Mavericks hold off Pacers

Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks had an answer for every run by the Indiana Pacers.

Despite trailing by double digits in the first half, and six points late in the fourth quarter, the Mavericks rallied to force overtime before defeating the Pacers, 115-113, on Friday night at Indianapolis.

“We’ve been in a lot of close games, that’s what got us to the Finals last year,” said Nowitzki, who scored a season-high 43 points, including three free throws in the final five seconds of overtime to secure the win. “We learned last year how to close big games out, and that’s what you’ve got to do.”

Jason Terry had 30 points for the Mavericks, who improved to 16-1 in their last 17 games and an NBA-best 30-8 overall. Their only setback since Dec. 13 was a 101-98 loss at the Lakers on Sunday. They have won three straight since then.

Philadelphia 110, Milwaukee 97 -- Willie Green scored 30 points and Andre Iguodala had 26 at Philadelphia to help the 76ers end a four-game losing streak. Andrew Bogut had 20 points and 24 rebounds, but the Bucks, playing without four injured starters, including leading scorer Michael Redd, lost their fifth in a row.

Charlotte 126, New York 110 -- The Knicks were seeking their sixth consecutive home victory, but the Bobcats shot 59.3%. Emeka Okafor had a career-high 10 blocked shots for the Bobcats, the NBA’s highest blocked-shot total this season.

Toronto 95, Boston 86 -- The Raptors took command at Boston with a 16-6 run to close out the third quarter and take a 67-58 lead. Chris Bosh scored 10 of his 27 points in the quarter. The Celtics -- playing without leading scorers Paul Pierce and Wally Szczerbiak, as well as Brian Scalabrine and Delonte West -- had only nine players available.

Minnesota 116, Memphis 110 -- Consecutive baskets by Alexander Johnson and another by Brian Cardinal got the Grizzlies to within seven points, 104-97, with 5:25 left at Memphis, Tenn. But they couldn’t overtake the Timberwolves and failed again to win consecutive games. The Grizzlies, who beat the Lakers on Monday night, have not won two in a row this season.

Atlanta 99, Detroit 93 -- Josh Smith, just back from hernia surgery, made a key three-point basket with 10.7 seconds left to help the Hawks hold off the Pistons at Atlanta. The Pistons closed to 95-93 on Ronald Murray’s free throw with 1:17 to go but didn’t score again.

New Orleans 104, Washington 97 -- The Hornets, playing at Oklahoma City without three injured starters, won consecutive games for the first time in nearly two months. The Wizards pulled the score to 100-97 with 19.6 seconds left, but Rasual Butler secured the win with two free throws with 16.4 seconds left.

Miami 118, Golden State 96 -- Dwyane Wade had 22 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists at Oakland to help the Heat earn its first three-game winning streak of the season. The Warriors lost two players to injuries. Mickael Pietrus sprained his left ankle on the opening possession while guarding Wade, and Adonal Foyle sprained his right ankle in the second quarter, leaving Golden State with eight sound players in uniform.

Portland 95, Sacramento 87 -- The Trail Blazers ended a three-game losing streak, beating the visiting Kings for the second time in a week. Sacramento, which opened a stretch with nine of 12 games on the road, is 4-9 away from Arco Arena.

Houston 90, Denver 86 -- The Nuggets’ Yakhouba Diawara missed a three-point attempt with 4.9 seconds left at Denver, and Luther Head clinched the victory by making one of two free throws with 2.1 seconds left.

Seattle 122, Utah 114 -- Ray Allen scored a career-high 54 points at Seattle, the second-most in franchise history, and the SuperSonics ended a six-game losing streak. Allen, who made nearly every shot in the closing moments of regulation and overtime, led the SuperSonics to their first victory since Dec. 31.