JJ Barea had another big scoring night while German star Dirk Nowitzki and Wesley Matthews delivered the defensive gems when it mattered most, and the Dallas Mavericks strengthened their playoff hopes.
Barea dropped in 10 of his 27 points in the final quarter, while Nowitzki made the game-saving strip on James Harden’s drive in the closing seconds, and the Mavericks escaped with their fifth straight win, 88-86 over the visiting Rockets 88-86 yesterday.
“I’m in a great rhythm now,” said Barea, averaging 24 points during the five-game winning streak. “Dirk made a big play at the end and we were able to hold them off.
“We’re rolling right now and we don’t care who we play,” he continued. “We just have to get wins.”
Matthews scored 16 points for the Mavericks (40-38), who remain the seventh spot in the Western Conference playoff scramble, one game ahead of idle Utah (39-39) and two up on the Rockets (38-40) with four remaining.
“We are a grinding team trying to move on,” Dallas head coach Rick Carlisle said. “Our guys are committed and that’s all you can ask for.”
Harden had 26 points, and Dwight Howard contributed 14 with 16 rebounds for the Rockets, who are in jeopardy of missing the playoffs after reaching the conference finals last season.
“We knew it was going to be this type of game,” Rockets coach JB Bickerstaff said. “They’re gritty, they’re tough and they’re seasoned. I feel we’re that way too.
“With so much on the line guys we’re going to bring it; and it was going to come down to who made the most plays.”
With both Texas teams battling for their playoff lives, Dallas was clinging to an 86-85 lead when Harden drove the middle for what appeared to be the go-ahead layup.
But Nowitzki, who finished with seven points on 2-8 shooting, slapped the ball out of his hands with 5.4 seconds left. Devin Harris was fouled and made both free throws to make it a three-point game.
The Mavericks fouled Jason Terry with 2.6 seconds to go and the Rockets were without any timeouts. He made the first toss, then, intentionally missed the second.
The rebound was tipped out to the free throw line where Matthews and Terry collided. Matthews ran down the ball along the sideline and punched it down court as time expired.
“Blood and guts the whole way,” Carlisle added. “Matthews made the best save and deflection I’ve ever seen.”

RESULTS
Indiana 123, Cleveland 109
Detroit 108, Orlando 104
Washington 121, Brooklyn 103
Bostonn 104, New Orleans 97
Charlotte 111, New York 97
Dallas 88, Houston 86
Portland 120, Oklahoma City 115
LA Clippers 91, LA Lakers 81