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Nowitzki leads Mavericks over Bulls

Oct 10, 2008 - 3:25 AM CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Dirk Nowitzki and company made sure the Vinny Del Negro-Derrick Rose Era got off to a losing start.

Nowitzki scored 15 points as the Dallas Mavericks took advantage of 24 turnovers to upend the Chicago Bulls, 110-102, in preseason action Thursday.

With their new coach and No. 1 overall pick, the Bulls are hoping to bounce back from a 2007-08 campaign that saw them post a 33-49 record and miss the playoffs after three consecutive postseason berths.

Rose, who led Memphis to the national championship game before an overtime loss to Kansas, collected 10 points and five assists in nearly 27 minutes but had six turnovers in his debut.

Del Negro will patrol the sidelines in Chicago after a tumultuous season that saw the dismissal of Scott Skiles just 25 games into his fifth season at the helm.

Aaron Gray collected 14 points and nine rebounds, while Drew Gooden added 11 and seven.

Josh Howard had 10 points and four steals for the Mavericks, who used a 36-point first quarter to build a 62-44 halftime lead.