Nowitzki scores 21, Mavs dominate at free throw line in 94-80 victory over Lakers

Nowitzki scores 21 in Mavs’ 94-80 victory over LA

LOS ANGELES — Dirk Nowitzki scored 21 points and the Dallas Mavericks were 25 of 32 from the free throw line in routing the Los Angeles Lakers 94-80 Friday night for their first win of the season.

Nowitzki made 10 of 11 from the line and grabbed 10 rebounds, Shawn Marion added 18 points and Jason Terry 16 to end the Mavs’ six-game losing streak against the defending NBA champions. They hadn’t won against the Lakers at Staples Center since March 11, 2007.

Erick Dampier had 10 rebounds and Jason Kidd had 11 assists.

Kobe Bryant led the Lakers with 20 points. Andrew Bynum had 14 points and 10 rebounds, and reserve Shannon Brown added 12 points.

While the Mavs paraded to the line as the Lakers racked up 29 fouls, Los Angeles got there just 14 times, hitting nine shots.

The Lakers never made a run in the fourth, getting derailed by horrendous shooting and turnovers by Lamar Odom, Josh Powell and Bryant. Their lone highlight was Brown’s thundering dunk off Bryant’s jumper that bounced off the rim. It got the crowd on its feet in a collective exclamation even with the Lakers trailing by 12.

The fans were on their feet again to hit the exits with three minutes remaining and the Mavs ahead 90-73.

Dallas extended its lead to 73-54 in the third on a 13-2 run, with four points from Nowitzki and five by Terry. Two free throws and a driving layup by Jose Barea later gave Dallas its largest lead of 22 points. Barea finished with 12 points.

The Lakers were called for two technicals, including Ron Artest’s first of the season moments after he was whistled for his fourth foul and went to the bench. Lakers coach Phil Jackson brought back Brown and Jordan Farmar, who were productive during the second quarter, but it didn’t help. The Lakers scored just 15 points in the period and trailed 78-60 going into the fourth.

The Mavericks led 52-45 at halftime, helped by 15 of 18 free-throw shooting. Jackson went deep into his bench in the second quarter, bringing in Brown, Farmar and Luke Walton for a stretch against the Mavs’ second unit.

Brown was especially effective, scoring 10 points, and Bynum added eight to draw Los Angeles into a tie at 37, with Bryant returning during that run. But the Mavs dominated the final 4½ minutes, outscoring the Lakers 15-8.

Notes: Lakers F Pau Gasol missed his second game with a strained right hamstring. The team is hopeful he can return Sunday against Atlanta. … The Mavs were without F Josh Howard (left ankle surgery) and F Tim Thomas (right knee surgery).