Dirk Nowitzki had a season-high 32 points and a perfect ending
in Dallas' highest-scoring quarter of the season, helping the
Mavericks put together a record-setting rally during a 105-99
victory over the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday night.
Dirk Nowitzki
Nowitzki hit four straight three-pointers in the final 1:41 of
the third quarter, when Dallas went ahead to stay after overcoming
a 24-point deficit. The Mavericks finished their four-game
homestand undefeated and are 6-0 at home this season.
Dallas made its largest comeback ever to win a game in
regulation. The Mavericks also overcame a 24-point deficit against
Toronto in February 2006, but won that game in overtime. The
Raptors have never blown a bigger lead to lose, and now they've
done it twice against Dallas.
Nowitzki scored 18 in the third quarter, when the Mavs outscored
Toronto 38-17 to overcome a 14-point halftime deficit.
Chris Bosh had a season-high 31 points with 12 rebounds for the
Raptors.
In Denver, Carmelo Anthony scored 26 points and Marcus Camby
added 12 points and 20 rebounds as Denver downed Chicago.
Allen Iverson scored 22 points and Kenyon Martin had 13 for
Denver, which has won six straight.
Rookie reserve Joakim Noah had 16 points for Chicago, which fell
to 2-8, its worst start since 2004-05 when it was 0-9.
Kirk Hinrich and rookie Thomas Gardner had 14 points apiece for the
Bulls.
In Indianapolis, Kobe Bryant scored 32 points, and short-handed
Los Angeles beat Indiana for its fourth straight win.
Jordan Farmar had a career-high 18 points, Andrew Bynum added 17
points and 10 rebounds and the Lakers rolled to a season-high point
total.
Shawne Williams led the Pacers (4-7) with a career-high 24
points, and Jamaal Tinsley added 10 points and 10 assists. It was
Indiana's worst home defeat since a 24-point loss to New Jersey on
March 4, 2001.
In Cleveland, Michael Redd scored a season-high 34 points, Mo
Williams added 20 and Milwaukee ended a seven-game losing streak
against Cleveland with its first road win this season.
The Bucks hadn't beaten the Cavs since December 10, 2005. LeBron
James finished with 34 points, seven assists and seven rebounds in
44 minutes.
Charlie Villanueva had 17 points and Royal Ivey 15 for the
Bucks, who came in 4-0 at home and 0-4 on the road.
In New York, Baron Davis had 31 points, seven assists and six
rebounds, and Golden State ruined Stephon Marbury's return to the
starting lineup.
The Knicks have lost seven straight.
Stephen Jackson added 23 points for the resurgent Warriors, who
have won three straight after a 0-6 start.
Marbury scored 18 points, but the Knicks were never in the game
in the second half and were booed often over the final three
quarters. So was coach Isiah Thomas, who saw no results from his
decision to demote Marbury last week and heard "Fire Isiah!" cries
on a few occasions during the game.
Zach Randolph had 15 points and 16 rebounds for the Knicks.
In Atlanta, Tony Parker scored 17 of his 31 points in the second
quarter and Manu Ginobili added 19 for San Antonio.
San Antonio, which has won six of seven, took an 83-65 lead
after three periods, leading by 24 on several occasions, the last
at 83-59 on a free throw by Ginobili.
The Hawks, who have lost three in a row, went on a 14-2 run to
get within 85-75 with 6:45 left on a Joe Johnson basket but never
got closer. The Spurs got baskets by Michael Finley and Parker for
an 89-75 lead, ending a six-minute drought in which they scored
only one basket.
Johnson led the Hawks with 20 points.
(China Daily via Agencies November 22, 2007)
