Mavericks break 6-game skid 103-94 over Wizards

[January 02, 2013]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- Vince Carter scored 23 points and O.J. Mayo and Darren Collison each added 15 to help the Dallas Mavericks break their six-game losing streak with a 103-94 win over the Washington Wizards on Tuesday night.

When the Wizards, who are now 4-25, took a 14-point lead early in the second quarter, Dallas, which had arrived in Washington in the midst of its longest skid in nearly 14 years, rallied. They trailed by four at the half, and then outscored the Wizards 35-19 in the third quarter to take an 83-71 lead.

The Mavericks were ahead 99-84 with 3:28 to play, but Washington scored eight straight to cut the lead to seven, but Carter, making just the second start of the season threw down an emphatic dunk with 1:11 to play to make it 101-93.

Six players scored in double figures for Dallas. Chris Kaman scored 12 points and Shawn Marion had 11 points with a season-high 14 rebounds. Dirk Nowitzki played in just his fifth game since returning from right knee surgery and added 11.

Bradley Beal equaled a career high with 22 points for the Wizards. Emeka Okafor had 14 and 11 rebounds. Martel Webster also had 14.

Dallas arrived in Washington in the midst of its longest skid in nearly 14 years. The Mavericks hadn't been losing close games. Just one of the six losses was by fewer than 10 points, and were by an average of 19 points, and were by an average of 19 points.

NBA champs just two seasons ago, Dallas hasn't missed the playoffs since 2000 and looked to be a team in turmoil. Coach Rick Carlisle was so upset after Sunday's 25-point loss to San Antonio, he threatened suspensions to underperformers, a threat he dismissed before the game. He did institute a dress code for team charters, banning sweat suits and insisting on at least business-casual attire.

The Wizards outrebounded the Mavericks 20-8 in the first quarter as they took a 29-23 lead and ended a 10-0 run with a 37-23 advantage with just over two minutes gone in the second quarter. Dallas clawed back in the game by scoring seven straight to end the first half down 52-48.

Just before Washington left the court, coach Randy Wittman took reserve center Kevin Seraphin aside to hector him for allowing Kaman three easy baskets late in the half.

NOTES: Dallas recalled G Jared Cunningham from the D-League, but he was inactive as was C/F Brandan Wright with a quad strain. ... The Wizards gave out bobbleheads depicting Beal. ... Washington has lost six in a row to the Mavericks. ... While the Mavericks were introduced, the strains of "Hail to the Redskins" were played.

[Associated Press]

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