Dirk Nowitzki recorded the second triple-double of his career to lead the Dallas Mavericks to a 109-93 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Monday.
Nowitzki, who had failed to score 20 points in his last four games, made 34 with 10 rebounds and 10 assists as Dallas maintained its grip on second place in the Western Conference.
The Nuggets (48-27) have lost five of their last six games and dropped to fifth in the West behind the Phoenix Suns. They also surrendered their lead in the Northwest division to Utah.
PHOTO: REUTERS
J.R. Smith had a team-high 27 for Denver but Carmelo Anthony had an off night, finishing with just 10 points.
“To me the game ball really belongs to [Shawn] Marion,” Nowitzki told reporters. “He was fantastic tonight. Carmelo is one of the best scorers in the league and he did a phenomenal job on him. This was definitely a fun win.”
Dallas (49-25) took an eight-point lead in the first quarter and cemented the win with a 10-2 run in the fourth when they built a 100-81 lead.
Nowitzki made three three-pointers and had 13 points in the fourth to put the game away. Marion chipped in 21 and Jason Terry added 15 off the bench for the Mavericks, who are 4-4 from their last eight games.
Rookie Rodrigue Beaubois had just five points, a game after exploding for 40 against Golden State.
“That Denver team has always been a thorn in our side,” Terry said. “So it means something to beat them, especially given the situation [with the standings]. And if you don’t fight back, if you get lax at all, they will sense it and they will kill you.”
Six players managed to score in double figures for Denver but the team has struggled with injuries and in the absence of head coach George Karl, who has been receiving treatment for cancer.
Nuggets big man Kenyon Martin missed his 14th straight game because of a knee injury.
NETS 90, SPURS 84
The New Jersey Nets notched their 10th victory of the season, avoiding any chance of equaling the worst record in NBA history by beating the short-handed San Antonio Spurs.
Brook Lopez had 22 points and 12 rebounds for the Nets, who grabbed control with a 15-4 run late in the fourth quarter to improve to 10-64. The 1972-73 Philadelphia 76ers, who went 9-73, will remain in the record books as the league’s worst team.
Public address announcer Gary Sussman shouted, “We got 10! The Nets win!” after New Jersey snapped a 14-game losing streak in the series, committing a club record-low four turnovers in beating San Antonio for the first time since the 2003 NBA finals.
George Hill scored 19 points and former Net Richard Jefferson added 16 for the Spurs.
HORNETS 108, LAKERS 100
At New Orleans, Chris Paul had 15 points and 13 assists, his first double-double since returning from a knee injury, and David West scored 20 points for New Orleans.
Marcus Thornton added 18 points, including three 3-pointers, and fellow rookie Darren Collison had 17 points for the Hornets.
Kobe Bryant had 31 points and Pau Gasol added 26 points and 22 rebounds for the Lakers, who fell behind by as much as 17 points in the fourth.
JAZZ 103, KNICKS 98
At Salt Lake City, Carlos Boozer had 26 points and 14 rebounds, and Deron Williams added 23 points and 14 assists as Utah took over first place in the Northwest Division.
Paul Millsap also had a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Jazz, who are now one game ahead of Denver in the division and within a half-game of Dallas for the No. 2 spot in the West.
Al Harrington led New York with 26 points and 17 rebounds.
RAPTORS 103, BOBCATS 101
At Charlotte, Chris Bosh had 22 points and 11 rebounds, while Hedo Turkoglu hit the go-ahead three-pointer a day after getting benched as Toronto got a key win in the playoff chase.
The Raptors (36-37) entered having lost three straight and 13 of 17, but snapped Charlotte’s three-game winning streak to stay in eighth place in the East, a game ahead of Chicago.
Raymond Felton and Stephen Jackson each scored 18 points, and Gerald Wallace added 17 for the Bobcats.
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