NBA roundup: Nowitzki lifts Mavericks in 4th quarter past Spurs

SAN ANTONIO — Dirk Nowitzki scored 26 points, including 16 in the fourth quarter, to rally the Dallas Mavericks to a 112-103 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Friday night.

Trailing by 10 after three periods, Nowitzki brought the Mavs back during a furious fourth. With a flurry of fadeaways, turnarounds and long-range jumpers, Nowitzki helped Dallas build an eight-point lead.

The Spurs pulled within four, 104-100, but Nowitzki held them back with a 3-pointer with 51 seconds to play.

Spurs forward Tim Duncan outperformed Nowitzki with 31 points and 12 rebounds, but the Mavs' star got strong support from five others who scored in double-figures. Jason Terry had 21 points, Erick Dampier added 14, and Shawn Marion and Tim Thomas each chipped in 12.

WIZARDS 104, MAGIC 97: At Washington, the last-place and distracted Washington Wizards overcame a 10-point, fourth-quarter deficit Friday night, beating the Orlando Magic 104-97 in the team's first game at the Verizon Center since Gilbert Arenas' suspension.

The Wizards earned several rousing, standing ovations during the final period — an unusual display from the typically subdued Washington crowds — for their perseverance in what has been one of the most difficult weeks in franchise history.

BLAZERS 107, LAKERS 98: At Portland, Ore., Brandon Roy scored 32 points and the Portland Trail Blazers won their ninth straight at home against the Los Angeles Lakers with a 107-98 victory on Friday night.

The Blazers own the NBA's longest home winning streak against the defending NBA champions.

Kobe Bryant had 32 points and eight rebounds for the Lakers, who trailed by as many as 20 points in the fourth quarter but cut the margin to single digits in the final minutes.

The victory is the latest display of Portland's surprising resiliency despite a rash of injuries. The Blazers have won seven of their last 10 games.

The team has lost both of its big men — Greg Oden and Joel Przybilla — to knee injuries for the rest of the season.

NUGGETS 99, CAVALIERS 97: At Denver, with Carmelo Anthony on the sidelines in street clothes, the Denver Nuggets managed to hold off LeBron James and the Cavs as Chauncey Billups scored 23 for the Nuggets and Nene added 20. James led Cleveland with 35, but no other Cavalier had more than 11 points.

James hit a pair of 3-pointers to make it close, but Billups hit a free throw with 0.2 seconds left to ice it.