Dirk Nowitzki scored 30 points Wednesday and Dallas survived a wild fourth quarter to edge Miami 98-96. The Mavericks moved to within 1 1/2 games of Utah in the fight for seventh place in the Western Conference, a position that keeps a team from having to play the powerful Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the playoffs. Miami, which holds down the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference, had a two-point lead going into the fourth quarter and the lead changed hands 11 times in the period. Dallas took the lead for good at 95-94 with 2:50 to play on a layup by Nowitzki, but Miami was still within a point with 33 seconds remaining after Michael Beasley hit two free throws. Jason Kidd then missed a 3-point attempt for Dallas as the shot clock ran out, but Miami's Mario Chalmers was called for an offensive foul with 2 seconds left to end the Heat's final chance. Jason Terry made a free throw with a second to go for the final score. Josh Howard added 20 for the Mavericks, who won their se

A 27-point effort from Josh Howard Wednesday sent Dallas coasting to a 116-96 triumph over Milwaukee. The Mavericks built a 24-point lead at the break and were not threatened in the second half, getting 19 points and nine assists from Jason Kidd, and 18 points from Brandon Bass.

Josh Howard led the way with 23 points Wednesday and Dallas held on to down Portland 104-99, ending the Trail Blazers' five-game winning streak. Dallas won its fourth straight, getting 20 points from Jason Terry and 19 from Brandon Bass.

Dirk Nowitzki and Josh Howard paced Dallas to a hot shooting performance Friday and the Mavericks pulled away in the second half to down Detroit 112-91. Dallas shot 54 percent from the field and Nowitzki teamed with Howard to make 20-of-35 shots. Nowitzki scored 26 points with seven rebounds and Howard had 22 points.

Shaquille O'Neal scored 25 points Friday and helped the Phoenix Suns blow the game open in the third quarter en route to a 128-100 whipping of Dallas. A 22-4 Phoenix run in the third coincided with the departure of Dallas' Josh Howard.