Nowitzki’s layup lifts Mavs over Nets in OT

Dallas Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki passed Shaquille O’Neal for sixth place on the National Basketball Association all-time scoring list Wednesday, scoring 22 points to help defeat host Brooklyn 119-118 in overtime.

Dallas Mavericks power forward Dirk Nowitzki (41) reacts after hitting a three point shot against the Brooklyn Nets during the first quarter at Barclays Center.

The Nuggets, losers at home to the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night, bolted to a 22-point lead in the first half, withstood a second-half Suns rally and pulled away. O’Neal had 28,596 in his career and is a candidate for induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016. After Nowitzki’s layup, Jarrett Jack missed a jumper on Brooklyn’s final possession.

Klay Thompson kept up his superb form for the Golden State Warriors in their 103-85 home win against the Utah Jazz. If he plays two more seasons after the current one, that would make an even 20 for his career.

But Young drained an off-balance three-pointer with 6.3 seconds left to tie it at 108.

Kevin Durant added 21 points for the Thunder. He has 15 double-doubles thus far, including Monday’s win over the Chicago Bulls and Wednesday night’s close loss to the Mavs. As he’s said multiple times recently, NY isn’t for everyone, and it certainly wasn’t for him.

The Knicks were playing without Carmelo Anthony (sprained right ankle), but they still almost pulled off the upset thanks to 23 points and 13 rebounds from rookie Kristaps Porzingis. He said he felt great after the second game.

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

Frank Kaminsky scored 23 points for the Hornets. Gibson has stepped up his game with increased playing time of late, averaging nine points and 7.2 rebounds in nine straight starts.ABOUT THE MAVERICKS (16-13): Dallas’ short-term future looks a bit brighter with the increased productivity of reserve forward Chandler Parsons.

He now trails Wilt Chamberlain (31,419) for fifth on the list.

INDIANAPOLIS – DeMarcus Cousins (25 points, 16 rebounds) sank two free throws with 1:05 remaining, and Sacramento defeated Indiana. This was incredibly prevalent as the Nets climbed back into the game and built a lead in the third quarter, and no matter what substitutions Rick made, the offense just couldn’t quite figure things out.

John Wall finished with 14 points and 14 assists as the Washington Wizards triumphed over the Memphis Grizzlies 100-91. They way we’ve played for six quarters, you know these last games, roughly is how we want to play out the rest of the season.

Marcus Thornton’s 3-pointer missed at the final horn, ending Houston’s three-game winning streak.