DENVER, March 25 (UPI) -- Dirk Nowitzki and Nick Van Exel each scored 24 points Monday night as the Dallas Mavericks opened a four-game road trip with a 108-96 victory over the Denver Nuggets.
The Mavericks were shaky on defense early, building just a three-point lead after allowing 30 in the first quarter.
But Dallas began to pull away in the second period, opening a 65-50 halftime cushion. The Mavericks led by as many as 17 points in the third quarter before the Nuggets made a brief run in the fourth.
Dallas is 15-5 since its second three-game losing streak of the season and has a 3 1/2-game lead over Sacramento and San Antonio in the battle for the NBA's best record.
Juwan Howard scored 25 points and rookie Nene Hilario added 24 for the Nuggets, who were coming off Saturday's win over Boston. They have won three of their last nine following a 14-game losing streak.
