Mavericks rally past Cavs to stay unbeaten

Reuters, Cleveland, Ohio

The Cavaliers gave the high-flying Mavericks a scare in NBA action on Wednesday, but Dallas rallied to prevail 103-99 and remain the league's only undefeated team.

The Mavericks are now 8-0, the best start in franchise history.

Cleveland led by 13 points with three minutes to play in the third quarter before Dallas closed to within one on a 12-0 run.

Michael Finley paced the winners with 26 points, with Dirk Nowitzki adding 17 -- 13 in the final frame -- and 12 rebounds. Steve Nash chipped in with 14 points and seven assists.

Zydrunas Ilgauskas had 34 points and 14 rebounds to pace the Cavs, who are now just 2-7 on the season after suffering their fifth straight loss. Jumaine Jones added 23 and Ricky Davis had 19.

In Boston, the Celtics used a 21-4 run that took in portions of the final two quarters to defeat the Philadelphia 76ers 91-81 for their sixth straight win.

Six Celtics were in double figures, with Antoine Walker getting a team-high 20 points. Paul Pierce had 13 and seven rebounds.

Philadelphia was led by Allen Iverson, who bagged 25 points. Big man Todd MacCulloch chipped in with 15 and grabbed eight rebounds.

It was a rematch of a last year's first-round playoff series, which Boston won in five games.

In East Rutherford, New Jersey, the Nets got a career-high 27 points from Richard Jefferson in a 91-82 conquest of the San Antonio Spurs.

Teammate Jason Kidd came up just short in his bid for his 48th career triple-double. He notched 18 points, but was held to eight rebounds and eight assists.

Lucious Harris added 15 points and nine rebounds for the Nets.

Tim Duncan, who edged Kidd for the MVP award last season, led the Spurs with 21 points, with Stephen Jackson getting 20.

Veteran David Robinson got just six points, but grabbed a game-high 14 rebounds.

In Milwaukee, the Bucks rode a 42-14 second quarter to a 108- 101 win over the Chicago Bulls.

Michael Redd had a big night for the Bucks, pouring in 24 points in 28 minutes, with Ray Allen adding 19. Anthony Mason had 10 points and 10 rebounds for Milwaukee.

In New Orleans, the host Hornets used a 29-17 final quarter -- including an 18-3 run -- to rally past the Minnesota Timberwolves 102-98.

In Denver, Stephon Marbury had 19 points and eight assists to spark the Phoenix Suns to a 75-72 win over the punchless Nuggets.

In Oakland, a fast start carried the Sacramento Kings to a 104-93 win over the Golden State Warriors.