Rick Carlisle: 'Dirk Nowitzki carried the team'

Rick Carlisle has said that Dirk Nowitzki "carried the team" to an overtime win against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The power forward scored 32 including seven in overtime during the 128-119 win to move the Mavericks back into eighth in the Western Conference.

The coach told reporters: "His emotion and his attitude carried the team. He's a prideful guy. I think great players are great for a reason. They never let anything keep them down for long.

"He's bounced back from every adversity he's ever had in his career, so this is no surprise."

The German has averaged 21.4 points per game this season.