Nowitzki overcomes fouls to lift Mavs (AP)

Dirk Nowitzki couldn't get in a rhythm for most of three quarters because of foul trouble, so seldom-used veteran Brian Cardinal stepped right in and knocked down shots in the building he used to call home. The Dallas Mavericks didn't miss a beat with their MVP candidate on the bench, the strongest sign yet that they could be a dangerous team in the playoffs.