DALLAS (AP) – While the Dallas Mavericks have an overhauled roster, a more conventional rotation and a new commitment to defense, they also still have Dirk Nowitzki.

Nowitzki scored 29 of his 33 points over the first three quarters, helping Dallas to a steady lead, then came through by making two free throws with 15.5 seconds left to seal a 107-98 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday night.

The Mavericks scored the game’s first seven points and led by at least that many from the end of the first quarter until Chris Webber hit a long jumper with 3:12 that made it 99-93. The Kings got within 103-98 on a three-point play by Brad Miller with just under a minute left.

Nowitzki kept them from getting any closer by rebounding a missed 16-footer by Peja Stojakovic and cashing in at the foul line. He came through on the other end, too, forcing Bobby Jackson to heave up a wild 3-pointer that clanged off the backboard with about six seconds left. Josh Howard rebounded and made two more free throws to pad the lead.

The tight finish was no surprise considering these were the NBA’s two top-scoring teams last season. Sacramento ended Dallas’ season in the first round of the playoffs, a five-game beating that led to major changes – including rookie Devin Harris running the offense instead of Steve Nash, as well as the addition of Erick Dampier to give the Mavericks a true center for the first time in many years.

But it was Nowitzki who wasted no time making his presence felt.

He had an assist on the game’s first basket and scored the second one on a nice pick-and-roll with Harris, marking the No. 5 pick’s first career assist. In between, Dampier brought fans to their feet with a blocked shot that forced the Kings into a shot-clock violation.

Dallas’ lead peaked at 19 midway early in the second half, then Sacramento got within 10 until Nowitzki hit a high-arcing 3-pointer over Miller as the third quarter ended. Nowitzki celebrated by backpedaling all the way to the bench at the other end of the court while the sellout crowd of 20,041 stood and cheered.

Nowitzki scored 10 points in the first and second quarters and the buzzer-beater gave him nine in the third. He took only one shot in the fourth, finishing 12-of-19. He made both his 3-point attempts and had 10 rebounds and five assists.

Harris had eight points, six assists and five rebounds. He showed his poise by making a nice pass to Michael Finley for a dunk that made it 103-93, but was replaced by veteran Jason Terry with 58 seconds left after making a potentially costly rookie mistake.

Dampier scored nine points in the first quarter, but just two more. He also had three of his first five rebounds in the first period. Finley scored 18 and Harris finished with eight points and seven assists.

Miller led Sacramento with 24 points, and Webber had 21 points and 10 rebounds. Stojakovic was just 3-of-15 for 12 points.

Mike Bibby, who used to have huge games against Nash, was held to just eight points. Maurice Evans started in place of the injured Doug Christie (foot) and scored just two points. Matt Barnes had 17 off the bench and Jackson scored 11.

Notes: At halftime, the Mavs began celebrating their 25th season by unveiling a banner with the names of 200 season-ticket holders who’ve been with the club since the inaugural season in 1980-81. … Stojakovic made six free throws, giving him 47 in a row counting last season. He’s four shy of the club record set by Bibby two seasons ago. … Sacramento’s Greg Ostertag went from being out four to six weeks because of a broken bone in his right hand to being the second player off the bench. He didn’t score in 10 minutes, with his hand heavily bandaged.

AP-ES-11-02-04 2324EST