Mavericks’ Advantage Dwindles in the West

Dallas kept coming back to the pack in the Western Conference as Rashard Lewis atoned for his worst game of the season with 30 points, leading the Seattle SuperSonics past the Mavericks, 107-100, Thursday night at Seattle.

Dallas maintains the league’s best record at 48-16, but is only 2 1/2 games ahead of the San Antonio Spurs after the first game of a three-game trip.

Ray Allen added 29 points for the SuperSonics, who stopped a three-game losing streak. Dirk Nowitzki scored 27 to lead the Mavericks.

Lewis had a season-low nine points Tuesday against Portland.

Phoenix 109, Sacramento 84 -- Shawn Marion scored 18 of his 27 points in the third period at Phoenix to help the Suns hand the Kings their worst loss of the season and end their four-game winning streak.

Stephon Marbury added 26 points for Phoenix, which moved a half-game game ahead of idle Houston in the race for the eighth and final Western Conference playoff spot. The teams play in Houston on Sunday.

The Kings’ Chris Webber just missed his 16th career triple double and second against the Suns this season, finishing with 22 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists. Peja Stojakovic, however, had only four points on one-of-seven shooting.

New Jersey 90, Boston 75 -- Lucious Harris broke out of a two-month shooting slump with 24 points at East Rutherford, N.J., to help the Nets win their second in a row after losing seven of the previous eight.

Harris’ point total was his highest since he had a season-high 26 on Jan. 15 against Philadelphia. Before Thursday, he’d scored 25 points over his previous five games.

Paul Pierce led the Celtics with 22 points.