National Basketball Association

Mavs' Nowitzki 23rd NBA player to 23,000 points

Published Jan. 14, 2012 3:24 a.m. ET

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Dirk Nowitzki became the 23rd NBA player to score 23,000 career points, reaching the milestone with a free throw with 7 minutes left in the second quarter in the Dallas Mavericks' game against Milwaukee on Friday night.

During a timeout less than 2 minutes later, fans stood and cheered when the milestone was announced. Nowitzki, who has spent all of his 14 NBA seasons in Dallas, acknowledged the crowd.

''He's had a staggeringly awesome career,'' coach Rick Carlisle said before the game. ''He's right up there (with the best ever).''

Nowitzki, playing his 1,005th game, recently made his 8,000th field goal.

Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett are the only active players with more points than Nowitzki. Elgin Baylor is next on the career list with 23,149 points.

Nowitzki, the 2007 NBA MVP, was the MVP of the NBA finals last season when the Mavericks won their first championship.