Mavericks 106, Rockets 102
Peja Stojakovic shook off a slump, hitting four 3-pointers as part of a 22-point performance, as the Dallas Mavericks took command in the third quarter and held on for a 106-102 victory over the host Houston Rockets on Saturday night.
Dirk Nowitzki scored 22 points and Shawn Marion added 14 off the bench for the Mavericks, who saw their 10-game winning streak come to an end Thursday against the Denver Nuggets.
Stojakovic finished 5-of-20 from the field in his last three games but shot 8 of 12 in this one to help the Mavericks improve to 8-3 in the second game of back-to-back contests, including an impressive 7-2 on the road.
Kyle Lowry had 26 points and eight assists for the Rockets, who have lost two straight after winning three in a row.
Dallas used a 13-0 run early in the third to pull away. The Mavericks received a pair of jumpers from Nowitzki, and then got three straight shots from the arc from Nowitzki, Stojakovic and Jason Kidd to take a 72-49 lead with 6 1/2 minutes left.
Houston closed within 16 entering the fourth and Shane Battier drained two 3-pointers to narrow the margin. Aaron Brooks and Courtney Lee added shots from the arc and the Rockets pulled to within three at 95-92 on a layup by Lowry with 2:16 remaining.
Nowitzki responded with a 16-foot jumper and - after Brooks turned the ball over - Jason Terry fed Kidd for a fast-break layup with 1:42 left that provided some cushion.