The Dallas Mavericks won a game that they had to on Friday night to keep themselves alive in the first round against the New Orleans Hornets, 97-87.

Dirk Nowitzki had 31 points and 16 rebounds and Jason Kidd tallied 8 points, 12 rebounds and 6 assists for the Mavericks, who outrebounded New Orleans by six and shot 43% on the night.

Jannero Pargo led the Hornets with 31 points, as their stars struggled for a majority of the night in Dallas.

Chris Paul had 15 points and 9 assists in the loss, on 4-for-18 shooting, after posting tremendous stat lines in both Game One and Two.

David West had difficulties in Game Three as well. He scored 14 points on 6-for-20 shooting and grabbed nine rebounds.

The action turned much more physical in Dallas, with Kidd icing down an eye bruise in the fourth. Erick Dampier committed a flagrant foul on Paul with mere seconds left on the clock, which led to technical fouls on both Tyson Chandler and Dampier.

Game Four will be Sunday night in Dallas as the Mavs look even up the series.