Dallas Cruises on Road

The Dallas Mavericks showed the New Jersey Nets why they are the NBA’s best road team.

Playing with little rest after a double-overtime victory over Indiana and without suspended forward Juwan Howard, the Mavericks used a game-ending 16-2 run to beat the Nets, 112-100, Wednesday night at East Rutherford, N.J.

“I’m very proud of this team, coming into two hostile places,” said Tim Hardaway, who made a three-point basket to ignite the late run. “After double overtime in Indiana, we had enough courage to come out here and play with only nine people. We played a heck of a ballgame against the top team in the East.”

Hardaway had seven of his 11 points in the run that led Dallas to a team record-tying seventh consecutive road victory and ended the Nets’ eight-game home winning streak.

The Mavericks, who set a team record by making their 27 free throws, is a league-best 17-7 on the road. It has won 23 of its last 28 games, the best run in franchise history.

Dallas, which didn’t arrive at its hotel in New Jersey until 4 a.m., had contributions from almost everyone in its final game before the All-Star break. Dirk Nowitzki had 22 points and Steve Nash had 18.

“We’ve had the best start (35-14) I think I’ve ever had at the halfway mark,” Dallas Coach Don Nelson said. “I can’t remember a better one.”

Kenyon Martin had 26 points and Keith Van Horn had 21 for the Nets, who were shut out in the final 4:25.

Cleveland 111, Houston 109--Lamond Murray scored the go-ahead basket with 21 seconds remaining and blocked a shot with nine seconds left at Cleveland, helping the Cavaliers end a three-game losing streak.

“Usually, those are the plays that beat us,” said Murray, who finished with 12 points. “Tonight, we stuck with it and it went our way. It feels good.”

Andre Miller scored 31 points for the Cavaliers, who had lost 15 of their last 16.

Steve Francis took Houston’s last shot, a running 14-footer. The ball bounced around the rim and fell through the basket, but the officials ruled the shot came after time had expired.

Cuttino Mobley scored 29 points for Houston and Francis had 25.

Sacramento 102, Boston 85--The Kings were missing Chris Webber, who was sidelined with stomach flu, but Peja Stojakovic and Vlade Divac made up for it at Boston.

Stojakovic scored 24 points and Divac had 15 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists, his seventh career triple-double.

Antoine Walker scored 26 points for the Celtics, who lost for the fourth time in six games.

The Kings swept the season series against the Celtics for the second consecutive season.

Minnesota 113, Portland 103--Wally Szczerbiak snapped out of his scoring slump with 30 points, six rebounds and five assists for the Timberwolves at Minneapolis.

Bonzi Wells scored a career-high 35 points for Portland.

Seattle 90, Phoenix 79--Brent Barry scored 21 and the SuperSonics ended a three-game home losing streak.

Shawn Marion had 19 points for the Suns, who scored a season-low 27 points in the second half.

Vin Baker returned for Seattle after sitting out Tuesday because of neck spasms and scored 17 points.