AUBURN HILLS, Mich., March 18 (UPI) -- Dirk Nowitzki scored 28 points Sunday as the Dallas Mavericks held off Detroit down the stretch for a 92-88 victory.
The Mavericks won for the third straight time after suffering back-to-back losses. They own a five-game lead over Phoenix in the battle for the best record in the NBA.
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Detroit had a five-game winning streak halted.
Devin Harris scored 22 for Dallas while Josh Howard, Jason Terry and Jerry Stackhouse all had 12. Two free throws by Stackhouse gave Dallas a six-point lead with 95 seconds remaining.
Ronald Murray paced Detroit with 18 points.
The Pistons led by four at the half, but the Mavericks set the tone for the final two quarters by opening the third period with a 9-2 run.
