 97
● Bulls 100, Timberwolves 94
● 76ers 106, Spurs 94
● Jazz 100, Warriors 89
● Hornets 107, Pacers 101
● Bucks 91, Pistons 85
● Raptors 106, Nets 89
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