Mavs win shootout against Rockets

Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki's 53 points out-gunned Houston's Tracy McGrady with 48.
DALLAS (AP) -- Dirk Nowitzki scored 53 points -- the most ever by a Dallas player and tops in the NBA this season -- and was just as dominant in other parts of his game, carrying the Mavericks past the Houston Rockets 113-106 in overtime Thursday night.
Nowitzki scored 43 in regulation, then opened overtime with a 10-0 run. It featured a tough three-point play when he was fouled by Tracy McGrady on a layup, and a high-arcing 3-pointer that drew the biggest roar of the night and forced the Rockets to call a time out. Nowitzki celebrated by pointing up with his index finger and soaking in the cheers.
As exciting as his baskets were, he was equally impressive on defense, stripping Jim Jackson on a drive when it was 97-93 then knocking a ball away from McGrady on Houston's next possession. He was active all night, as evidenced by his season highs for rebounds (16) and blocks (four).
Yet the Mavericks still had to sweat this one out.
McGrady hit a 3-pointer with 1:03 left that made it 108-104. A layup by Jackson with 20.4 seconds remaining got Houston back within four, but the Rockets couldn't get any closer in losing their fifth straight.
McGrady finished with a season-high 48. Jackson scored 17 and Yao Ming had 13 points and a season-high 14 rebounds before fouling out with 53 seconds left.
Nowitzki finished 15-of-32, and was 21-of-22 from the line.
He topped his season high of 32 early in the fourth, then passed his career high of 42 and matched the NBA season-high of 43 by Cleveland's James on the free throws that came when Yao fouled out. He matched the franchise record of 50 -- held by Jackson and Jamal Mashburn -- on two more foul shots soon after he stole the ball from Jackson.