NEW YORK — The losing streak felt like "two or three months" to Dirk Nowitzki, so the Dallas Mavericks didn't mind having to go a few extra minutes to end it.

Especially because they seemed headed for another loss for nearly all of regulation.

Nowitzki scored seven of his season-high 39 points in overtime and grabbed 15 rebounds, and the Mavericks snapped a five-game skid with a 124-114 victory over the New York Knicks yesterday.

Josh Howard added season highs of 31 points and 14 rebounds. He had a pair of baskets in the extra session for the Mavericks (3-7), who were off to their worst start in a decade. They were down 15 in the first half and trailed for almost all the first 48 minutes, then tied it with a furious rally and didn't allow a field goal in overtime.

"We just told ourselves stay with it and get some big stops and offensively keep attacking," Nowitzki said.

Nowitzki made a pair of free throws to open overtime, giving Dallas its first lead since it was 6-4. He followed with a jumper, and after a free throw by Brandon Bass, Nowitzki buried a 3-pointer, pumping his fists in the air after giving the Mavericks a 120-112 lead.

Howard followed with his two baskets, part of Dallas' closing 19-2 run over the final 7:26. The Knicks (6-4) were 0 for 14 after Quentin Richardson's basket with 2:28 remaining in regulation that made it 112-105.

"We could have won the game," Knicks forward Zach Randolph said. "We had a chance to win the game. But the ball won't fall for us. There's nights like this."

Suns 104, Pistons 86: Amare Stoudemire had 29 points and 11 rebounds on his 26th birthday and host Phoenix overcame Shaquille O'Neal's second-quarter ejection for a flagrant foul. Steve Nash, back from a one-game suspension for his part in a skirmish with several Houston players, added 17 points and seven assists for the Suns. Richard Hamilton scored 19 for the Pistons.

Spurs 90, Kings 88: Michael Finley scored 21 points and Tim Duncan had 20, including two key baskets in the final minute, for visiting San Antonio. Duncan's short jumper tied it with 49 seconds left and his bank shot off a drive put San Antonio ahead for good at 90-88 with 15.5 seconds remaining. John Salmons had a season-high 31 points for the Kings.

Nuggets 90, Timberwolves 84: Chauncey Billups scored 26 points, J.R. Smith had eight of his 14 points in a decisive fourth-quarter stretch and host Denver handed Minnesota its eighth straight loss. Al Jefferson had 20 points and 14 rebounds for the Timberwolves.

Magic 90, Bobcats 85: Hedo Turkoglu scored 20 points to lead Orlando over host Charlotte. All-Star center Dwight Howard was shut down by Charlotte's defense, scoring just four points, and fouled out for the first time this season.

Raptors 107, Heat 96: Chris Bosh scored 27 points, and Jermaine O'Neal had 11 points and 18 rebounds to help host Toronto snap a two-game losing streak. Dwyane Wade scored 29 points for Miami.

NOTES

Spurs: San Antonio signed guard Blake Ahearn yesterday, adding a new face in the backcourt with Tony Parker still recovering from a sprained ankle. The Spurs signed the 6-foot-2 Ahearn from the Dakota Wizards of the NBA D-League. San Antonio made room for Ahearn by waiving guard Desmon Farmer.

Raptors: Toronto guard Jose Calderon, averaging 13.5 points and an NBA second-best 9.0 assists, missed yesterday's game against Miami because of a strained right hamstring and was replaced by Will Solomon.