Mavericks stagger before winning their 10th in row

With 10 consecutive missed shots, the Dallas Mavericks nearly missed their chance for a 10th straight victory.

Then Josh Howard ended the skid with a floater. Soon after, Erick Dampier came up with a huge blocked shot.

Just like that, the Mavericks held off the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves, 93-87, Monday night, continuing their turnaround from an 0-4 start by matching the fourth-longest winning streak in team history.

“We still have a lot of work to do, no matter what the record is and no matter who our opponent is,” Dallas Coach Avery Johnson said after his team nearly blew a 20-point lead.

Randy Foye scored 11 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter, many during a 12-0 spurt that ended with Mark Blount’s basket that tied it at 84-84 with 2:34 left. But Minnesota would get only a three-point basket afterward, with Dampier blocking a potential go-ahead shot by Foye with 1:20 left.

Howard and Dirk Nowitzki led six Mavericks in double figures with 15 points apiece. Kevin Garnett led the Timberwolves with 19 points and 12 rebounds.

Golden State 111, San Antonio 102 -- Jason Richardson scored 26 points and dunked during a 12-0 fourth-quarter run to help the Warriors end the Spurs’ franchise-best road start at seven wins.

The Spurs’ Tim Duncan had 22 points, 16 rebounds and six blocks, but had three straight shots blocked by Andris Biedrins in the fourth quarter.

Orlando 88, Utah 75 -- Dwight Howard had 21 points and 16 rebounds to help the Magic prevent the Jazz from matching its best home start of 8-0 in a matchup of the teams with the best records in each conference. Utah’s Carlos Boozer had 21 points.

Miami 103, Philadelphia 91 -- Dwyane Wade had 33 points and 13 assists, and the Heat sank a season-best 59% of its shots to withstand Allen Iverson’s 45 points at Miami.

Alonzo Mourning blocked seven shots and added 14 points for the Miami, which ended a four-game losing streak at home.

The 76ers lost for the ninth time in 11 games since starting 3-0.

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The NBA fined New Orleans Hornets guard Bobby Jackson $20,000 for verbally abusing officials and failing to the leave the court in a timely fashion after being ejected Saturday at Dallas.... New Jersey Nets forward Clifford Robinson had surgery on his left knee. No timetable was given for his return.