Los Angeles (AFP) - J.J. Barea scored 27 points and Dirk Nowitzki delivered a key defensive stop as the Dallas Mavericks held off the Houston Rockets 88-86 in a crucial NBA Western Conference clash.
The Mavericks improved to 40-38 with their fifth straight victory and took a two-game lead over Southwest Division rivals Houston (38-40) going into the last four games of the regular season.
It was a vital victory, with the Mavericks and Rockets locked in a three-team battle with the Utah Jazz (39-39) for the final two playoff berths in the West.
The Rockets have the most work to do, having lost six of their last nine games to fall to ninth place.