The Nuggets’ Carmelo Anthony and the Dallas Mavericks’ Dirk Nowitzki duked it out last night in the latest battle of the NBA’s Western Conference semifinals, with the Mavericks barely holding on for the 119-117 win. Anthony scored a career playoff-high 41 points, but Nowitzki scored 44 and will lead his team back to Denver for Wednesday night’s game (via The Denver Post).

The Nuggets have the opportunity to clinch the series and head to the Western Conference finals for the first time since 1985–behind the steady hand of hometown hero Chauncey Billups, who knows a thing or two about winning the big game, something he’s done his whole life, according to ESPN.