Drew Gooden scored 19 points in his first game after being sidelined by back spasms and the Dallas Mavericks beat Denver 104-96 in a Sunday match-up of NBA Western Conference division leaders.

Josh Howard added 17 points, Dirk Nowitzki contributed 13 points and 11 rebounds and Gooden grabbed 10 rebounds for the Mavericks, who kept NBA scoring leader Carmelo Anthony to only 16 points, barely half his 30.5 average.