Mavericks 83, Bulls 77
CHICAGO -- Dirk Nowitzki scored a game-high 21 points to lead the Dallas Mavericks to an 83-77 win over the Chicago Bulls on Friday night at the United Center.
Trailing 61-59 entering the fourth quarter, the Mavericks (23-18) outscored the Bulls 24-16 the rest of the way. The lead was exchanged for the 13th and final time when guard Deron Williams connected on a 3-pointer to put the Mavs ahead 71-69. The basket began a 11-3 run for Dallas.
Williams and Nowitzki keyed the Mavs' fourth quarter. Williams scored 10 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter and Nowitzki had five of Dallas' final seven points.
The Mavericks snapped a two-game losing streak. The Bulls (23-16) lost for the fourth time in the last five games.
Guard Derrick Rose led the Bulls with 18 points, followed by center Pau Gasol (17 points, eight rebounds) and forward Taj Gibson (nine points, 11 rebounds).
Mavericks center Zaza Pachulia (nine points, 10 rebounds) and guard J.J. Barea (nine points) contributed to the win.
A day after scoring a career-high 53 points in an overtime win over the Philadelphia 76ers, Bulls guard Jimmy Butler struggled offensively and finished with four points on 2-of-11 shooting from the field. He went scoreless and missed all three shots in the first half.
The Mavericks outscored the Bulls 23-15 in the third quarter and cut Chicago's lead to 61-59. Nowitzki scored six points on 3-of-3 shooting in the quarter. The Bulls were 7 of 23 from the field in the third quarter.
Bulls center Joakim Noah dislocated his left shoulder in the second quarter and immediately left the floor for the locker room. He did not return to the game. The Bulls later also lost guard Kirk Hinrich with a left quad contusion.
With the Mavericks ahead 28-26 in the second quarter, the Bulls went on a 14-2 run to regain the lead. The Bulls led 46-36 at halftime. The Mavericks shot 28.2 percent from the field (11 of 39) in the first half.
NOTES: Bulls G Derrick Rose started after sitting out Thursday's game with left patellar tendinitis. He has missed 16 games this season with various injuries. ... Mavericks F Dirk Nowitzki and G Deron Williams returned to the lineup after resting against the Thunder on Wednesday. ... Mavericks C Zaza Pachulia started after sitting out Wednesday's game with calf soreness.