DALLAS — Dirk Nowitzki matched his season high with 39 points, including 37 through three quarters, and J.J. Barea added 18 points to lead the Dallas Mavericks to a 112-97 victory over the Phoenix Suns last night.

"(Nowitzki) willed us to a higher level than we've been at," Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said. "It was clear to me he was not going to let us lose."

Steve Nash (illness) and Shaquille O'Neal (sore knees) returned to Phoenix's lineup after missing the two previous games, but it wasn't enough as the Suns lost their fourth straight.

SPURS 108, NUGGETS 91

Tony Parker scored 22 points, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili each added 21 and visiting San Antonio took advantage of a rare poor performance by Chauncey Billups (12 points) to beat Denver.

The Nuggets had won 12 of 15 since acquiring Billups from Detroit in the Allen Iverson trade.