"Against a team like that you have to hit shots," Anthony said. "They sat in a zone and we couldn't do much."

Nowitzki connected on his first four shots of the final quarter, including a 3-pointer as the Mavs pulled away while the crowd chanted, "MVP, MVP."

He extended a career-high streak with his 21st straight game with 20 or more points and had his 31st double-double of the season.

Erick Dampier had 10 points and 10 rebounds for Dallas.

Denver edged in front for the first time, 49-48, early in the third quarter before Dallas went on a 21-5 run capped by Nowitzki's 3-pointer for a 69-54 advantage.

The Mavericks carried a 73-58 lead into the final quarter and went on to their 55th victory, matching the fourth-most in team history.

Denver had second-quarter runs of 12-0 and 9-0 and by halftime Dallas' lead, once as large as 14, had been trimmed to 44-40.

Dallas, averaging 13.5 turnovers per game, got its 14th early in the third quarter and finished with 19.

Prior to the game the already-shorthanded Mavericks announced that forward Keith Van Horn will be out indefinitely due to a broken right hand.

Van Horn sustained the injury in Friday night's loss to Orlando. Surgery will be performed to repair a broken bone between the wrist and the base of the thumb once swelling subsides and Van Horn's return for the playoffs is unlikely.

The Mavericks' bench was further shortened when guard Marquis Daniels was ruled out of Sunday's game with a strained neck. Forward Adrian Griffin (strained hamstring) and guard Devin Harris (strained quad) also were out for the Mavericks.