ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) Dirk Nowitzki had 25 points and nine rebounds to lead the Dallas Mavericks to a 118-88 victory Sunday over the Orlando Magic, who were without Tracy McGrady and have lost eight straight games.

Rookie Josh Howard had a season high-tying 19 points, 12 rebounds and five assists before fouling out, while Steve Nash added 12 points and 11 assists for Dallas, which snapped a three-game losing streak.

McGrady participated in pregame warmups but his sore left knee sidelined him for a second straight game.

Orlando's Drew Gooden had 20 points and 10 rebounds for his 16th double-double of the year, but just his third since Jan. 2.

Grizzlies 94, Raptors 88

TORONTO (AP) Pau Gasol had 23 points and 18 rebounds, and Jason Williams scored eight points in the last three minutes to lead Memphis to their fifth straight win.

Stromile Swift added 18 points for the Grizzlies, who are looking for their first playoff berth in the franchise's nine-year history. Memphis improved to 47-26, good enough for fifth place in the Western Conference.

Vince Carter scored 16 points on 6-for-22 shooting as Toronto lost its fourth straight and dropped to 12th place in the Eastern Conference.

Rockets 111, Bucks 107, OT

MILWAUKEE (AP) Yao Ming finished with 27 points, 13 rebounds and five blocks, and Houston overcame a nine-point deficit in the fourth quarter to beat Milwaukee in overtime.

Milwaukee trailed 108-107 with 6 seconds left when Houston's Jim Jackson made two free throws after not being called for an apparent traveling violation on the inbounds pass. Michael Redd then was called for a line violation while inbounding and Steve Francis made one free throw for the final margin.

Francis finished wit 23 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists. Maurice Taylor and Cuttino Mobley each added 19 points for Houston.

Redd had 36 points and a career-high 14 rebounds for the Bucks while Joe Smith scored a season-high 25 points. Milwaukee was without Keith Van Horn, who sprained his left ankle and bruised his left calf Friday against Chicago.

Pacers 87, Heat 80

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Jermaine O'Neal returned from a knee injury and had 23 points and 14 rebounds to lead Indiana over Miami.

The All-Star forward made the start for Indiana after missing the past two games with a bruised left knee, injured in a win over the Chicago Bulls last Monday. O'Neal played 35 minutes, scoring 10 points in the third quarter.

Caron Butler, Eddie Jones and Dwyane Wade each scored 14 points for the Heat, which had their seven-game winning streak end.

Ron Artest added 18 points and 12 rebounds for the Pacers despite having to leave the game briefly with a sprained right ankle.

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