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.
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 Sunday.
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.
"It's important to make plays when they count," Nash said. "That's when the game is the most fun."
Nowitzki finished with 21 points and Antawn Jamison had 20 for the Mavericks, who hit 14 of 20 shots in the final quarter.
Richard Jefferson had 22 points, seven rebounds and eight assists for New Jersey, which put on a gutsy effort. Harris scored a season-high 21 points and Rodney Rogers had 20 points and 10 rebounds.
"I thought our guys fought their tails off," Nets coach Lawrence Frank said. "They gave a heck of an effort. It wasn't the outcome we would have like but I thought we had a great chance to win it when you play like that."
Warriors 96, Clippers 85
In Los Angeles, Jason Richardson had 28 points and nine rebounds and the Golden State Warriors capitalized on an injury-ravaged Los Angeles lineup to beat the Clippers.
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. Dampier leads Western Conference centers with 38 double-doubles.
Power forward Elton Brand finished with 20 points and 10 rebounds for the Clippers. Rookie center Chris Kaman, the only Clipper to appear in every game this season, played 12 scoreless minutes.
Heat 101, Wizards 81
In Washington, the Miami Heat ran their season-best winning streak to five, blowing the game open in the third quarter to beat the Washington Wizards.
Dwyane Wade scored 22 points led 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.
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
In Minneapolis, Kevin Garnett had 20 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists, and Sam Cassell and Wally Szczerbiak added 18 points each to lead the Minnesota Timberwolves past the Denver Nuggets.
The Wolves moved two games in front of San Antonio for first place in the Midwest Division heading into a crucial matchup with the Spurs on Tuesday in Minneapolis.
Carmelo Anthony was shadowed for most of the game by defensive stopper Trenton Hassell and scored just 13 points, eight below his average.
Pistons 96, Cavaliers 76
In Cleveland, Chauncey Billups had 18 points and the Detroit Pistons smothered Cleveland in the first half, beating the Cavaliers to extend their winning streak to eight.
Detroit held the Cavaliers to a season-low 31 points in the first half. The Pistons led by as many as 28 in the third quarter and let their backups finish the game.
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.
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