EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) Steve Nash had 15 points and a season-high 16 assists and the Dallas Mavericks came up with two big defensive plays in the final 18.8 seconds to post a 101-98 win over the undermanned New Jersey Nets on Sunday.

Dirk Nowitzki blocked a shot underneath the basket by Nets center Jason Collins, seconds after hitting a fadeaway jumper that gave the Mavericks a 99-98 lead with 26.8 seconds left.

Nash, who had a big turnover in the final minute to keep the Nets' hopes afloat of an upset without Jason Kidd and Kenyon Martin, made the second defensive play with 5.4 seconds to go.

Guarding Lucious Harris in front of the Mavericks' bench with Dallas still up a point, Nash tipped the inbounds pass and Marquis Daniels picked it off.

Nowitzki finished with 21 points and Antawn Jamison had 20 for the Mavericks.

Richard Jefferson had 22 points, seven rebounds and eight assists for New Jersey.

Warriors 96, Clippers 85

LOS ANGELES (AP) Jason Richardson had 28 points and nine rebounds and the Golden State beat an injury-ravaged Los Angeles lineup.

Erick Dampier had 16 points and 17 rebounds for the Warriors, whose fourth straight victory matched their longest winning streak of the season _ following a season-worst nine consecutive losses.

Los Angeles was missing four of its five starters. Elton Brand, the only healthy Clipper averaging more than 7.1 points, finished with 20 points and 10 rebounds.

Heat 101, Wizards 81

WASHINGTON (AP) The Miami Heat ran their season-best winning streak to five, blowing the game open in the third quarter to beat Washington.

Dwyane Wade scored 22 points to lead six Heat players in double figures as Miami broke a three-game road losing streak and held on to sixth place in the Eastern Conference.

Six different players scored the first 14 points of a 31-9 run that began late in the first half and extended more than eight minutes into the third quarter. Miami shot 68 percent in the third period and led by as many as 25.

Steve Blake scored a career-high 21 points for the Wizards, who failed yet again to get their first three-game winning streak of the season. Washington had won two straight after losing seven in a row.

Timberwolves 98, Nuggets 77

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Kevin Garnett had 20 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists, and Sam Cassell and Wally Szczerbiak added 18 points each to lead Minnesota past Denver.

With Troy Hudson not in uniform because of a sore right ankle, Garnett spelled Cassell at point guard. No stranger to assists, Garnett became just the 17th player in NBA history to reach 13,000 points, 7,000 rebounds and 3,000 assists with his performance Sunday.

Carmelo Anthony was shadowed for most of the game by defensive stopper Trenton Hassell and scored just 13 points, eight below his average, on 6-for-22 shooting.

Pistons 96, Cavaliers 76

CLEVELAND (AP) Chauncey Billups had 18 points and Detroit held Cleveland to a season-low 31 points in the first half en route to its eighth straight win.

LeBron James shot poorly for his second straight game _ 5-for-17 for 15 points. Carlos Boozer led the Cavaliers with 21 points and 17 rebounds.

Richard Hamilton had 14 points and Ben Wallace had two points, 10 rebounds and three blocked shots.

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