DALLAS (AP) -Dirk Nowitzki had 22 points, Josh Howard and Devin Harris each had 19, and the Dallas Mavericks led throughout in a 97-84 victory Saturday that snapped Atlanta’s five-game winning streak.
Dallas made its first five shots, including 3-pointers by Howard and Nowitzki, to jump out to a 12-0 lead less than 2 1/2 minutes into the game. While the Mavericks had to hold off a late charge by Atlanta, Howard and Nowitzki kept it from getting too close.
The Hawks (15-13) missed out on their first six-game winning streak since late in the 1998-99 season, the last time they made the playoffs and finished with a winning record. Atlanta had last won five in a row in December 1999.
Marvin Williams led Atlanta with 18 points while Joe Johnson had 17 points.
Pistons 98, Pacers 92
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – Richard Hamilton scored 24 points, Chauncey Billups had 17, and Detroit beat Indiana for its eighth straight victory.
Reserve Jason Maxiell added 12 points and Rasheed Wallace finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds to help the Pistons (23-7) complete a home-and-home sweep.
Jermaine O’Neal had 20 points and 11 rebounds, Mike Dunleavy scored 18 points and Danny Granger chipped in 15 for Indiana (15-16), which dropped its third straight game.
Wizards 96, Heat 74
WASHINGTON (AP) – Andray Blatche scored 18 points, and Washington led by as many as 30 in handing Miami its fourth loss in a row.
It was the lowest point total for the Heat – or any Wizards opponent – this season.
Caron Butler scored 16 for Washington, and Antawn Jamison added 15 points and nine rebounds.
A night after playing 51 1/2 minutes, Dwyane Wade looked sluggish at times and finished with 12 points on 5-for-12 shooting, along with seven turnovers, in 27 minutes. Shaquille O’Neal and Jason Williams were out with injuries.
Ricky Davis score 22 points for Miami, last in the Eastern Conference at 8-23.
Hornets 86, Cavaliers 76
NEW ORLEANS (AP) – David West had 27 points and 15 rebounds, leading New Orleans over Cleveland for its fifth straight victory.
Chris Paul had 20 points, nine assists and tied a career high with seven steals, while Tyson Chandler added 11 points and 12 rebounds to help New Orleans (20-10) tie its best start through 30 games in franchise history.
LeBron James drew the first sellout of the season in New Orleans Arena (17,623) and also drew a lot of attention from New Orleans’ defense. James tried to let his teammates do most of the scoring through the first three quarters, but it didn’t work.
New Orleans led by double digits throughout the second half, when James scored 13 of his 21 points.
Zydrunas Ilgauskas had 14 points and 12 rebounds for Cleveland, but scored only two points in the second half. Daniel Gibson scored 14, while Drew Gooden had 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Magic 104, Bobcats 95
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) – Hedo Turkoglu scored a season-high 28 points, Dwight Howard added 15 points and 21 rebounds, and Orlando beat Charlotte for its third straight victory.
Carlos Arroyo replaced the injured Jameer Nelson at point guard for Orlando and had 16 points and six assists. Rashard Lewis scored 18 points and Keith Bogans 12 as all five Magic starters reached double figures.
Jason Richardson led Charlotte with a season-high 34 points and Gerald Wallace scored 23, but the Bobcats lost their fourth straight game. Raymond Felton added 13 and Matt Carroll 10 for Charlotte.
Rockets 91, Raptors 79
HOUSTON (AP) – Yao Ming scored 17 of his 25 points in the second half and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead Houston.
Rafer Alston added 18 points, and Bonzi Wells had 13 points and 11 rebounds as Houston won its second straight and third in four games. Tracy McGrady missed his second straight game with left knee tendinitis. He is day-to-day.
Chris Bosh led the Raptors with 19 points. Jamario Moon and Jose Calderon each scored 11 as Toronto lost for the fourth time in five games.
Nets 97, Bucks 95
MILWAUKEE (AP) – Vince Carter scored eight of his 23 points in the final four minutes, Jason Kidd added 11 of his 17 in the fourth quarter, and New Jersey beat Milwaukee.
Richard Jefferson had 19 for the Nets, who have won four of five. Kidd finished with 15 assists but six turnovers.
Michael Redd led Milwaukee with 35 points. Mo Williams, on his bobblehead night, had 24 points, 20 in the first half, before fouling out with 2:03 remaining. The Bucks have lost five of six.
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