Orlando, FL (Sports Network) - Jason Kidd poured in eight of his 10 points in the fourth quarter, adding eight assists and eight rebounds to lead Dallas to a 95-85 win over Orlando at Amway Arena.
New Look Mavericks Defeat Magic 95-85
Dirk Nowitzki scored 23 points and newcomers Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood had 16 and 15 points, respectively, for the Mavericks, who have won two straight since trading for the latter two players.
Jason Terry donated 16 points off the bench for Dallas, which went on a 19-0 run spanning the third and fourth quarters to turn the game around.
Dwight Howard ended with 29 points and 16 rebounds for the Magic, who had won four of five coming in. Vince Carter and Jameer Nelson each recorded 16 points, while Rashard Lewis posted 12 in defeat.
The Magic held an 11-point lead late in the third, but consecutive Nowitzki baskets followed by a Terry three cut the margin to 69-65 with a quarter to play.
The momentum continued to roll the Mavs’ way to start the fourth, as Kidd’s jumper capped the game-changing 19-0 run spanning the two frames. Kidd also made a three-pointer during the stretch, which allowed Dallas to take a 77-69 lead with less than nine minutes left.
Trailing 85-81 with two minutes left, the Magic had a chance to make it a one- possession game, but Lewis missed a three and Carter couldn’t get his floater to fall.
Kidd drained another one from behind the arc at the other end, and Nelson’s miss the next time down sealed the game’s outcome.
Orlando netted the final eight points of the opening 12 minutes to build a 33-23 lead, and Carter’s two-handed, double-clutch slam ended the second quarter for a 47-42 cushion for the hosts.
Orlando fell to 21-6 as the hosts this season...Dallas has won four straight in Orlando...Haywood also grabbed nine rebounds...Howard had five blocks for the Magic, who made just 4-of-25 from long range.
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