Allen, Thomas Carry Bucks Past Mavericks

The Dallas Mavericks are the top-scoring team in the NBA. The Milwaukee Bucks showed they can be just as dangerous with the ball.

Ray Allen had 28 points, Tim Thomas had a season-high 27 and the host Bucks scored 65 second-half points to defeat Dallas, 120-114, Wednesday night, sending the Mavericks to their third consecutive loss.

“As deadly as they are shooting the basketball, running up and down in transition basketball scoring points, we’re just as deadly,” Allen said. “With Timmy playing well and us playing the penetration game, we can get any of the shots we want out there.”

Milwaukee often went inside early, which helped produce some open jumpers in the fourth quarter. The Bucks made eight of their last 13 three-point shots and the Mavericks missed their last eight three-point shots.

“They can shoot the threes, and so can we,” Dallas Coach Don Nelson said. “We made them earlier in the game. They made them at the end of the game.”

With the shot clock winding down, Sam Cassell made a 15-footer over Nick Van Exel to give Milwaukee a 117-114 lead with 25 seconds left.

Steve Nash missed a three-pointer, and Michael Finley grabbed the long rebound and shot another three-pointer but missed.

Cassell was fouled, making one free throw for a 118-114 lead with 10 seconds to go. Dirk Nowitzki missed a three-point shot and Thomas scored on a dunk to seal it for the Bucks, who swept the two-game season series from Dallas.

Indiana 83, New Orleans 72 -- Brad Miller scored 18 points and Reggie Miller had 17, and the Pacers ended the host Hornets’ three-game winning streak.

Poor shooting from the field and the foul line plagued New Orleans, which tied a season low for points.

Memphis 97, New Jersey 90 -- Earl Watson, forced into a starting role because of injuries, scored a career-high 21 points to lead the Grizzlies at Memphis, Tenn.

The Grizzlies ended a seven-game losing streak and the Nets lost their second road game in a row. Jason Kidd led New Jersey with 28 points, including 11 in the fourth quarter.

Toronto 97, Atlanta 96 -- Vince Carter scored 13 of his 21 points in the last five minutes and the host Raptors won their fourth consecutive game.

The Raptors have won five of six since Carter returned to the lineup after sitting out 23 games because of a strained right knee.

Minnesota 102, Cleveland 91 -- Kevin Garnett had 26 points and 17 rebounds for his 41st double-double this season to lead the surging Timberwolves at Cleveland.

Wally Szczerbiak scored 18 points for the Timberwolves, who won their fourth in a row and 10th of 12.

Philadelphia 119, Chicago 111 -- Allen Iverson scored four of his 36 points in overtime and the 76ers withstood a scare from the Bulls, the league’s worst road team at 2-26.

Jalen Rose tied the score for Chicago, 109-109, with a leaning 18-footer with 7.6 seconds left in regulation. Rose finished with season highs of 38 points and 13 assists.

Golden State 113, New York 107 -- Troy Murphy made an 18-foot jumper with 1:11 left to stop a late Knick rally and the Warriors won their second consecutive road game.

Murphy had 17 points and 13 rebounds. The Warriors shot a season-high 58.9% from the field.