Surging Nets win in Jason Kidd’s return to Dallas

Joe Johnson had 22 points, including a tying layup in regulation and the go-ahead three-pointer in overtime, and the red-hot Brooklyn Nets beat the Dallas Mavericks, 107-104, Sunday night in Jason Kidd’s return to Dallas as a coach.

The Nets swept the two-game season series with Dallas in their first year under Kidd, who spent his 41st birthday in American Airlines Center, where he essentially was a coach-on-the-floor as point guard for the Mavericks’ 2011 championship team.

Marcus Thornton had 11 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter for the Nets (37-31), who have won four straight and 11 of their last 13 in their climb to fifth place in the Eastern Conference. They have won their last five games against Western Conference teams.

Cleveland 106, at New York 100: Jarrett Jack scored a season-high 31 points and the Cavaliers, playing without injured leading scorer Kyrie Irving, ended the Knicks’ winning streak at eight games. New York led by 17 points in the first half but ultimately squandered a chance to pull to within two games of eighth-place Atlanta for the final playoff spot in the East.

Phoenix 127, at Minnesota 120: Markieff Morris scored 25 points off the bench to lead the Suns to their biggest comeback victory of the season. Phoenix trailed by 22 points in the first half and by 10 entering the fourth quarter, but shot a season-high 57% from the field to overcome Kevin Love’s 36 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists for the Timberwolves, who were outscored 34-17 in the final quarter.

at Toronto 96, Atlanta 86: Kyle Lowry scored 25 points, Jonas Valanciunas had 13 points and 13 rebounds, and the Raptors erased an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit to avoid their first three-game home losing streak since Nov. 26-Dec. 1.

at Denver 105, Washington 102: Kenneth Faried had 20 points and Aaron Brooks hit four straight free throws in the final 12 seconds, and the Nuggets held off the Wizards.

at Sacramento 124, Milwaukee 107: DeMarcus Cousins had 32 points and 12 rebounds and Isaiah Thomas had 30 points and eight assists for the Kings, who led by 26 points at halftime and by 34 through three quarters in handing the NBA’s worst team a seventh straight loss.