Dirk Nowitzki (41) shoots against Sacramento's Vlade Divac. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        DALLAS — Steve Nash scored 28 points and Dirk Nowitzki had 26 points and 21 rebounds, and Dallas got plenty of help from its newcomers, as the Mavericks beat the Sacramento Kings 111-97 Saturday in a battle of division leaders.

        Nash shot 10-for-13 in the game and scored 15 straight points in a 22-6 third-quarter run that put the Mavericks ahead to stay.

        Raef LaFrentz had 14 points and six rebounds in his Dallas debut, while Nick Van Exel had eight points and eight assists. LaFrentz and Van Exel, who each played about 30 minutes, came from Denver with Avery Johnson and Tariq Abdul-Wahad in a deal completed just before the NBA trading deadline Thursday.

        Chris Webber had 28 points and 14 rebounds for the Kings.

        Sacramento, despite losing three of its last four games, still has the NBA's best record at 40-15, and a two-game lead over the Los Angeles Lakers in the Pacific Division.

        Dallas, the Midwest leader, has the league's second-best record at 39-17.

        Magic 105, 76ers 87

        ORLANDO, Fla. — Tracy McGrady had 22 points, 11 assists and 11 rebounds for his first career triple-double as Orlando extended its home winning streak to four games with a win over Philadelphia.

        Mike Miller added 25 points and 11 rebounds as the Magic moved a season-best four games over .500 at 29-25.

        Allen Iverson had 32 points on 11-of-30 shooting to lead short-handed Philadelphia. Dikembe Mutumbo added 12 points.

        The 76ers were without starting forward Derrick Coleman and guard Aaron McKie.

        Coleman, expected to return to the lineup following a two-game suspension after he choked Indiana's Reggie Miller on Feb. 17, was sidelined with the flu. McKie missed his third straight game with a left ankle strain.

        Rockets 99, Celtics 89

        HOUSTON — Cuttino Mobley scored 40 points and Houston rallied from a 20-point deficit to beat Boston.

        The Rockets' rally, their largest of the season, ranks as the fifth-best comeback in club history. Houston's comeback was fueled by a 55-30 scoring advantage in the middle periods.

        Kelvin Cato had 14 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks for the Rockets, who earned their fifth straight home victory over the Celtics. Boston last won in Houston in Jan. 18, 1996.

        Paul Pierce had 30 points, and Antoine Walker added 25 for Boston.

        Bulls 105, Warriors 91

        CHICAGO — Reserve Marcus Fizer scored a career-high 30 points as Chicago beat Golden State for its first three-game winning streak in two years.

        Reserve Travis Best had 16 points and nine assists for Chicago, which last won three in a row in January 2000. Jalen Rose had 15 points and six assists, and Tyson Chandler added 14 points for the Bulls, who also have their first three-game winning streak at home since April 1998.

        Rose and Best are now 3-0 in Bulls uniforms since being traded from Indiana on Tuesday.

        Gilbert Arenas and Troy Murphy scored 16 points apiece for Golden State, which has lost six in a row and 21 of 24.

        Pacers 106, Clippers 88

        INDIANAPOLIS — Reggie Miller scored a season-high 28 points and Jermaine O'Neal added 22 as Indiana beat the Los Angeles Clippers.

        The Pacers had a 22-point lead cut to six with 8 minutes left in the game before going on a 14-2 run. O'Neal started the surge with a basket and Jeff Foster ended it with consecutive baskets.

        Elton Brand had 23 points and 21 rebounds and Jeff McInnis scored 23 points for the Clippers. Michael Olowokandi added 15 and Quentin Richardson 12.

        Heat 97, Wizards 95

        WASHINGTON — Brian Grant made a 16-foot baseline jump shot with 1.4 seconds remaining to give Miami a victory over Washington.

        Jim Jackson preserved the victory by blocking Richard Hamilton's layup at the buzzer.

        Eddie Jones scored 25 points for the Heat. Rod Strickland, booed every time he touched the ball in his return to Washington, had 18 points and 14 assists.

        Michael Jordan had 37 points and seven assists but also four of the Wizards' 11 turnovers.

        Hamilton had 19 points for the Wizards, who have lost four straight and are 1-6 since the All-Star break. The Wizards are back to .500 for the first time since Jan. 29.

        Timberwolves 112, Spurs 88

SAN ANTONIO — Kevin Garnett had 30 points and 11 rebounds to lead Minnesota past San Antonio.

        With the victory, Minnesota avenged its worst loss of the season, a 103-83 setback to the Spurs in San Antonio on Feb. 4.

        Minnesota led by two points, 82-80, before going on a decisive 30-8 run in the final 8:40 of the game.

        Tim Duncan scored 25 points and David Robinson added 13 for the Spurs.

        Trail Blazers 101, Nuggets 90

        PORTLAND, Ore. — Damon Stoudamire had 24 points, 11 assists and six rebounds, and Rasheed Wallace added 23 points to lead Portland past Denver.

        The win was the Trail Blazers' fifth straight and sixth in seven games since the All-Star break. It was also Portland's first game without forward Shawn Kemp, suspended Friday for violating terms of the league's anti-drug agreement.

        George McCloud had 20 points to lead Denver, which lost its fourth straight. Juwan Howard had 16 points and six rebounds in his first game with the Nuggets.

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