Mavericks 96, Clippers 92
Dirk Nowitzki scored 22 points, including 11 in the fourth quarter, as the Dallas Mavericks defeated the visiting Los Angeles Clippers 96-92 on Monday.
Shawn Marion added 16 points for Dallas, which has won four in a row. Los Angeles finished a 4-2 road trip.
Caron Butler scored 23 points to lead the Clippers, but missed a 3-pointer with 3.9 seconds left that would have given Los Angeles the lead. Blake Griffin added 20 points, but missed 7 of 9 free throws, including five in the final period.
Trailing 83-79, Dallas scored seven straight points to take an 86-83 lead. Nowitzki hit a 3-pointer and then made two of three free throws while Marion knocked down a jumper to spark the run.
Dallas led 90-84 with 1:37 to play before Griffin's three-point play and Kenyon Martin's dunk on a fast break made it a one-point game with a minute remaining. Nowitzki responded by hitting a jumper and two free throws to give Dallas a five-point lead.
Chris Paul hit a 3-pointer and made a steal on Dallas' next possession, but Butler missed a 3-pointer and Delonte West's two free throws with 2.9 seconds left finished the scoring.
Paul scored 16 points with nine assists, but committed five turnovers.