Jason Terry scored a game-high 26 points off the bench, including the go-ahead jumper with 34.9 seconds left, as the Dallas Mavericks handed the visiting New Orleans Hornets their first loss of the season, a 98-95 defeat Monday night.

Terry's 19-footer put the Mavericks ahead and Trevor Ariza misfired on a pair of 3-pointers for the lead before Dirk Nowitzki hit one of two free throws. The Hornets had one last chance with seven-tenths of a second left, but Emeka Okafor's 3-pointer was off the mark at the buzzer.

Nowitzki scored 25 points on 7-of-12 shooting and grabbed 10 rebounds. Jason Kidd added 16 points, eight rebounds and six assists for the Mavericks (7-2).

Chris Paul scored 20 points while helping the Hornets (8-1) build a 52-47 halftime lead. New Orleans extended the lead to seven after three quarters despite Paul sitting most of the third quarter with four fouls, but after hitting nine of his first 12 shots, Paul missed his last four.

Paul finished with 22 points and nine assists and Peja Stojakovic hit 4-of-6 from 3-point range for 17 points for the Hornets. Ariza had 13 points and seven rebounds, David West added 12 points and Willie Green scored 11 for New Orleans.

The teams will meet again in New Orleans on Wednesday.