Dirk Nowitzki led Dallas with 16 points and had a team-high six rebounds compared to 22 boards for Reggie Evans of the Nets, who outrebounded the Mavericks 45-34.

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Each of them had tasted their fair share of disappointment in the league, so there was a feel-good vibe associated with the 2008 Celtics in much the same way that there is a similar vibe for Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Kidd, Jason Terry, and the veteran-laden Dallas Mavericks team that won the 2011 title.

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Dirk Nowitzki is playing like a man possessed, scoring more than 40 points twice in the recent five-game win over the Oklahoma City Thunder.

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