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Nowitzki, Mavs ease past Knicks

Mar 11, 2011 - 6:37 AM Dallas, TX (Sports Network) - Dirk Nowitzki had 23 points and Shawn Marion scored six of his 22 during a key first quarter run, leading the Dallas Mavericks to a commanding 127-109 victory over the New York Knicks.

After losing two of their last three on the heels of an eight-game winning streak, the Mavericks looked to be back on track, shooting better than 51 percent from the field to improve to 10-2 in their last 12.

Jason Terry came off the bench to get 21 points, while Rodrigue Beaubois scored 14 and Brendan Haywood had 12 as Dallas set a couple of season scoring records along the way.

"We really attacked. This is a team that goes up and down. You have to attack for great opportunities and consequently get into some high scoring games," said Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle. "It was a good win for us."

Amare Stoudemire poured in 36 points to lead the Knicks despite sitting down with an ice pack after getting a stinger in his left shoulder early on.

Stoudemire was also whistled for his 16th technical foul of the season and could be suspended one game if the call is upheld by the NBA. He and Haywood were called for double-technicals with 9:37 remaining in the second quarter, although it didn't appear there was any type of serious altercation.

"It was nothing," said Stoudemire. "[We were] actually laughing about it after that. And the official agreed that it wasn't that bad, so hopefully I'll get that rescinded."

Knicks head coach Mike D'Antoni got a technical soon after.

"I'm not worried about [Stoudemire]. We'll see what happens and see where it goes," said D'Antoni. "Whatever happens, happens and we've got to just keep going forward."

Carmelo Anthony added 18 points in the loss and New York fell to 6-4 since acquiring him in a blockbuster trade two weeks ago. Chauncey Billups, another piece of that deal, missed his sixth straight game because of a left thigh bruise.

The Knicks walked onto the court at American Airlines Center with a three-game winning streak in tow and opened on a 6-0 run -- but it was the only time they were in control.

They never led after the first quarter.

"Tonight was a tough game for us, all the way around," said Anthony. "We just need to bounce back and get ready for Indiana on Sunday."

Later in the first, the Mavericks rattled off 12 straight points, holding New York scoreless for more than two minutes. Marion started the burst with a three-point play -- he had two of them during the stretch -- and Haywood scored four straight to end it, giving Dallas the lead for good at 24-14.

The Mavericks carried a 31-21 lead into the second and went ahead by as many as 24 late in the half when Terry buried a jumper to make it 66-42. They set a season-high with 41 points in the quarter.

Armed with a 72-51 advantage at the break -- 72 was a season-high for a half -- Dallas kept its lead at 20 points or better until a Toney Douglas jumper with 3:11 remaining in the third quarter cut it to 18.

New York climbed within 99-85 heading into the fourth and got as close as 11 points on a Stoudemire bucket with 4:02 left. But the Dallas lead was quickly back to 20 after a 9-0 run guided by Nowitzki and Marion.

Game Notes

It was Stoudemire's first technical foul since February 23 against Milwaukee. Orlando's Dwight Howard has already been suspended this season under the rule...Landry Fields added 19 points for the Knicks and Douglas, who continues to shine in Billups' absence, scored 18...New York shot 43 percent from the field and was 35-of-37 at the foul line...The Mavs remain at home to play the Lakers on Saturday, then hit the road for a pair against Portland and Golden State...Dallas has won 10 of its last 11 games against the Knicks.