Mavericks 102, Pistons 99
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- O.J. Mayo had 22 points as the Dallas Mavericks gave away a 15-point, fourth-quarter lead and then rallied for a 102-99 victory over the Detroit Pistons at The Palace on Friday.
Brandan Wright scored 14 points and Dirk Nowitzki chipped in 12, including two crucial late baskets. Dallas (28-33), which has won two in a row, got off to a positive start on its four-game road trip.
Forward Shawn Marion was a late scratch because of a left calf injury, prompting coach Rick Carlisle to use his 20th different lineup this season.
Brandon Knight's 21 points topped the Pistons (23-41), who have lost four straight and seven of their last eight. Detroit is assured of its fifth straight non-winning season.
Greg Monroe, who missed Detroit's game against New York on Wednesday with a left ankle sprain, added 14 points and 10 rebounds. Jason Maxiell (12 points, 13 rebounds) also had a double-double, and rookie Khris Middleton had a career-high 14 points.
Pistons coach Lawrence Frank missed his second consecutive game to be with his ailing wife Susan in New Jersey. Brian Hill filled in for him.
A 3-point barrage in the first 2:16 of the fourth quarter gave Dallas a 15-point lead. Mike James, a member of the Pistons' 2004 championship team, and Vince Carter buried two apiece for the Mavs to make it 88-73.
The Pistons hung around and got it down to four, 95-91, on Middleton's 3-pointer. Charlie Villanueva's ensuing 3-pointer made it a one-point game, and Middleton gave Detroit a 97-96 lead with 2:29 left on a corner three.
Nowitzki responded with a pair of 18-foot shots to put the Mavericks back on top. Villanueva's putback with six seconds left got the deficit down to 100-99
Darren Collison made two free throws with 3.8 seconds left for a three-point spread. Villanueva then missed a corner 3-point attempt on Detroit's final possession.
Mayo scored 14 in the first half to lift the Mavericks to a 50-42 halftime lead. Mayo made four 3-pointers as Dallas shot 52.5 percent from the field over the first two quarters.
Dallas led 76-71 after three quarters, thanks to centers Chris Kaman and Wright. They combined for 12 third-quarter points, including a Wright layup that gave Dallas its biggest advantage of the quarter, 69-59.
Knight, who scored 12 points in the third, and Kyle Singler scored five points apiece during the remainder of the quarter.
NOTES: The Mavericks have won 10 of the last 12 meetings with the Pistons. ... The Pistons kick off a four-game West Coast swing against the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday. Detroit plays 12 of its remaining 18 games on the road. ... Pistons guard Jose Calderon has six games of 15 or more assists this season, trailing only injured Boston guard Rajon Rondo (7). ... Rodney Stuckey, who has played more minutes than any other Detroit reserve, was averaging 2.8 points over his previous four games. He had one point Friday. ... Dallas made at least nine 3-pointers in its previous three games. ... The Mavericks bench was averaging 40.7 points, trailing only the Los Angeles Clippers (40.8). ... Detroit rookie center Andre Drummond has not begun practicing since being diagnosed with a stress fracture in his back. Drummond has missed 14 straight games. "I know Andre is doing a lot of stuff with Arnie Kander, our strength and conditioning coach," Hill said. "We haven't had a discussion of any type about a timetable when he might be back." ... The Mavericks are 0-9 when they fail to reach 90 points.