Nowitzki Scores 35, and Diop Gets the Save

Dirk Nowitzki scored 11 of his season-high 35 points in the fourth quarter and DeSagana Diop blocked a layup attempt by Carmelo Anthony with 2.9 seconds left, helping the Mavericks overcome a 19-point deficit for an 83-80 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday night at Dallas.

Diop, whose blocked shot came with Dallas leading, 81-80, set career highs with 16 rebounds and six blocks.

Denver fell to 0-4 on the road and lost Kenyon Martin after eight minutes because of a flare-up of tendinitis in his left knee.

Even without him, the Nuggets capitalized on sloppy play by the Mavericks and followed a halftime buzzer-beater with 15 straight points to open the third quarter. Dallas Coach Avery Johnson took three timeouts in seven minutes. The last one, with Dallas trailing, 64-45, finally did the trick as the Mavericks surged and went ahead, 73-72, and only trailed briefly afterward.

Anthony led Denver with 24 points.

Detroit 115, Boston 100 -- Chauncey Billups scored 17 of his 25 points in the third quarter and all five of the Piston starters scored in double figures to help the team improve to 7-0 with a come-from-behind victory at Auburn Hills, Mich.

Richard Hamilton also had 25 points as the Pistons overcame a 13-point deficit in the second half to record the third-best start in team history.

Ricky Davis led the Celtics with 31 points.

Philadelphia 104, Toronto 92 -- Allen Iverson scored 34 points and added 12 assists, Chris Webber had 28 points and 16 rebounds and the 76ers won their fifth in a row in beating the winless Raptors at Philadelphia. Toronto rookie Charlie Villanueva finished with 27 points and 13 rebounds.

Miami 109, New Orleans 102 -- With the Heat trailing by seven with 1:59 left in regulation, Dwyane Wade scored the final seven points, including a tying jumper with 35 seconds left, and James Posey and Gary Payton each made a key three-pointer in overtime to complete a rally at Miami.

Wade finished with 25 points and 10 assists.

P.J. Brown had 24 points and 12 rebounds for the Hornets.

Cleveland 114, Washington 99 -- At Cleveland, LeBron James scored a season-high 37 points and Larry Hughes added 22 in his first game against his former team in the Cavaliers’ fifth straight victory.

Washington’s Gilbert Arenas, who scored a league-high 43 Saturday against San Antonio, was held to 18 and made only four of 17 shots.

New Jersey 109, Seattle 99 -- Nenad Krstic scored a season-high 25 points and the Nets held Ray Allen without a field goal for three quarters in a victory at East Rutherford, N.J. Rashard Lewis had 29 points for Seattle and Allen finished with 19, making four of 14 shots.

Houston 94, Minnesota 89 -- After making only one of six shots in the first half, Tracy McGrady scored 25 points, including 13 in the fourth quarter, to lead the Rockets at Minneapolis.

Kevin Garnett led Minnesota with 25 points.

San Antonio 103, Atlanta 79 -- Manu Ginobili scored 24 points as the Spurs easily restored order after Al Harrington’s 22-point first quarter staked the winless Hawks to a 13-point lead at San Antonio. Harrington finished with 23.

Orlando 85, Charlotte 77 -- Dwight Howard had 21 points and 20 rebounds at Orlando, Fla., and the Magic used a 12-4 fourth-quarter run to hand the Bobcats their fifth straight loss. Keith Bogans had 18 points for Charlotte.

Sacramento 119, Utah 83 -- Mike Bibby scored 25 points and the Kings scored 43 points in the third quarter en route to a victory at Sacramento.