Nowitzki passes Shaq, helps Mavs pull out OT win over Nets
Dallas Mavericks’ Dirk Nowitzki, seond from right, is defended by Brooklyn Nets’ Joe Johnson (7) during the overtime period of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2015, in New York. The Mavericks won 119-118. AP
NEW YORK, New York—Dirk Nowitzki moved past Shaquille O’Neal into sixth place on the NBA’s career scoring list, then made the go-ahead basket with 19.2 seconds left in overtime in the Dallas Mavericks’ 119-118 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday night.
J.J. Barea had a career-high 32 points and added a season-best 11 assists for the Mavericks. Nowitzki scored 22 points, giving him 22,609 in his career, and Wesley Matthews finished with 17.
Article continues after this advertisementThaddeus Young had a season-best 29 points for the Nets.
The Mavericks led by 16 in the first half, trailed by 11 in the fourth quarter, and the game went to OT when Young followed Barea’s three-point play with a 3-pointer to tie it at 108, then blocked Barea’s shot on the final possession.
