DALLAS - It took the third highest scoring game of Dirk Nowitzki's career for the Mavericks to overcome the Thunder's best outing of the season.
Nowitzki scored a season high 46 points to lead Dallas to a 103-99 win Saturday night in front of the 287th consecutive sellout American Airlines Center crowd. Nowitzki matched his career high for made field goals.
The former league MVP was 17-of-30 from the field, 10-of-10 at the line and tossed in two 3-pointers. Jason Terry chipped in 28 for the Mavs.
"It took their two top players to have monster games," said Thunder coach Scott Brooks. "Unfortunately they did. Our guys continue to battle. We're going to win some games."
Led by 25 points from Jeff Green, 18 in the first half, Oklahoma City led 54-50 at halftime.
The lead would have been even bigger if Nowitzki hadn't drained 9 of 12 shots the first half.
Six points shy off his career best (52), Nowitzki has been red hot of late. The 7-foot forward has averaged 32.7 the past six games, all Dallas wins.
"Dirk is amazing," Brooks said.
"Every season he's up for MVP, one of the top players in this league. He was in a zone. You can't do anything when a guy is shooting with a hand in his face. That's what you teach. We can't teach them to put two hands in his face... It's not like he was making layups."
