DALLAS -- Mavs forward Dirk Nowitzki moved past Celtics great Robert Parish to become No. 20 on the NBA’s all-time scoring list midway through the first quarter Monday against Boston.
He did it by hitting a patented elbow jumper while getting fouled by Chris Wilcox. The made free throw gave Nowitzki the three-point play for his seventh point of the game and the 23,335th point of his 14-year career.
Nowitzki hit another milestone in the opening minutes of the first quarter, recording his 1,000th career block. He swatted away Celtics guard Avery Bradley’s reverse layup attempt. Bradley was starting for suspended point guard Rajon Rondo.
Nowitzki becomes just the third player in NBA history with at least 1,000 blocks and 1,000 3-point field goals (Clifford Robinson and Rasheed Wallace).
The Mavs could see another milestone tonight if Jason Kidd makes a steal. He needs just one to move past Michael Jordan and become No. 2 on the NBA's all-time steals list.