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Quoteboard for Mavericks 106, Kings 98: Dirk's record an "unbelievable accomplishment"

Dirk Nowitzki passes Hakeem Olajuwon and becomes the ninth-highest scorer in NBA history.

Tom Pennington

Big thanks to Bobby Karalla for providing post-game audio. He's a top-notch Twitter follow if you don't do that already.

Dirk Nowitzki is the ninth-leading scorer in the NBA

Rick Carlisle: "It's an unbelievable accomplishment. He's going to pass more guys and it's just a tribute to his greatness. Guys like him that live their entire life committed to excellence are able to do things like this, and that's why he's very special."

Dirk Nowitzki: "It was special to do it in front of the home crowd. They knew exactly how many points I need and then I made that one jumper at the top of the key -- I missed like two or three before that, but then I made it and they gave me a standing ovation so it was a special moment. You know, to pass the Dream is unbelievable. I was watching the NBA in the 90s. I was a huge fan and obviously when MJ retired those two years, Houston won back-to-back. He was unguardable on the block; his footwork, his skill level, his hands, his touch was second to none so I'm pretty proud."

Chandler Parsons: "It's unbelievable, man. Obviously, the Dream's a great player. Dirk is just one of the best ever. The fact that's he's played this long and his work ethic, that's the most impressing thing I've taken away."

Dirk: "It's an honor [to pass Hakeem]. Doing it at home, it was even more special. Getting a standing ovation, it was great. Hakeem, to me, was one of the greatest. I grew up watching him in the 90s. His footwork, his touch, was next to no other. I'm really humbled to keep climbing the ladder, blessed to stay healthy, and play at a semi-high level, I guess."

Tyson Chandler: "I can't say enough about -- it sounds weird, but how proud I am of him and the things he's been able to accomplish. He's the most humble player. He's an example for us all and every young player coming up of what hard word and dedication can do, and what you can accomplish in this league. He was a player who was almost wrote off early in his career and a lot of people didn't think that he was going to be able to play in this league. This organization believed in him and a few people around him believed in him and he continued to work and continued to believe in himself, and you see where he is now."

Dirk: "Every summer, I wanted to add more. At the beginning of my career I was a basic pick-and-pop shooter, and then I added more and more over the years. I had to add shooting off the dribble, I had to add posting up some. I thought Avery Johnson was one guy that pushed me in that are and to take my game to another level in other areas. As I became the franchise player every night, I'd try to do whatever the team needed and just try to get a win."

Dirk, on not ever using the Dream Shake: "I think you need a little athleticism for that move. The footwork, the shaking and baking was really my forte. I came up with a shot where you basically lean back and not be athletic at all and just hoist it up. I came up with my own Dream Shake, the white version."

Dirk: "It was great for [Holger] to be here and see it. He meant so much to me in my career and still does. I'm 36 years old and we still work on my game like I'm 21. It's fair to say that without him I wouldn't be sitting at number nine right now. If you know him, he rarely gets excited. It's hard to get a smile out of him. Maybe he was smiling a little bit. He'll probably critique me on the five shots I missed. That's just him."

Dirk: "I'm trying to catch Jabbar now, since I'm rolling. I'll probably have to play until I'm 60 to catch him. It is what it is. I don't think, at the end of my career, try one or two more years just to move up. I don't think that's anything that's that meaningful. It's really special, but I don't think it's anything to prolong my career. We'll see how long it's fun, see how long my body holds up, and how long I can play at a high level. That's not something I'll keep playing just for that."

Falling behind and then coming back from a 24-point deficit

Carlisle: "The last three quarters we really picked it up. The second half was terrific. The first half, they hit you with physical force. They've got a lot of skilled guys, they can make plays and they were knocking down shots. The good thing was that no one got rattled. We kept our poise, we kept playing, we were able to get the crowd into the game some in the second quarter, and in the second half, we knew it was going to be a grind, whistle to whistle.

Dirk: "We really had nothing going. It took us a minute to adjust to what they were doing. We did a good job getting it closer there in the second quarter."

Carlisle: "The shot [Monta] hit to end the third quarter was a huge momentum shot, a really difficult shot. It's one of those nights where you need absolutely everything that every guy can bring."

Chandler: "After coming out of that Miami game, a disappointing game, then getting down early in the first quarter, we could have easily hung our heads, but we didn't, we battled back, we were able to get a big win."

Parsons: "We stayed together. We went into the huddle, Monta pulled everyone together. Nobody was rattled. Nobody had their heads down. We just started chipping away, not trying to do any home run plays or force any bad shots. We were solid on the defensive end and kept hanging in there."

Parsons, on the second half defense: "Yeah, and it starts with our point guards. Devin, especially, was all up in Sessions. It starts with them and we have a guy like Tyson back there."

Everything else

Carlisle on bringing Tyson Chandler out early with foul trouble: "I had planned to use [Greg] Smith early to give [Tyson Chandler] a quick blow, and it's a big picture. I thought [Chandler] played with a lot of restraint and a lot of poise because Cousins is as difficult a physical matchup as there is in this league right now. [Dwight] Howard is really physical, there's some other interior guys who are, but just in terms of brute strength, along with great basketball skill. Cousins is as hard a matchup as there is."

Nelson, on his injury: "I went up, I guess I was about to shoot a layup, and I felt a little tweak. I guess we'll figure it out more tomorrow and go from there. ... I don't see myself missing time."

Carlisle, on playing Chandler Parsons with three fouls in the second quarter: "That's a coach's decision. He did a lot of good things from that point forward. ... We dodged a bullet. To get a guy his fourth, it would have been a lot tougher to win the game. He made plays, hit shots. He played with a lot of grit."

Nelson, on what to focus on the rest of the homestand: "Us. The things that's going on inside our locker room, not worrying about what other teams are doing and not relying on defensive schemes and offense, and just playing together."

Dirk, on playing Philly next: "They're not going to go 0-82, so they're going to catch somebody. You've got to be ready."