DENVER — Dirk Nowitzki answered everything the Denver Nuggets threw at him. The only thing that stopped him was the lopsided score.

Nowitzki had 33 points and 11 rebounds before getting a rest in the fourth quarter, Brandan Wright scored a season-high 15 points and the Dallas Mavericks won 112-95 on Monday night.

Arron Afflalo scored 24 points for the Nuggets, who lost a game that could have an impact on their playoff position. Denver entered Monday seventh in the Western Conference, a half-game behind Dallas. The Mavericks not only gained a game on the Nuggets, they won the season series and hold a tiebreaker should the teams finish with the same record.

“It always helps,” Mavericks guard Vince Carter said. “Right now, it’s not about series wins, it is about getting wins and moving ourselves up the ladder.”

Nowitzki was the biggest reason they hold the tiebreaker. The 13-year veteran started hitting shots early and never really stopped as he finished 12 of 19 from the field against several different defenders, all of whom were shaking their heads.

And when he wasn’t hitting shots, he was finding the open man. He finished with six assists.

“For some reason, we’re really shooting the ball well, moving the ball,” Nowitzki said. “I have gotten better at it as I’ve gotten older. That comes with experience. Sometimes my passing decisions aren’t the greatest.”

The Nuggets also lost guard Andre Miller in the second quarter with a bruised right shoulder, and forward Danilo Gallinari broke his left thumb in the third quarter. Neither player returned, and their status for Wednesday was unknown.

Also on Monday:

Celtics 79

Hawks 76

ATLANTA — Ray Allen hit two three-pointers in Boston’s 13-0 run in the fourth quarter and protected the lead with two free throws in the final seconds as Boston held on to beat Atlanta.

76ers 105

Bobcats 80

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Jrue Holiday had 20 points and six assists as first-place Philadelphia defeated Charlotte to snap a three-game losing streak and sweep the three-game season series between the teams.

Cavaliers 105

Nets 100

NEWARK, N.J. — Tristan Thompson scored a career-high 27 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and gave Cleveland the lead with a tip-in with 1:11 to play, leading the Cavaliers over New Jersey.

Bulls 85

Magic 59

ORLANDO, Fla. — Carlos Boozer scored 24 points and had 13 rebounds, John Lucas scored 20 points off the bench and Chicago beat Orlando. Chicago coach Tom Thibodeau also became the fastest coach in NBA history to earn 100 career victories.

Timberwolves 97

Warriors 93

OAKLAND, Calif. — Kevin Love banked in a 16-foot jumper with 4 minutes left, then added an insurance tip-in off a miss by J.J. Barea to help Minnesota keep its dimming playoff hopes alive with a win over Golden State.