Dirk's triple-double lifts Mavs over Bucks

The depleted and downtrodden Bucks, the last-place team in the Central Division, held a fourth-quarter lead over the Mavericks and had the 20,079 pensive patrons at American Airlines Center on the edge of their seats.

Needing a lift to avoid a loss that would have been hard to swallow, the MVP came through with a signature night. Dirk Nowitzki put together the first triple-double of a certain Hall-of-Fame career and the Mavs survived Milwaukee 107-96 Wednesday night.

Nowitzki filled up the boxscore like never before with 29 points, 10 rebounds and a career-high 12 assists. He finished off the statistical gem with his 10th board midway through the fourth quarter. His last two baskets made it 99-91, icing the victory.

“Guys were really making a lot of shots early, we got some easy layups and always getting the assist part of it has always been the problem,” Nowitzki said. “At halftime I think I already had five assists, so I was kind of thinking that this might be the night, but I’ve been so close a couple of other times, so it feels good to get it out of the way.

“It took almost 10 years which is not good, but at least I got it out of the way and we got the win.”