Nowitzki, Mavericks survive late surge by Grizzlies

Navarro missed two open 3-pointers in the waning seconds Saturday night, sending the Memphis Grizzlies to their 12th straight loss to the Dallas Mavericks, 108-105.

 Josh Howard matched a season high with 27 points and German juggernaut Dirk Nowitzki added 21 for the Mavericks, who blew a 10-point lead in the last three minutes but recovered to improve to 5-0 at home.

 "We were up three and gave them a clean look to tie it," Nowitzki admitted. "We were really very fortunate that (Navarro) missed both of them. We didn't really finish the game the way we wanted to."

   Consecutive driving layups by Howard gave Dallas a 101-91 lead with 3:37 to go before Memphis rallied behind Mike Miller, who scored 23 points. He hit a 3-pointer, then added a three-point play to tie it, 101-91, with 1:13 left.

 Nowitzki and Rudy Gay traded baskets before two free throws by Nowitzki gave the Mavericks the lead for good with 30 seconds remaining. Spanish star Pau Gasol was stripped by Devin Harris, who made 1-of-2 free throws for a 106-103 lead with 17 seconds to play.

 Navarro, a rookie who teamed with Gasol to lead Spain to the gold medal at the 2006 World Championships, made two free throws. But so did Nowitzki, setting up the final possession.

 Navarro, who made 8-of-9 3-pointers in Friday's loss to New Orleans, inbounded to Gasol, took a return pass but missed the potential tying shot. Hakim Warrick grabbed the rebound and wheeled and passed to Navarro, who again missed an open 3-pointer as the buzzer sounded.

 "I was alone," Navarro said. "I was just trying to find one good shot and make it. It was bad luck."

   "Some good, some bad tonight," Mavericks coach Avery Johnson said. "We're glad to get out of here with a win."

   Coming off Friday's eruption, Navarro got his first career start and scored 10 points in the first quarter. Memphis opened a 10-point lead early in the second period before Howard rallied Dallas to a 54-53 halftime lead.

 Nowitzki uncharacteristically missed is first four free throws but finished 9-of-14 from the line. Devin Harris had 19 points and eight assists for the Mavericks, who have not lost to the Grizzlies since the 2004-05 season.

 "I couldn't make a free throw to save my life at the beginning," Nowitzki said. "It was just a weird game for me."

   Warrick scored 17 points, Gasol added 15 and Navarro 14 for Memphis, which has lost five of six overall. Phoenix 115, Houston 105

   "Brazilian Blur" Leandro Barbosa and Amare Stoudemire scored 21 points each and Steve Nash added 19 and 15 assists for visiting Phoenix, which has won five in a row.

 Chinese superstar Yao Ming continued his struggles against the Suns with just 12 points on 4-of-17 shooting. The Rockets have lost four in a row, the last two without injured superstar Tracy McGrady (elbow).

New Orleans 100, Minnesota 82

   Serbia's Peja Stojakovic scored 22 points to lead six players in double figures as the visiting Hornets improved to 9-2, the best record in the Western Conference. Al Jefferson had 20 points and 10 boards for the Timberwolves (1-7).

Denver 115, New York 83

   Carmelo Anthony scored 24 points, Allen Iverson added 23, Lithuania's Linas Kleiza added 18 and Marcus Camby swept 20 boards for host Denver, which rolled to its fifth straight win. New York has lost six in a row.

Washington 109, Portland 90

   Antawn Jamison had 30 points and 11 rebounds for host Washington, which won its fourth straight game despite the absence of All-Star guard Gilbert Arenas (knee). Portland fell to 0-6 on the road.

Miami 91, New Jersey 87

   Dwyane Wade scored 23 points, including a clinching jumper in the closing seconds, to help visiting Miami stop a three-game slide. The Nets have dropped five straight games.

Indiana 117, Utah 97

   Mike Dunleavy Jr. scored 25 points to lead a balanced attack as Indiana ended a six-game slide. Russian Andrei Kirilenko had 12 points and five blocks for Utah.

Charlotte 100, Seattle 84

   Gerald Wallace scored 27 points and Jason Richardson added 23 for the host Bobcats. Rookie Kevin Durant managed 16 points on just 3-of-12 shooting for the SuperSonics.

Milwaukee 105, Atlanta 96

   Australian Andrew Bogut and Michael Redd scored 21 points apiece to offset a career-high 38 points by Josh Smith. Atlanta has lost 17 straight road games.

Chicago 92, LA Clippers 73

   Ben Gordon scored 25 points for the visiting Bulls, who dealt the Clippers their fourth setback in five games.

By Paul Levine, dpa