NEW ORLEANS (AP) Dirk Nowitzki's 28 points and 11 rebounds led Dallas as the Mavericks extended the Hornets' losing streak to four games.

Michael Finley scored 22 and banked in a 3-pointer from nearly 30 feet that all but put the game away, putting Dallas ahead 101-92 with about 2{ minutes left. Steve Nash added 18 points and 12 assists as the Mavericks won for the 11th time in 13 games.

Darrell Armstrong led New Orleans with 27 points. He hit five 3-pointers, including two early in the fourth quarter to keep New Orleans in the game. One day after being selected to his first All-Star game, Jamaal Magloire had 23 points and 12 rebounds. Jamal Mashburn scored 19 but shot 4-of-17 in the first three quarters.

Rockets 103, Bucks 89

HOUSTON (AP) Maurice Taylor scored 10 of his 19 points in the fourth quarteras Houston snapped a four-game losing streak, its longest of the season.

Steve Francis, returning from a team-imposed one-game suspension, led Houston with 23 points, followed by Cuttino Mobley and Taylor with 19 each, Yao Ming with 16 and Jim Jackson with 14.

Brian Skinner led Milwaukee with 17 points. Joe Smith had 13 and Tim Thomas Michael Redd and Desmond Mason had 12 each.

The Rockets increased their lead gradually in the third period, outscoring the Bucks 12-4 in the final 3:58 to take a 75-62 lead. Two more baskets by Taylor moved Houston ahead 88-76, and the Bucks were never closer than eight after that.

Lakers 111, Cavaliers 106, OT

CLEVELAND (AP) Shaquille O'Neal returned from a one-game suspension and scored a season-high 37 points, and Gary Payton added a season-high 30 as the Lakers improved to 2-1 on a seven-game road trip _ the club's longest since 1992.

O'Neal was back after serving a one-game NBA suspension for profanely criticizing officials during a live TV interview following a win at Toronto on Sunday.

O'Neal finished 9-of-20 from the line, and the rest of the Lakers weren't much better, making just 26-of-40 (62 percent). But when it counted most, O'Neal and his teammates stepped up and drilled their foul shots.

LeBron James scored 32 points _ including three 3-pointers in OT _ but shot an airball from 21 feet with a chance to win it at the end of regulation.

Trail Blazers 101, Suns 97

PHOENIX (AP) Zach Randolph had 19 points and 10 rebounds and Damon Stoudamire added 14 points and 11 assists.

In winning for the fifth time in six games, the Trail Blazers shot 63.6 in the first half and led by as many as 22 points.

The Suns had a chance to tie the score at 100, but Shawn Marion's 3-pointer from 25 feet bounced off the back rim with 3 seconds left. Wesley Person then made a free throw to ice the victory.

Darius Miles added 15 points for Portland, while Derek Anderson had 13 and Person scored 12.

Bulls 95, Jazz 79

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) Eddy Curry scored 23 points and pulled down 12 rebounds to help the Chicago Bulls snap a five-game losing streak and win on the road for the first time in more than a month.

Chicago had lost nine straight on the road but led from start to finish against the listless Jazz. Kirk Hinrich added 17 points and Eddie Robinson scored 16 off the bench for Chicago, which had lost 11 of its last 12 against Utah.

The Jazz fell to 24-25, dropping below .500 for the second time this season, and have lost three straight with coach Jerry Sloan stuck at 899 career wins.