Nowitzki past O’Neal, into sixth place

Dallas Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki moved past Shaquille O’Neal on Wednesday night against the Brooklyn Nets to the No. 6 scorer in National Basketball Association history against. The Mavericks have been exchanging wins and losses for the past couple of weeks and rode J.J. Barea’s career-high 32 points to a 119-118 overtime victory in Brooklyn on Christmas Eve. Jimmy Butler, who recently called out head coach Fred Hoiberg, scored 23 points and both Pau Gasol and Gibson had double-doubles as Chicago won their first road game since November 24.

“I have never seen a team shoot 77 percent from three in a half, maybe a quarter, but they were extremely hot”.

James dropped 24 points and pulled down nine rebounds while Love ended up with 23 points and 13 rebounds.

In the joyous postgame locker room following his very special night Wednesday at the Barclays Center, Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki took a step back in time. He was expected to have the same kind of transformational impact on this franchise that Chris Paul – the player he had most often been compared to and who was picked one spot after him in the 2005 National Basketball Association draft – was having, turning around another second team in a big market, the moribund Los Angeles Clippers.

But Brooklyn forward Thaddeus Young would hit a 3-pointer of his own to push the game to overtime at 108-108.

Undaunted, the Dallas Mavericks played a dominant first half before nearly letting this game slip away – and probably would have if not a for a career-high in points for another guard, this one named J.J.

Neither teams numbers were as sexy in the fourth, but the quarter was defined by late lead changes and hustle plays.

Zach LaVine was the Timberwolves’ top-scorer with 17 points.

MILWAUKEE – Giannis Antetokounmpo made his first 11 shots to finish with 22 points, Khris Middleton added 21 on 8-of-9 shooting and Milwaukee beat hapless Philadelphia.

Denver 104, at Phoenix 96: Randy Foye scored a season-high 31 points, hitting seven three-pointers, and the Nuggets bounced back from a home loss to the Lakers. “I wanted to get to 30 (points in a game) before I finished my career”.

The basket was just another in a long list of baskets Nowitzki has scored in his illustrious career. They should know more at that time about the status of Devin Harris (right hamstring) and Deron Williams (left hamstring). I wish I would’ve played better and people didn’t feel like I was just stealing money. Jack took the final shot with 3.6 seconds on the clock, but it didn’t drop and the Nets played the role of moral victor and hard-luck loser.

John Wall finished with 14 points and 14 assists as the Washington Wizards triumphed over the Memphis Grizzlies 100-91.

Kawhi Leonard starred for the Spurs as he scored 19 points and grabbed six rebounds.