Nowitzki lifts Dallas to win at Utah, 108-105

Jerry Stackhouse got thrown out and Dirk Nowitzki got zoned in.

Stackhouse was ejected at the end of the third quarter for his second flagrant foul, but Nowitzki stepped up with a season-high 38 points, including two free throws with 10.2 seconds remaining, to help the Dallas Mavericks defeat the Utah Jazz, 108-105, on Tuesday night at Salt Lake City.

“More than anything, I think Stack really set a great example for us, how he played hard and he left it all out there,” Nowitzki said. “That’s why we have him.

“You know, he’s a big key of why we went to the Finals last year. He’s probably one of our toughest guys out there, and that [the flagrant foul calls] definitely jump-started us.”

Nowitzki, who has averaged more than 30 points in his last six games, scored 25 in the second half as the Mavericks avenged a 101-79 loss to Utah on Dec. 11, when they shot a season-low 37.7%.

“I think in the second half we turned it around a little bit,” Nowitzki said. “In this building they play so hard, you have to match their physical contact and I think we try to get to the basket, get to the foul line.”

The Mavericks made 53% of their field goals and handed the Jazz only its third home loss.

Stackhouse was kicked out after being called for his second flagrant foul. He also was hit with a technical in the first half for an argument with Utah Coach Jerry Sloan.

“It’s personal. They don’t like me, and I don’t like them,” Stackhouse said.

Josh Howard scored 21 points, and Jason Terry shook off a recent slump to score 11 of his 18 in the fourth quarter.

“[Utah] is very physical, but tonight we matched their aggression and came out on top with the win,” Terry said. “We had more emphasis on being aggressive tonight, taking what the defense gives you and attacking.”

Cleveland 108, Sacramento 98 -- LeBron James scored 34 points in the arena where he made his NBA debut, and the Cavaliers rallied from a 17-point second-half deficit to defeat the Kings at Sacramento.

Cleveland, in the opener of a seven-game Western trip, won for the eighth time in nine games.

The Cavaliers have won three consecutive road games for the first time in nearly a year.

Phoenix 113, Seattle 102 -- Shawn Marion had 29 points and 15 rebounds, Steve Nash had 27 points and 11 assists and the host Suns defeated the fading SuperSonics for their seventh consecutive victory.

Marion had 19 points and nine rebounds in the second half, when the Suns finally took control of the game after trailing at the half.

“We didn’t place enough importance on what we were doing in the first half,” Nash said.

Phoenix overcame career bests of 29 points and 21 rebounds by Seattle’s Nick Collison to hand Seattle its fifth loss in a row and 12th consecutive road defeat, two shy of the franchise record.

San Antonio 98, Portland 84 -- Tim Duncan led a balanced attack with 16 points, and the Spurs rolled to a victory at San Antonio.

The Spurs’ Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker had 14 points apiece. Bruce Bowen scored 12 points, all on three-point baskets.

Detroit 98, Philadelphia 89 -- Tayshaun Prince scored a career-high 33 points and Richard Hamilton had 22 to lead the Pistons at Philadelphia.

Samuel Dalembert had 14 points and 17 rebounds for the 76ers, losers of three in a row.

New Jersey 101, Toronto 86 -- Vince Carter scored 32 points and Richard Jefferson had 21 to lead the Nets at East Rutherford, N.J.

Andrea Bargnani scored 22 points to lead the Raptors.

Indiana 91, Atlanta 72 -- Al Harrington scored 18 points and sparked a second-half run in the Pacers’ victory at Indianapolis.

Speedy Claxton scored 12 points for Atlanta.