Mavs notch 11th straight 50-win season

DALLAS, Texas (AFP) - The Dallas Mavericks held on in the final stretch Thursday to beat Minnesota 104-96 and post their 11th straight 50-win NBA season.

Dallas' German star Dirk Nowitzki had 30 points and 11 rebounds and Jason Terry added 18 points as the Mavericks dug deep in the fourth quarter to keep the tenacious Timberwolves at bay.

Nowitzki and Terry combined for 19 points in the final quarter as the Mavericks claimed their third victory in four games.

"Dirk said during a timeout, 'We can't lose this one'," said Terry, who added he wasn't surprised that Mavs coach Rick Carlisle called on him and Nowitzki repeatedly in the final period.

"It's the key to our success late in games, it's no secret, if it's a close game late in the fourth quarter, coach is going to ring up our numbers and we need to answer," Terry said. "That's what clutch players do by coming up big when the team needs them most."

Shawn Marion added 17 points, Peja Stojakovic chipped in 16, and Tyson Chandler added nine points and 10 rebounds for the Mavericks.

Anthony Randolph had a career-high 31 points with 11 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who lost their fifth straight and are without All-Star forward Kevin Love.

Randolph, acquired from the Knicks in February, made his first start of the season in place of the injured Love and scored 23 points in the first half.

Hornets 121, Jazz 117

In Salt Lake City, Emeka Okafor drained a shot at the buzzer to force overtime and reserve Aaron Gray scored six points in the extra period Thursday to lead New Orleans to a 121-117 NBA victory over Utah.

The victory was extra welcome after the Hornets saw David West taken from the court in a wheelchair after he fell hard after a dunk that tied the game at 103-103.

West, who scored 29 points before he was hurt, injured his left knee and X-rays were negative, the Hornets said.

Paul Millsap's two free throws put Utah ahead 105-103 with 1.3 seconds remaining in regulation.

Okafor, who came back in the game when West was injured, was able to tie it up.

Chris Paul scored five of his 24 points in overtime for the Hornets.

Millsap led the short-handed Jazz with 33 points, but it wasn't enough to prevent Utah's fourth straight defeat.