It was a playoff-like atmosphere at the American Airlines Center on Wednesday, so it was fitting the veterans came up big for the Mavericks.
Dallas used a big offensive game by J.J. Barea and a big defensive play by Dirk Nowitzki to secure a critical 88-86 win over the Rockets.
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It was a huge night for the Mavs, who maintain a two-game lead over the ninth-place Rockets in the Western Conference playoff standings.