DALLAS Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki knocked down his first two jumpers during a Monday night matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans to pass Wilt Chamberlain for the No. 6 spot on the NBA’s all-time scoring list.
Nowitzki hit the milestone early in the first quarter, making a 20-footer with 8:35 remaining in front of a sellout crowd at Dallas that was mostly on its feet in anticipation of the moment.
He entered the game needing four points to pass Chamberlain, who scored 31,419 career points and now has 31,424. Nowitzki spent several years as the sixth-leading scorer in NBA history before LeBron James passed him, Chamberlain and Michael Jordan earlier this season.
Nowitzki finished the game with eight points, all in the first half, in the Mavericks’ 129-125 overtime loss.
Nowitzki, 40, has yet to make a decision on whether or not he will retire, but he has been enjoying an unofficial farewell tour throughout the season.
The 21-year veteran missed the first 26 games of the season while rehabbing after left ankle surgery. Nowitzki began play Monday averaging 6.0 points and 2.4 rebounds per game in 2018-19.
The top five all-time NBA scorers are Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (38,387), Karl Malone (36,928), Kobe Bryant (33,643), James (32,439) and Michael Jordan (32,292). — Reuters
