DALLAS (AP) – Vince Carter had 19 points, including eight straight for Dallas early in the fourth quarter, and the playoff-bound Mavericks finally pulled away from the young Golden State Warriors for a 104-94 victory Friday night.
Carter’s personal streak ended when he had an assist on Jason Terry’s breakaway 3-pointer that stretched the Dallas lead to 87-75 with 9 minutes left.
It was the last regular season home game for the defending NBA champions, who clinched a playoff spot Thursday night without even playing. The Mavericks were guaranteed their 12th straight playoff appearance after Houston’s sixth consecutive loss, in New Orleans a night after the Rockets lost in Dallas.
Brandan Wright had 17 points for Dallas, which finished 23-10 at home.
Klay Thompson, one of four rookie starters for Golden State, had 26 points.
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
