Nowitzki scored 36 of his season-high 38 points after the first period and the Mavericks returned to winning ways with a 108-105 victory over the Jazz.

Josh Howard added 21 points for the Mavericks, who bounced back from Sunday's 101-98 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers that snapped a 13-game winning streak.

Jason Terry finished with 18 points and six assists and Devin Harris 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting for Dallas, who shot 53% (37-of-70).

Carlos Boozer scored 29 points and Mehmet Okur and Matt Harpring had 14 apiece for Utah, who lost for the eighth time in the last 10 games against Dallas.

In Indianapolis, Al Harrington scored 14 of his 18 points in the third quarter and Danny Granger added 15 and 10 rebounds as the Indiana Pacers dominated the interior en route to a 91-72 victory over the struggling Atlanta Hawks.

Jeff Foster added eight points and 17 rebounds for the Pacers, who shot just 42% (36-of-85) from the field but used a 54-43 advantage on the glass to secure their second straight win.

Tayshaun Prince scored a career-high 33 points and Richard Hamilton added 12 of his 22 in the third quarter as the Detroit Pistons strolled to a 98-89 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers.

A fourth-year forward, Prince connected on 13-of-18 shots - including 5-of-6 from three-point range - and pulled down five rebounds.

Flip Murray had 12 points and a career-best 12 assists for Detroit, who have won 10 of the last 11 meetings against Philadelphia.

The New Jersey Nets' trio of stars were too much for the Toronto Raptors.

Vince Carter scored 24 of his 32 points in the first half and Richard Jefferson took over in the third quarter as the Nets posted a 101-86 victory over the Raptors.

Jason Kidd had 10 points, 14 assists and eight rebounds for New Jersey (15-19), who took over first place in the Atlantic Division from Toronto with their fourth win in five games.

Young Italian star Andrea Bargnani scored 22 points - one shy of his season high - and Jose Calderon, a winner with Spain at the 2006 FIBA World Championship, scored 15 of his season-high 16 points in the first half for the Raptors, who had a modest two-game winning streak snapped.

Another key man for Spain in Japan, Pau Gasol, continued his recent fine form.

Gasol, who missed the title match in the Far East after breaking his foot in the semi-final win over Argentina, has been outstanding for the Memphis Grizzlies since his return to action.

Gasol collected 26 points and 13 rebounds and Mike Miller added 25 points as the Grizzlies used a high-scoring third quarter en route to a 128-118 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.

Damon Stoudamire scored 16 points for Memphis (9-25), who snapped a two-game losing streak and improved to 3-3 under interim coach Tony Barone.

In San Antonio, Tim Duncan collected 16 points and nine rebounds to lead four starters in double figures as the San Antonio Spurs cruised to a 98-84 triumph over the struggling Portland Trail Blazers.

France star Tony Parker and Argentinian Manu Ginobili scored 14 points apiece for the Spurs, who have won seven consecutive meetings against the Trail Blazers.

Shawn Marion had 29 points and 15 rebounds and Steve Nash collected 27 and 11 assists as the Phoenix Suns raced to a 113-102 victory over the SuperSonics for their seventh straight win.

LeBron James scored 24 of his 34 points in the second half as the surging Cleveland Cavaliers rallied for their fifth straight win, a 108-98 triumph over the Sacramento Kings.

The fourth-year superstar made 14-of-26 shots, including 9-of-14 after intermission.

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