Mavericks ease past Celtics for ninth straight win

Reuters, Boston

The unbeaten Dallas Mavericks surged to a 50-39 half-time lead and maintained that margin the rest of the way in posting a 97-86 victory over the Boston Celtics in NBA play on Friday night.

Dallas's Dirk Nowitzki got 16 points in each half to finish with a season-high 32.

He also dished out seven assists and grabbed nine rebounds. Team mate Steve Nash added 14 points and nine assists.

Antoine Walker paced the Celtics with 22 points, with Tony Delk and Shammond Williams each getting 19.

The Mavs (9-0) have now won five in a row over the Celtics, including a 108-82 rout at FleetCenter in their last meeting last March.

In Toronto, the Raptors finally found a way to win against Midwest Division teams, rallying to down the Denver Nuggets 84- 79.

Toronto had previously lost to the "Texas Triangle" of San Antonio, Houston and Dallas.

The Raptors had five players in double figures, with Voshon Lenard, who is subbing for injured Vince Carter, counting 19 points and Antonio Davis getting 18.

James Posey had 24 points and 12 rebounds for the losers.

In Indianapolis, the Pacers used a "prayer" by Ron Artest in overtime to post a 103-100 decision over the never-say-die Milwaukee Bucks.

The Bucks rallied to force a fifth period, outscoring the Pacers 30-12 in the fourth stanza.

Artest finished with 22 points, one fewer than team mate Jermaine O'Neal, who also grabbed 16 rebounds.

Ray Allen had 24 points for the Bucks, Sam Cassell 20 and Michael Redd 18, along with 10 rebounds.

It was the Pacers' sixth consecutive victory.

In Miami, the New Jersey Nets used a 32-22 third-quarter spurt to down the host Heat 93-84.

Jason Kidd had another huge night, notching 33 points for the Nets, just two shy of his season high.

Lucious Harris was next best for Jersey, tallying a mere 14.

Caron Butler and Eddie Jones each had 18 for Miami, with Brian Grant grabbing 15 rebounds.

New Jersey improved to 7-2 in posting just its second road win.

In Auburn Hills, Michigan, the Pistons' Richard Hamilton got a game-high 25 points to spark Detroit to an 86-75 victory over the Utah Jazz.

In Memphis, the Minnesota Timberwolves added to the winless Grizzlies' woes, edging the home side 99-95 in Hubie Brown's Memphis coaching debut.

In New Orleans, the Hornets stayed perfect in their new home with a 105-87 shellacking of the Chicago Bulls.

In Portland, the Trail Blazers rode a 36-17 opening quarter to a 112-88 humbling of the Los Angeles Clippers.

In Seattle, it was all Supersonics, the hosts romping 111-97 over the defending Pacific Division champion Sacramento Kings.

In Phoenix, Stephon Marbury notched up his 20th point with just six seconds on the clock on a driving layup, giving the host Suns a come-from-behind 88-87 win over the Houston Rockets.

In Los Angeles, Kobe Bryant poured in 45 points as the Lakers ended a four-game losing skid with a 96-89 overtime win over the Golden State Warriors.