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Nowitzki, Mavericks outduel Marbury, undermanned Knicks

Mar 31, 2007 - 3:49 AM DALLAS (Ticker) -- Dirk Nowitzki showed the injury-riddled New York Knicks why he may win the MVP this season. But Josh Howard may be the Dallas Mavericks' most important piece.

Nowitzki scored 17 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter and Howard saved the game with an acrobatic block on the final possession as the Mavericks set a franchise-wins record with a 105-103 victory over the Knicks.

Howard had 20 points and eight rebounds for Dallas (61-11), which holds a 7 1/2-game lead over Phoenix (53-18) for the top spot in the Western Conference. The Suns host Denver later Friday night.

New York has been ravaged by injuries to key players, including guard Jamal Crawford (stress fracture ankle), forward David Lee (ankle) and forward Quentin Richardson (back). It got even worse on Wednesday when guard Steve Francis sprained his ankle.

But despite the injuries, the Knicks fought hard against the NBA's best team, only to be done in by one of its top players. Nowitzki repeatedly squared up New York forward Jared Jeffries on the perimeter and drained numerous jumpers down the stretch - shooting 6-of-9 from the field in the final period.

The All-Star forward was 10-of-21 from the floor, including 2-of-4 from the arc, and 8-of-8 from the free-throw line.

Stephon Marbury kept New York in the game, scoring a season-high 43 points on 14-of-29 shooting from the field, including 5-of-12 on 3-pointers. But Marbury was turned away by Howard on the game's final possession.

After Jason Terry's free throw made it 105-103 with 17.2 seconds left, Marbury drove the right baseline and was rejected by Howard, who sent the ball towards the sideline as time expired.

New York (31-41) fell two games behind New Jersey (33-39) for the eighth and final playoff spot in the East.