Nowitzki passes Wilt but Pelicans top Mavs 129-125 in OT

Dirk Nowitzki passed Wilt Chamberlain for sixth place on the NBA's career scoring list, but Elfrid Payton had his fifth straight triple-double to help the New Orleans Pelicans beat the Dallas Mavericks 129-125 in overtime Monday night.

Payton finished with 19 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds. Dallas rookie Luka Doncic had a triple-double of his own with 29 points, 13 boards and 10 assists.

Julius Randle scored 11 of his 30 points in the final 3:29 of regulation, helping the Pelicans rally to force overtime. Doncic made the second of two free throws with 1.9 seconds left to tie the score at 110, and Randle missed a turnaround at the buzzer.

Dallas Mavericks' Luka Doncic, left, celebrates as Dirk Nowitzki (41) back up down court after sining a basket in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans in Dallas, Monday, March 18, 2019. The basket placed Nowitzki as the sixth all-time league leading scorer surpassing Wilt Chamberlain. (AP PhotoTony Gutierrez)

Payton and Frank Jackson each had six points in OT for the Pelicans, who ended a six-game losing streak.

Nowitzki moved past Chamberlain (31,419 points) on one of his signature long-range jumpers with 8:35 remaining in the first quarter. The 40-year-old German took a feed from Doncic and backed down Kenrich Williams before turning and launching from the top of the key.

Entering the game needing four points to pass Chamberlain, Nowitzki started for the ninth time this season. He made his first two shots to end the suspense with a sellout crowd on its feet. His first basket was a 20-footer off an assist from rookie Jalen Brunson.

Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki (41) takes a shot during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans in Dallas on Monday, March 18, 2019. Nowitzki became the NBA's sixth-leading scorer Monday night with another of his signature long-range jumpers. (Ashley LandisThe Dallas Morning News via AP)

Nowitzki finished with eight points, giving him 31,424 in his 21 seasons — trailing only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Michael Jordan.

The two jumpers were a fitting way for Nowitzki to pass Chamberlain, whose listed height of 7-foot-1 is only an inch taller than Nowitzki. But the two reached their point totals with contrasting styles of play.

Chamberlain once averaged more than 50 points in a season, dominating inside to such a degree that the NBA widened the paint in an effort to neutralize him.

Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki (41) celebrates after passing Wilt Chamberlain for the NBA's sixth-leading scoring record during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans in Dallas on Monday, March 18, 2019. (Ashley LandisThe Dallas Morning News via AP)

Nowitzki, meanwhile, has made nearly 2,000 3-pointers in his career, establishing the trend of big men with long-range shooting capabilities. He's an 88 percent free throw shooter, 37 points higher than Chamberlain's mark.

Also serendipitous was Nowitzki reaching the milestone at home — he is the only NBA player to spend 21 seasons with one team. The club launched a new marketing campaign Monday called 41.21.1, commemorating his uniform number and his tenure with the team. It is anticipated that this will be his final season, though Nowitzki has only said publicly he will decide at the end of the year.

TIP-INS

Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki (41) celebrates after sinking a basket in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans in Dallas, Monday, March 18, 2019. The basket placed Nowitzki as the sixth all-time league leading scorer surpassing Wilt Chamberlain. (AP PhotoTony Gutierrez)

Pelicans: Anthony Davis had 20 points in 21 minutes. Jackson scored 19.

Mavericks: Tim Hardaway Jr. had 21 points. Salah Mejri scored a season-high nine. ... Doncic has scored 20 or more points in 38 games, second among Mavs rookies to Jay Vincent's 53 in 1981-82.

UP NEXT

New Orleans Pelicans forward Darius Miller (21) defends against a shot attempt by Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki (41) in the second half of an NBA basketball game in Dallas, Monday, March 18, 2019. (AP PhotoTony Gutierrez)

Pelicans: Visit the Orlando Magic on Wednesday.

Mavericks: Visit the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday.

More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports

New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis, left center, talks with Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki, right center, after their NBA basketball game in Dallas, Monday, March 18, 2019. Nowitzki scored 8 points in the game that helped put him in front of Wilt Chamberlain as the leagues 6th time all leading scorer. The Pelicans won in overtime 129-125. (AP PhotoTony Gutierrez)

New Orleans Pelicans guard Frank Jackson (15) and Cheick Diallo, right, celebrate a three-point basket by Jackson in overtime of an NBA basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks in Dallas, Monday, March 18, 2019. (AP PhotoTony Gutierrez)

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Paolo Banchero had 31 points and 14 rebounds, Jalen Suggs added 24 points and the Orlando Magic handed Cleveland the worst playoff loss in franchise history, winning 121-83 on Thursday night to cut the Cavaliers’ lead to 2-1 in their Eastern Conference first-round series.

Franz Wagner finished with 16 points and eight assists for the Magic, who led by 43 points in the fourth quarter on the way to the third-largest margin of victory in a playoff game. They earned their first playoff victory since 2019 and the first on their home floor since April 26, 2011.

They can even the series with a victory at home Sunday.

Jarrett Allen had 15 points and eight rebounds for the Cavaliers, who shot 39% from the field and 23.5% from 3-point range. Caris LeVert added 15 points and Donovan Mitchell had 13 points and seven assists.

76ERS 125, KNICKS 114

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Joel Embiid scored 50 points, making all four 3-point attempts and scoring 18 in a potential series-shifting third quarter to lead Philadelphia to a win over New York in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference first-round series.

Embiid boldly stated “we’re going to win this series” after the 76ers dropped Game 2.

With one of the finest postseason efforts of his career, Embiid became the third player to ever score 50 points against the Knicks in the postseason and kept the hope of a Philadelphia series comeback very much alive.

The Knicks lead the series 2-1. Game 4 is Sunday in Philadelphia.

Embiid was 13 of 19 from the floor overall, made 19 of 21 free throws and hit five 3-pointers.

NUGGETS 112, LAKERS 105

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Aaron Gordon had 29 points and 15 rebounds, Nikola Jokic added 24 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists, and Denver moved to the brink of the second round with a victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3 of their first-round series..

Jamal Murray scored 22 points as the defending NBA champion Nuggets won their 11th consecutive meeting with LeBron James and the Lakers in dominating style.

Michael Porter Jr. added 20 points for Denver, which took control in the third quarter and cruised through the final minutes to its fifth straight road win over Los Angeles, starting with its sweep of last season’s Western Conference finals.

Game 4 is Saturday night in Los Angeles. No NBA team has ever rallied from an 0-3 playoff deficit.

Orlando Magic guard Cole Anthony (50) makes a shot as he gets past Cleveland Cavaliers guard Sam Merrill (5) during the second half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)