Dirk Nowitzki has 40 points to lead Mavericks over Trail Blazers

Dirk Nowitzki scored 40 points and Deron Williams had 31 points and 16 assists, leading the Dallas Mavericks to a 132-120 overtime victory over the visiting Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday.

Nowitzki and Williams capped season-high scoring efforts with the first 11 points in overtime. Williams made a tiebreaking three-pointer before Nowitzki scored eight straight points. The Mavericks’ victory moved them within a half-game of Portland for the sixth playoff position in the Western Conference.

Nowitzki’s 20th career 40-point game was his first since Jan. 11, 2014 and the first by a 37-year-old since Karl Malone in 2000-01.

“Never underestimate greatness at any age,” Dallas Coach Rick Carlisle said of Nowitzki, who has scored 20 or more points in eight consecutive games.

at Toronto 105, Orlando 100: DeMar DeRozan had 25 points, Luis Scola added 20 more and the Raptors moved just one game back of Cleveland for the top spot in the Eastern Conference.

Evan Fournier and Victor Oladipo each had 21 points for Orlando, which lost its seventh straight game in Toronto and has now lost 13 of the last 14 meetings with the Raptors.

Boston 120, at Philadelphia 105: Isaiah Thomas led six Celtics players in double figures with 26 points to help Boston end a four-game skid.

Jared Sullinger added 17 points and 13 rebounds for Boston, which swept the four-game season series against the 76ers to make it eight consecutive wins against Philadelphia.

Carl Landry scored 26 points for the 76ers, who have lost five in a row and 18 of the last 19 to fall to 9-61.

Utah 94, at Milwaukee 85: Gordon Hayward scored 18 points, including 13 during a decisive third quarter, to lead the Jazz their fifth win in six games. Utah remains one game behind Dallas for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference

Sacramento 88, at New York 80: DeMarcus Cousins had 24 points and 20 rebounds and the Kings had their best defensive performance of the season against a Knicks team playing without Carmelo Anthony. The Kings, who came in allowing a league-worst 109.6 points per game, easily surpassed their previous best of 88 points allowed. Anthony didn’t play because of migraine symptoms.

at Memphis 109, Clippers 105