Mavs knock off Knicks
Dirk Nowitzki scored a season-high 36 points, leading the Dallas Mavericks to a 99-89 victory over the host New York Knicks on Monday night.
Josh Howard, who scored a career-high 47 points Saturday in a victory over Utah, added 22 to help the Mavericks beat the Knicks for the 11th time in 12 meetings.
Reserve Jerry Stackhouse added 13 points for Dallas.
Zach Randolph scored 24 points, all in the second half, and grabbed 11 rebounds, but the Knicks lost their third straight. Jamal Crawford had 19 points and Fred Jones 16, helping New York cut a 23-point deficit to single digits in the fourth quarter.
As usual with the Knicks, basketball was only part of the story.
Earlier Monday, Madison Square Garden and Knicks coach Isiah Thomas reached an $11.5 million settlement in the sexual harassment case brought by former team executive Anucha Browne Sanders.
Thomas opened his pregame news conference with a statement reaffirming his innocence, but supporting MSG's desire to settle. He wouldn't take any questions about the matter.
Thomas heard his normal boos, but the fans seemed to focus more of their anger toward center Eddy Curry, who was 3 of 13 from the field and scored 6 points in another ineffective performance.
The Knicks were without starting point guard Stephon Marbury, still emotional after the death of his father. Marbury was ineffective trying to play in two games since, and the Knicks have said he can have as much time as he needs.
Hawks 98, Magic 87: Josh Smith had 25 points and a season-high 16 rebounds, and Joe Johnson scored 24 points as Atlanta won its third straight, beating host Orlando.
It was the Magic's second straight defeat and first losing streak this season.
Hedo Turkoglu led Orlando with 22 points.
Sixers 100, Rockets 88: Andre Iguodala scored 16 points, and Andre Miller had 17 points and 12 assists for host Philadelphia in a win over Houston.
Willie Green scored 20 points for the Sixers.
Houston's Tracy McGrady scored 12 points before leaving the game in the second half with a sprained right ankle. Bonzi Wells scored 24 points.