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Mavericks edge Hornets; Nowitzki sidelined

Jan 22, 2012 - 5:35 AM New Orleans, LA (Sports Network) - Delonte West scored 16 points, and the Dallas Mavericks overcame the absence of Dirk Nowitzki to beat New Orleans, 83-81, on Saturday.

Lamar Odom also scored 16 for the Mavericks, who survived a last-second putback miss by Jarrett Jack off an intentionally missed free throw.

Nowitzki was sidelined with a sore right knee and is expected to miss the ensuing three contests.

"We had to get plenty of minutes from a lot of guys, we needed tough play from top to bottom, I think we played 10 guys tonight, we actually played 11 and all of them were a factor in the game," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said.

Shawn Marion totaled 14 points and 12 rebounds for the Mavericks, who overcame 4-of-26 shooting from beyond the arc.

"We've gone through this last year when we lost him for nine games," Dallas guard Jason Kidd said of Nowitzki. "We felt like we have a lot of talent here, and we feel like our depth is one of our keys. Everybody just has to step up."

Emeka Okafor had 16 points and 17 rebounds for the Hornets, who received 19 points from Carl Landry but suffered their seventh straight defeat.

Landry dunked with 6.7 seconds left, but Jason Terry made two free throws for the Mavericks to move the Mavs to an 83-80 lead with 5.9 seconds left.

Kidd then fouled Jack before he could get off a three-point shot. Jack made the first, but the second attempt clanked off the backboard and rim before coming right back to him. In mid-air, Jack's shot missed everything as the final buzzer sounded.

"We had a chance. A play here and there, it's pretty much the same story," New Orleans forward Trevor Ariza said. "We were right there and then a turnover happens and then a miss, rebound or something. We're just not closing games out the way we know we can. That's the story of our season so far."

The Hornets, who shot 37.2 percent, trailed by nine early and were behind 27-23 after 12 minutes. New Orleans came back and led by three late in the second, but went to the half even at 41.

Dallas scored the first 12 points of the third and was in front 64-53 moving to the fourth. Despite the close score, the Mavs didn't relinquish the lead the rest of the night.

Game Notes

This marks the first time since Dec. 16, 2006 that the Mavericks have beaten the Hornets in New Orleans...This was Okafor's 500th NBA game...The two teams combined to shoot 6-for-45 (12 percent) from behind the 3-point line...The 12 points recorded by the Hornets in the third quarter is the least amount the team has scored in a quarter this season...Dallas was also without Vince Carter (sprained left foot).