DALLAS – Kobe Bryant was just a little better than Dirk Nowitzki in a spirited game befitting Western Conference leaders — not teams battling for ninth place.
Bryant had 38 points to win a scoring duel with Nowitzki, and Steve Nash helped beat his former team by getting 20 points for the first time with the Los Angeles Lakers in a 103-99 victory against the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday.
Nowitzki finished with a season-high 30 in a game that had a playoff feel from the start, even though both teams still have plenty of ground to make up to even qualify for the postseason. They trail eighth-place Houston by several games, but they are the franchises that have the last three NBA titles won by teams from the West.
Bryant and Nowitzki had 16 points apiece in the first half and were still even at 24 after the third quarter before Bryant scored 14 in the fourth, including seven in the last 3 minutes.
“It’s fun,” said Bryant, who also had 12 rebounds and seven assists. “He’s one of my all-time favorites. He’s a throwback type of player. He doesn’t mind the physicality. He made some incredible plays down the stretch.”
Bryant, who went past the 31,000-point mark, was playing in Mark Cuban’s building two days after the outspoken Dallas owner suggested in a radio interview that the Lakers might have to consider dumping the five-time NBA champion through the amnesty clause.
The Lakers responded by calling the comment inappropriate.
“Amnesty THAT,” Bryant tweeted after the game.
“I’m sure if he wants to amnesty Dirk, that’s something we’ll be willing to entertain,” Bryant told reporters.
The Mavericks were so frustrated trying to guard Bryant, O.J. Mayo got called for a foul and a technical when he jumped around wildly after the whistle blew on a drive to the basket by Bryant. Nash made the technical shot, and Bryant hit his pair of free throws for a 94-90 lead.
“He’s been the best player in my decade,” said Nowitzki, who also had his season high with 13 rebounds after missing the first 27 games following knee surgery. “I’ve been in the NBA a long time and he’s the one player I love to watch. It was a big game on the national TV stage. It was a fun one. We just came up a little bit short.”
Heat 109, Cavaliers 105
In Miami, LeBron James scored 28 points, Dwyane Wade scored 11 of his 24 in the final five minutes, and the Heat extended the NBA’s longest current winning streak to 11 games.
Spurs 97, Suns 87
In Phoenix, Patty Mills and Kawhi Leonard scored 16 points apiece to lead six San Antonio players in double figures.
Knicks 99, 76ers 93
In New York, Carmelo Anthony scored 29 points, Amare Stoudemire had a season-high 22, and the Knicks snapped their longest losing streak of the season at four.
Thunder 102, Bulls 72
In Oklahoma City, Russell Westbrook scored 23 points, Kevin Durant had 19 points and 16 rebounds, and the Thunder held Chicago to the worst shooting performance in the NBA this season.
Grizzlies 76, Nets 72
In New York, Zach Randolph had 16 points and 14 rebounds, Marc Gasol scored 14 points and Memphis won its seventh straight game with a victory over Brooklyn.
Trail Blazers 92, Celtics 86
In Portland, Wesley Matthews had 24 points, including a clutch 3-pointer with less than a minute to go for the Blazers.
Warriors 100, Timberwolves 99
In Minneapolis, Jarrett Jack had 23 points and eight assists, and David Lee had 22 points and 13 rebounds to rally Golden State to a victory over Minnesota.
Hornets 110, Kings 95
In New Orleans, Anthony Davis had 20 points and eight rebounds, and Eric Gordon added 17 points and eight assists.
Click to enlarge