Final: Mavs 122, Lakers 111

Box Score | Highlights

Behind the Box Score

The Mavericks scored 70 points in the first half behind Dirk Nowitzki’s brilliance and some excellent 3-point shooting. It’s the first time the Mavs have scored at least 70 before the break since April 10, 2015, in a win at Denver. Dallas is now 19-3 in the last 22 games it’s scored at least as many points in the first half. The Mavs’ 103 points through three frames is the most since they scored 110 after three against these same Lakers on Nov. 21, 2014.

Dirk Nowitzki’s 25-point first half was the most he’s scored before the break in a game since Nov. 16, 2008 (26 at New York). The Mavs are now 5-0 all-time when he scores at least 25 in the first half. His 18 points in the first quarter is tied for the highest total in the opening frame in his career, and the most he’s scored in any quarter since Jan. 11, 2014.

The Mavs have now won 14 straight games against the Lakers. It’s the club’s longest winning streak against L.A.

Notebook

  • Dirk Nowitzki scored his 30,000th career point on a 15-foot face-up jumper from the baseline, right in front of his team’s bench, with 10:58 to go in the second quarter. It was his 20th point of the game. Dirk is just the sixth player in NBA history to reach that milestone — joining Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, and Wilt Chamberlain — and he’s only the third to score at least that many points all for once franchise (joining Malone and Bryant). He is an unbelievable athlete, and incredible person, and extremely deserving of the honor he just achieved. What a moment it was at American Airlines Center for him, his team, and the fans. Just an awesome night.

  • The tributes have been pouring in all over the internet from all across the world. NBA commissioner Adam Silver weighed in with the following: “Congratulations to Dirk Nowitzki on joining the NBA’s most exclusive 30,000-point club. Throughout his 19 seasons with the Mavericks, Dirk has been a model player and terrific ambassador for our game. This latest accomplishment further establishes his legacy as one of the NBA’s greatest players.”

    This was the in-arena video which played at the AAC right after the shot.

    And here was a tribute featuring past and present German athletes.

    Awesome stuff. At that moment, Holger was all of us, and we were all Holger.


  • There’s more to him than just scoring the ball at a solid rate for a long period of time. Nowitzki had his third double-double in his last four outings tonight. He’s rebounding the ball on the defensive glass at a better rate than he has any other year in his career. Since moving to center nearly full-time, he’s been the team’s best rebounder. Even at 38 years old, he’s still doing amazing things. There really is only one Dirk Nowitzki.

  • Wesley Matthews hit five 3s in his second-most prolific outing from deep since mid-December. Dallas shot the 3-ball well in general tonight, draining 17 treys and overwhelming the Lakers with offensive execution and shot-making. That won’t be the story, obviously, but the Dallas offense has been absolutely humming lately.

    What’s Next

    The Mavs (27-36) will play the Brooklyn Nets (11-51) on Friday at American Airlines Center at 8 p.m. Central.

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