MAVERICKS 117, ROCKETS 110: Dirk Nowitzki had a game-high 35 points and Vince Carter dropped 23 points off the bench to help host Dallas snap a two-game losing skid.

After scoring just four points in the first half, Nowitzki exploded for 31 points in the final 24 minutes to help the Mavericks inch closer to clinching a playoff berth in the Western Conference.

Nowitzki used 20 fourth-quarter points to lead a 14-2 Mavericks run midway through the fourth quarter to take a 102-94 lead they wouldn't relinquish.

Goran Dragic had a double-double for Houston with 20 points and 10 assists. The Rockets have dropped five straight and fell into a tie for ninth in the West with Utah.

The Rockets play the second half of their back-to-back in New Orleans on Thursday

GAME NOTEBOOK: Dallas guard Delonte West was fined $25,000 Wednesday by the NBA for poking Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward in the ear Monday. … Rockets center Marcus Camby returned from a lower back injury to score 11 points and haul in 17 rebounds. … The Mavericks have won seven straight regular-season games over Houston.