DALLAS (AP) Dirk Nowitzki scored 18 of his 26 points in the first half, and Dallas extended its home winning streak to nine games.

Reserve Antawn Jamison added 21 points and eight rebounds for Dallas, coming off a winless three-game road trip against Houston, San Antonio and Minnesota. The Mavericks are 29-4 at home, 11-19 on the road.

The Suns got 29 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists from Shawn Marion, and 19 points from Amare Stoudemire.

Stoudemire had at least 20 points and had led the Suns in scoring in 11 consecutive games. He fell one game short of matching the club record for leading the team in scoring set by Charlie Scott in 1974-75.

Jazz 88, Lakers 83

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) Gordan Giricek scored 21 points to lead the Jazz past Los Angeles, welcoming back Karl Malone by beating his new team in The Mailman's first trip to Utah as a visitor.

The short-handed Lakers, who had won five straight over Utah, never recovered after Shaquille O'Neal was thrown out with two quick technical fouls in the fourth quarter. Los Angeles led 72-68 at the time, but the Jazz scored 20 points in the final 3:57 to end a two-game losing streak.

Andrei Kirilenko had 15 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks as the Jazz spoiled Malone's homecoming.

Malone, who is on the injured list with a bad knee, made the trip but was not activated for the game. He sat in street clothes at the end of the bench, enduring a few taunts and nasty signs written for his decision to leave as a free agent and try to win a championship with the Lakers.

Fans had signs that compared Malone to Judas and Benedict Arnold, while others thanked him for his 18 seasons with the Jazz.

Gary Payton led the Lakers with 21 points.