ORLANDO -- When the Dallas Mavericks need a key basket, they usually go to their 11-time All-Star.
And Dirk Nowitzki came through again in the clutch.
Nowitzki banked in a 16-footer with 5.9 seconds left as the Mavs rallied from a 15-point second-half deficit to stun the Orlando Magic, 100-98, Friday night at the Amway Center. The victory gave the Mavs (30-23) a 1-1 split of their two-game Florida road trip.
Despite Nowitzki's heroics, the Magic had a chance to at least send the game into overtime, or possibly win it. But Hedo Turkoglu misfired on a three-pointer, and when Ryan Anderson snatched the offensive rebounds, he missed a point-blank layup as time expired.
Delonte West hit a pair of free throws to put the Mavs ahead, 98-97. However, Jameer Nelson tied it when he split two free throws with 26.9 seconds remaining.
Then, Nowitzki went to work over Turkoglu.
The game was tied at 91-91 when Anderson drilled a pair of free throws, then worked hard and scored after grabbing an offensive rebound to put Orlando up, 95-91, with 3:32 left.
Six straight points by Nelson helped stake the Magic to a 77-62 lead with 2:35 remaining in the thrid period.But Jason Terry 10 consecutive point and passed to Shawn Marion for a fast break dunk that tied the game at 89-89 with 8:12 to go in the game.
The Magic rolled to a 27-17 lead after the first period as the Mavs had a difficult time trying to find open looks.Orlando held a 55-46 cushion at the half as Dwight Howard had his way inside the paint.
Nowitzki led the Mavs with 28 points, Terry scored 17, West had 15, Marion tallied 15, and Vince Carter added 12.
-- Dwain Price
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