NEWARK, N.J. -- The Mavericks woke up in the final 2:51 of the second quarter, apparently having had enough after Brook Lopez drove to the hoop for yet another easy basket and a 45-37 lead.

The Nets wouldn't score again,while the Mavs put together their best stretch of the game, an 11-0 run. Dirk Nowitzki hit his first 3-pointer since the Detroit game after the Mavs kept a loose-ball rebound alive. That shot put Dallas up 46-45 and the Nowitzki hit two free throws for a 48-45 halftime lead.

The Nets led for the majority of the half and were receiving little resistance from the Mavs' defense, as New Jersey's 54.3 percent field-goal percentage verifies. The Mavs shot just 38.5 percent but kept alive six possessions with offensive rebounds for eight second-chance points.

The Mavs are obviously the better team, but without a stingier defensive effort New Jersey will hang around. The Nets are trying to win three in a row for the first time this season. Detroit turned that same trick against the Mavs on Monday.

Dirk Nowitzki leads the Mavs with 15 points despite getting off to a 2-of-9 start. Tyson Chandler scored 10 of his 14 points in the first quarter. He needs seven rebounds for a double-double. Jason Terry came off the bench for seven points.

In related news, Brendan Haywood made consecutive free throws.

Lopez leads the Nets with 11 pointsand Devin Harris has 10 points and five assists.