National Basketball Association roundup: Dirk up to No. 6 in all-time scoring

Forward Dirk Nowitzki hit one of his textbook jumpers near the baseline to move beyond center Shaquille O’Neal on the National Basketball Association all-time scoring list.

This story has been corrected to show that Nowitzki’s total is 28,609 points.

“My hamstrings have been a little tight the last couple of games, and then I came to the bench and told (head athletic trainer Casey Smith) they were a little tighter than normal”, Williams told the team’s official website.

Young scored most of his 29 points in the paint and guard Bojan Bogdanovic added 17 on five 3-pointers.

This is the start of a three-game homestand for the Mavericks, which isn’t good news.

The Nets came out firing in the third quarter, possibly their best of the season. It seemed fitting that he hit the game-winning shot, an up-and-under layup after the Mavs took advantage of a mismatch when Brooklyn swingman Joe Johnson got switched onto Nowitzki on the block. The Mavericks shot 70.6% from the field (24-of-34) including 77% (10-of-13) from downtown in the first half. I’m just relishing this opportunity to have fun.

The Mavericks led by 16 in the first half, trailed by 11 in the fourth quarter, and the game went to OT when Young followed Barea’s three-point play with a 3-pointer to tie it at 108, then blocked Barea’s shot on the final possession (see full recap).

Jimmy Butler has become one of the best all-around players in the league, averaging better than 21 points, five rebounds and three assists per game.

Patrick Patterson left the Raptors’ game against the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday due to flu-like symptoms and will not return. I was a fan of his in the ’90s. The Nets, who never advanced past the second round of the playoffs with Williams despite three consecutive postseason appearances, elected to buy him out at the end of last season, and Williams ultimately signed with his hometown Mavericks.

The Nets led 118-117 in the final 30 seconds of overtime, after a hook from Brook Lopez.

Orlando Magic got the better of the Houston Rockets in a 104-101 triumph, while the Atlanta Hawks edged the Detroit Pistons 107-100 despite a strong performance from Andre Drummond (25 points).

Boston 102, at Charlotte 89: Kelly Olynyk scored 20 points, Jae Crowder added 19 points and 12 rebounds and the Celtics won their fourth in a row over the Hornets. Deron Williams isn’t a villain, nor should anyone think of him as one; we’re not talking about a player that stopped showing up to practices, got into fights with teammates, or killed small animals for pleasure. For what it’s worth, I just want to compare Williams numbers from 2011-12, or his four full seasons in Brooklyn, to a few other point guards over those years.