The stumbling Mavericks and their struggling veteran point guard rose to the challenge Wednesday night against the visiting Lakers, snapping a six-game losing skid as Jason Kidd registered a season-high 21 points and 10 assists in a 109-100 victory. Jason Terry and Shawn Marion each scored 22 off the bench for Dallas, which avoided its first seven-game slide since 1999. Los Angeles, which has lost two of its last three, got a game-high 23 points from Pau Gasol, 21 points and 10 assists from Kobe Bryant and 20 points and 10 rebounds from Lamar Odom
Elsewhere, one of the big performers of the night was Monte Ellis, who drained 36 and a buzzer beater game winner for the Golden State Warriors over the Pacers. Another one putting on his hero cap was J.J.Redick, Orlando, who triggered a clutch four-point play with very little to play and snatch it over Philly 99-98. Rudy Gay had the last-second J in overtime to become a hero too, but it was just too long. Memphis should really have put this one away well before, though, but a terrible sequence with Chris Paul left wide open from 3, and a turnover meant New Orleans said ‘thank you very much’ going home with a 103-102 win.