Nets top Mavs for first time in six years

Richard Jefferson never had a victory over the Dallas Mavericks. Jason Kidd hardly could remember even being competitive against them since coming to New Jersey.

But, with one dominant quarter, the Nets ended six years of frustration.

Jefferson scored 28 points and New Jersey snapped an 11-game losing streak against visiting Dallas with a 100-89 victory Sunday.

Vince Carter added 23 points for the Nets, who have won five in a row overall and 18 of 21 at home.

New Jersey had not beaten the Mavs since March 2, 2000. The Nets’ worst loss of this season came in a 110-77 Mavericks rout on Jan. 14.

“We were talking about that in the locker room,” Jason Kidd said. “We felt that we had maybe two games that were close. Once at their place and once here, and besides that they were no contests.”

The Nets were up 29-10 at the end of the first quarter. Dallas shot 4 for 22 (18 percent) in the period, with Dirk Nowitzki going 1 of 8 for his two points.

The Mavericks are struggling with early starts. They had to rally from 24 points down to beat Toronto on Feb. 25, and scored 10 points in the first quarter Sunday after a 1 p.m tipoff.

“We have to do something about our bad starts because it’s not the first time it’s happened to us all year,” said Nowitzki, who finished with 37 points. “Maybe we should get up at 6 o’clock and run around the block.”

Cavaliers 96, Lakers 95: At Cleveland, Flip Murray hit a free throw with 3.4 seconds left and scored 14 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter, leading the Cavaliers to a victory over Los Angeles.

The Lakers had one last chance to win, but Kobe Bryant’s 3-pointer clanked off the back of the rim as time expired.

Timberwolves 95, Kings 89: At Minneapolis, Kevin Garnett helped Minnesota end a seven-game losing streak, scoring a season-high 37 points as the Timberwolves beat Sacramento.

Mike Bibby, who has scored at least 29 points in four of his last seven games, led the Kings with 35.

Heat 111, Knicks 100: At New York, Dwyane Wade had 30 points, nine assists and five rebounds to help Miami beat the Knicks. Miami has won five straight and 15 of 16 to improve to 45-21.

Celtics 103, Pacers 88: At Indianapolis, Paul Pierce scored 22 points and Boston overcame a 14-point, first-quarter deficit to beat Indiana and sweep the three-game season series.

Hawks 108, Magic 107 (OT): At Atlanta, Zaza Pachulia scored on a tip-in with 2.4 seconds left in overtime to help the Hawks snap a four-game losing streak.

Joe Johnson had 40 points and 11 assists for Atlanta, his third game with 40 or more points this season.

Warriors 98, 76ers 89: At Oakland, Calif., Mike Dunleavy scored 28 points, Jason Richardson added 23 and Golden State sent Philadelphia to its fourth straight defeat without Allen Iverson.

Wizards 113, Bulls 104: Gilbert Arenas led the way with 29 points and seven assists, substitute Antonio Daniels scored a season-high 21 on his 31st birthday as four Wizards topped 20 points.

Grizzlies 90, Jazz 84: At Memphis, Tenn., Pau Gasol had 15 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists to just miss a triple-double, and Chucky Atkins scored 20 points to lead the Grizzlies to a victory over Utah.