Dallas Mavericks power forward Dirk Nowitzki of Germany puts up the game winning shot past New York Knicks small forward Carmelo Anthony (back) during the final seconds of their NBA game in New York on Monday.

DPA/Los Angeles


Dirk Nowitzki turned a bad shot into a good win.
The German star bounced in a 19-foot jumper at the buzzer Monday night, sending the visiting Dallas Mavericks to a dramatic 110-108 victory over the New York Knicks.
“It’s the great Nowitzki, he’s done it so many times,” Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said. “What an incredible shot. He hit the most difficult shot you’re going to get with Carmelo Anthony all over him.”
Nowitzki came to the rescue after the Mavs squandered an eight-point lead with 1 minute 37 seconds remaining.
They committed three straight turnovers and found themselves knotted at 108-apiece when Anthony drained his seventh 3-pointer - the last of his game-high 44 points - with 50.7 seconds left. With a chance to take the lead, Anthony bobbled the ball and the Knicks were eventually called for a shot-clock violation with 9.4 second left, setting the stage for Nowitzki’s heroics.
The seven-foot sharpshooter got the ball at the top of the key and with Anthony draped over him launched a rainbow jumper that bounced off the backboard, high off the front rim and straight down through the net as time expired and teammates rushed the court to congratulate him.
“I wanted to drive but I saw the clock was going down and down,” said Nowitzki who finished with a sub-par 15-point effort but first game-winner since 2009. “I just heaved one over Anthony. I think it hit every part of the rim and glass.
“I guess I do have a decent soft touch, you call it a shooter’s roll.
It was a pretty bad shot but I’m happy with it.”
The dagger left Anthony in disbelief. “After the first bounce I said we’re going to overtime, then I saw it go back in and it was over,” the Knicks star said. “He hit a hell of a tough shot you can’t take that away from him. I felt I couldn’t do nothing more or nothing better.”
LA Clippers 123, New Orleans Pelicans 110: Jamal Crawford buried seven triples en route to 24 points, Chris Paul added 19 points with 13 assists, and the visiting Clippers sailed past the Pelicans.
Blake Griffin scored 22 points while DeAndre Jordan had 14 and 16 rebounds for the Pacific Division-leaders, who shot a sizzling 16-of-28 from behind the arc.
Anthony Davis topped New Orleans with 26 points and 11 rebounds, while Alexis Ajinca had career-highs of 19 points and 12 boards.
Golden State Warriors 104, Detroit Pistons 96: Stephen Curry had 19 points, nine assists and eight rebounds, Klay Thompson also scored 19, helping the visiting Warriors handle the Pistons for their fourth straight win.
 Greg Monroe had 23 points for Detroit, outscored 23-13 in the decisive final frame for their sixth straight loss in the series.
Milwaukee Bucks 130, Philadelphia 76ers 110:
OJ Mayo made seven triples en route to 25 points, Turkish-native Ersan Ilyasova added 20, and the league-worst Bucks (11-45) broke a 10-game road slide while sending the Sixers to their 11th straight loss overall despite Thaddeus Young’s game-high 28 points.
Utah Jazz 110, Boston Celtics 98:
Alec Burks scored 21 points, Derrick Favors added 20, and the Jazz stopped a three-game slide with their first win in seven meetings against the visiting Celtics. Jeff Green and Kelly Olynyk netted 21 points for Boston, losers of five in a row.