Dirk Nowitzki Reaches 23,000 Points As Mavericks Top Bucks 102-76 (VIDEO)
DALLAS -- Dirk Nowitzki went over 23,000 career points, Vince Carter had his highest-scoring game in Dallas and the Mavericks stretched their winning streak to four games with a 102-76 victory over Milwaukee on Friday night.
The defending NBA champion Mavericks (7-5) are finally on a roll after an 0-3 start. Dallas has won its last five home games since lopsided losses on consecutive days there to open the season nearly three weeks ago.
Nowitzki became the 23rd NBA player with 23,000 points, hitting that mark when he made a free throw with 7:17 left in the first half. He finished with 11 points, putting him at 23,008, third among active players behind Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett.
Carter had 11 of his 16 points in the first 6 1/2 minutes of the game. Jason Terry led Dallas with 17 points, including three 3-pointers.
Brandon Jennings had 19 points and Shaun Livingston 15 for the Bucks (4-7), who are undefeated at home but now have an NBA-high seven road losses.
Milwaukee was without 7-foot Andrew Bogut, who was out because of concussion-like symptoms.
Bogut fell backward and hit the back of his head on the floor while taking a charge during Thursday night's victory over Detroit. Coach Scott Skiles said Bogut failed a pregame check for concussion symptoms and was ruled out in accordance with the league's concussion policy.
Dallas pushed ahead 74-47 on a 3-pointer by Nowitzki that capped a 14-0 run over a 4-minute span early in the third quarter before Jennings made a jumper.
The Bucks had a spurt of 10 consecutive points to get within 77-61 with 2:18 left in the third quarter. That was the closest they got.
After Rick Carlisle called a timeout, Terry had a steal. He missed the breakaway layup, but Roddy Beaubois had a follow slam that started a 13-2 spurt. By time Terry ended that run with a 3-pointer early in the fourth quarter, Dallas led 90-63 lead.
With the Mavericks playing again at home Saturday night, before going to the West Coast to start a four-game road trip over six days, Nowitzki and the rest of the starters watched the rest of the game from the bench. The most minutes played by starters were 22 by Nowitzki, Shawn Marion and Delonte West.
Beaubois finished with 15 points on 7-of-12 shooting.
Carter, the 13th-year pro that signed with Dallas last month, opened the game with a slam dunk on the opening possession. He had a driving layup, another slam and a 3-pointer before a reverse layup with 5:36 left in the first quarter put the Mavs up 18-13. His first miss came when he tried another 3-pointer on the next possession.
The 16 points were well short of his career high of 51 he's done twice.
NOTES: Dallas matched its season high for points scored. The 76 points by Milwaukee were the lowest by a Mavericks opponent this season. .. Jason Kidd (lower back) missed his fourth consecutive game for Dallas. ... Bogut just returned Tuesday after missing four games to fly home to Australia to deal with a personal matter. The Bucks have now lost all five games he's missed.
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By STEPHEN HAWKINS 01/13/12 11:32 PM ET Associated Press