Jerry Stackhouse (18 points) and Josh Howard (16 points) provided Nowitzki with ample support as the Mavericks wrapped up home court advantage for every round in the playoffs.

With five games remaining the Mavericks own the best record in the league (64-13) and will rest Nowitzki and Stackhouse for the remainder of the regular season.

Playing without injured duo Sam Cassell and Tim Thomas the Clippers were well served by Corey Maggette (24 points) and Elton Brand (20 points), but their team-mates contributed little.

In Denver, Carmelo Anthony netted 33 points as the Denver Nuggets held off a late challenge from the Los Angeles Lakers to register a 115-111 victory.

The Nuggets led by 10 points at three-quarter-time, but the Lakers hit the front during the last term under some hot shooting from Kobe Bryant (23 points), Luke Walton (19 points) and Lamar Odom (18 points).

Allen Iverson hit 24 points for the Nuggets, while Linas Kleiza contributed 17 points off the bench as the Nuggets won their sixth match in a row.

In New York, the Detroit Pistons registered their 50th win of the season with a come from behind 91-83 victory over the New York Knicks.

Detroit trailed by five points at three-quarter-time but Chauncey Billups (22 points) and Richard Hamilton (19 points) steadied the ship to guide the Pistons to the win.

Nate Robinson and Eddy Curry shot 24 points apiece for the Knicks, but injured point guard Stephon Marbury was sorely missed.

In other matches, the Orlando Magic thrashed the Milwaukee Bucks 117-94, the Toronto Raptors downed the Minnesota Timberwolves 111-100, the San Antonio Spurs overpowered the Portland Trailblazers 112-96, the Houston Rockets held off the Seattle Supersonics 95-90 and the Golden State Warriors defeated the Utah Jazz 126-102.

NBA results
New York Knicks 83 Detroit Pistons 91
Milwaukee Bucks 94 Orlando Magic 117
Minnesota Timberwolves 100 Toronto Raptors 111
San Antonio Spurs 112 Portland Trailblazers 96
Dallas Mavericks 96 Los Angeles Clippers 86
Denver Nuggets 115 Los Angeles Lakers 111
Seattle Supersonics 90 Houston Rockets 95
Golden State Warriors 126 Utah Jazz 102