NBA roundup: Marion helps Mavs win 12th straight
MINNEAPOLIS — Shawn Marion had a season-high 29 points and 14 rebounds and the Dallas Mavericks stretched the league's longest active winning streak to 12 games with a 125-112 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night.
Dirk Nowitzki scored 24 points and Caron Butler had 23 for Dallas, which has flourished since acquiring Butler and Brendan Haywood from the Washington Wizards at the trade deadline.
The Mavericks (44-21) haven't lost since Feb. 16 at Oklahoma City and have climbed into second place in the Western Conference, not far behind the Los Angeles Lakers (46-18).
Al Jefferson had 36 points and 13 rebounds for Minnesota in his return from a two-game suspension because of a DWI arrest.
CAVALIERS 97, SPURS 95: At Cleveland, Mo Williams made two free throws with nine seconds left and Delonte West made the kind of plays down the stretch reserved for LeBron James and Cleveland won without its superstar. Williams finished with 17 points for the Cavs, playing their second straight game without the injured James. West had 16 points and made a key steal as Cleveland became the first team to reach 50 wins. Manu Ginobili scored a season-high 38 points to lead the Spurs, playing their first game without guard Tony Parker. He's out six weeks with a broken hand.
KNICKS 99, HAWKS 98: At New York, the Knicks beat Atlanta for the third time this year when video replay showed Al Horford's basket came after the buzzer. Wilson Chandler stopped Josh Smith's drive with seconds to play and the ball bounced out to Horford in the lane. Referees originally ruled his short jumper good, but replay clearly showed the light was on above the backboard with the ball still in his hands.
HORNETS 135, WARRIORS 131: At New Orleans, Darren Collison had 16 points and a career-high 20 assists, and New Orleans snapped a four-game losing streak.
GRIZZLIES 107, NETS 101: At Memphis, Tenn., Mike Conley and Rudy Gay had 21 points each, and Marc Gasol added 19 points and 13 rebounds as Memphis withstood a second-half rally to defeat New Jersey, snapping an eight-game home losing streak.
