Gallinari, Nuggets spoil Nowitzki's return, 106-85

Danilo Gallinari sank seven 3-pointers and scored a career-high 39 points Friday, powering the Denver Nuggets to a 106-85 victory over the struggling Dallas Mavericks. Andre Iguodala added 20 points and Kenneth Faried had 11 points and a game-high 19 rebounds for the Nuggets (17-14), who have won nine of their last 12 at the American Airlines Center.

The Nuggets made 12 3-pointers for the second straight game and enjoyed huge advantages in points in the paint (52-34) and rebounding (60-43). Gallinari's previous career high was 37 points at New York on Jan. 21, 2012. The Mavericks' only lead of the game was 2-0.

Dallas (12-18) has dropped five straight and eight of its last nine. Dirk Nowitzki was held to just five points in his 2012-13 home debut. O.J. Mayo led five players in double figures with 15 points and a career-high five steals. The Mavericks shot 20 percent (5-for-25) from 3-point distance and 37.5 percent overall.