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DALLAS - Dirk Nowitzki scrambled to replace Tyson Chandler with the Dallas centre sidelined by back spasms, then he found himself with five fouls early in the fourth quarter.When the big German returned to the game, he carried the Mavericks to a come-from-behind win.Nowitzki matched his season high with 30 points, including 10 in the final 5 minutes, Chandler Parsons added 26 and the Mavericks beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 112-107 Sunday night.We had to adjust a little bit, Id say, without Tyson, our warrior, our paint protector, said Nowitzki, who put Dallas ahead for good with two free throws with 3:25 to play and made all 12 of his shots from the line. Not really used to playing in foul trouble, because I never really foul. So I tried to move my feet and be long out there.The Thunder played their sixth straight game without Kevin Durant because of a sprained right ankle. They fell short in their third chance to reach .500 for the first time after Durant and Russell Westbrook were sidelined by injuries for 14 of the first 16 games.Serge Ibaka led Oklahoma City with a season-high 26 points, but was limited to just one shot and two points in the fourth quarter. Westbrook scored 18 but was 6 of 23 from the field. He missed a triple-double with nine rebounds and nine assists. He also had five steals.He didnt shoot the ball well, coach Scott Brooks said. But he competed. He put us in position to have a chance to win this game. He gave everything he had.Nowitzki made his first start at centre in almost five years, according to STATS, and the resulting matchup issues made the 1,000th career game on the bench for Dallas coach Rick Carlisle a challenging one.The Mavericks often had the small-ball look that was a staple earlier in the 36-year-old Nowitzkis career, when he started at centre a little more often. It looked good early, with Parsons scoring 15 in the first quarter as the Mavericks led by as many as 11.It was the most unathletic front line weve ever had in the history of the NBA with him at five and me at four, said Parsons, who was 10 of 16 from the floor, including 5 of 9 from 3-point range. The biggest concern was who was going to do the jump ball.Facing their biggest deficit at seven to start the fourth quarter, the Mavericks opened with an 11-2 run capped by consecutive baskets from Charlie Villanueva, the latter a 3-pointer from the left corner after Rajon Rondo found him with a cross-court bounce pass that travelled about 40 feet.Carlisle brought Nowitzki back with 5:44 left, and he scored eight of the next 12 points for a 106-102 lead.TIP-INSThunder: Brooks said Durant had another good day at shootaround Sunday but was not ready for the next step. The Thunder have two days off before their next game. ... Reggie Jackson scored 21, including a 3-pointer that got Oklahoma City within a point before Dallas pulled away in the final 3 minutes. ... Thunder players other than Westbrook made 39 of 67 shots (58 per cent).Mavericks: Carlisle, whose career record is 591-409 in 13 seasons, had 188 career games as a player with Boston and New Jersey. Hes also coached at Indiana and Detroit. ... PG Raymond Felton, the other major piece in the New York trade, made his Dallas debut in a brief appearance on the same night Chandler missed his first game.FRONTCOURT CHALLENGEAs expected, the Mavericks were outrebounded, 53-37, without Chandler, whos third in the league in that category. But they held their own on second-chance points at 19-15, part of the reason they rallied.BANGED-UP BACKCOURT MATESMonta Ellis scored 18 for Dallas before spraining his left ankle late in the game. Rondo, who played the fourth quarter with a small bandage over his right eye after getting cut late in the third, had 15 points, seven assists and six rebounds.UP NEXTThunder: home against Phoenix on Wednesday.Mavericks: home against Washington on Tuesday before starting stretch of 14 of 19 on the road. Christian Okoye Womens Jersey . - While a fast-paced offence has become more of a fixture in recent years, the San Antonio Spurs can still grind out games when needed. Patrick Mahomes Chiefs Jersey . Hes had three top-10 results this season and feels ready to put it all together and finally hoist a trophy at the top level. http://www.thechiefsshoponline.com/Youth-frank-clark-chiefs-jersey/ ." The game can be seen live on TSN starting with Monday Night Countdown at 6:30 p.m et/3:30 p.m. pt. The Patriots, who had a bye in Week 10, will look to continue the offensive success they had a week earlier when New England scored 55 points and racked up 610 yards of total offense in a 55-31 drubbing of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Darwin Thompson Womens Jersey . The 40-year-old midfielder was put in charge on Tuesday when David Moyes reign ended after 10 months with the defending champions in seventh place in the English Premier League. Juan Thornhill Youth Jersey . Scolari says that although Brazilians have the right to complain about the government and demand improvements, perhaps the protests wont be coming at the "right time.Kansas City, MO (SportsNetwork.com) - Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith will miss Sundays regular-season finale against San Diego with a lacerated spleen. Smith, who practiced earlier this week, suffered the injury during the third quarter of last weeks 20-12 loss to Pittsburgh after getting hit on a throw to rookie receiver Albert Wilson. I felt great athletically, running around, throwing, Smith said. Just kind of had this constant deal going on and thankfully, Doc kind of urged me to get the test. Chiefs trainer Rick Burkholder saiid that Smiths injury does not require surgery, but usually takes six weeks to heal.dddddddddddd Once you started hearing how serious it is, you start knowing the implications can come of this as far as not playing. commented Smith. Thats the last thing you want to hear. Chase Daniel will get the start at quarterback in a game that will have postseason implications for Kansas City. The Chiefs need to defeat the Chargers and also need Cleveland and Jacksonville to win on the road in order to make the playoffs. ' ' '