Associated Press
The NBA roundup …
DALLAS ó Dirk Nowitzki scored 30 points and Josh Howard had 20 points and drew a game-saving foul with 2.3 seconds left, giving the Dallas Mavericks a 98-96 victory over the Miami Heat on Wednesday night.
In a game that often had the intensity of their 2006 NBA finals matchup, the Heat led by 11 late in the third and were up by four with several minutes left. But a series of bad possessions ó culminated by Mario Chalmers’ charging foul into Howard when Dwyane Wade was asking for the ball or a timeout ó ruined it for Miami.
Lakers 104, Bucks 98
MILWAUKEE ó Kobe Bryant rebounded from a rough shooting night to hit his first seven from the field and score 30 points, Pau Gasol had eight of his 15 in the fourth quarter, and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Milwaukee Bucks 104-98.
Lamar Odom added 20 points and 10 rebounds for the Lakers, who were playing the finale of a grueling seven-game road trip and coming off two straight losses.
Ramon Sessions had his first career triple-double for the Bucks, who fell four games out of the Eastern Conference’s final playoff spot. Sessions finished with 16 points, 16 assists and 10 rebounds.
Raptors 99, Magic 95
ORLANDO, Fla. ó Chris Bosh had 24 points, including a 22-footer over Dwight Howard with 29 seconds left that put the game out of reach, and the Toronto Raptors beat the Orlando Magic 99-95 on Wednesday night.
Jose Calderon had 21 points, and Shawn Marion added 17 points and 15 rebounds for the Raptors, who nearly blew an 11-point lead before holding on to extend their season-high winning streak to five games. Rashard Lewis missed a potential tying 3-pointer with 20 seconds left.
Dwight Howard had 30 points and nine rebounds for Orlando (55-19), which fell percentage points behind Boston.
Nets 111, Pistons 98
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. ó On a night the New Jersey Nets showed they weren’t quitters by putting an end to a season-high losing streak, Detroit showed why a great recent run appears to be over.
Devin Harris had 19 points and 11 assists, and the Nets snapped a five-game skid with a 111-98 victory over the sluggish Pistons
Grizzlies 112, Wizards 107
MEMPHIS, Tenn. ó Rudy Gay scored 25 points and Mike Conley added 22 to lead the Memphis Grizzlies to their first home win since the All-Star break, a 112-107 victory over the Washington Wizards.