MAVERICKS 104, WARRIORS 94: Vince Carter had 19 points and nine rebounds to help host Dallas defeat struggling Golden State.

Brandan Wright tallied 17 points on 8-of-9 shooting and Dirk Nowitzki and Delonte West added 16 points apiece for the Mavericks, who are vying to secure the sixth seed in the Western Conference. Dallas officially clinched a playoff spot when the Houston Rockets lost Thursday.

Klay Thompson scored 26 points, Brandon Rush added 20 and Dorell Wright tallied 19 for the Warriors, who have lost seven straight and 19 of their last 23.

Dallas had a commanding 52-35 rebounding edge and pulled away from the Warriors over the final 15 minutes.

The contest was tied at 67 late in the third quarter before Carter’s basket began a 22-8 run over a 6 1/2-minute stretch. Shawn Marion’s hoop culminated the run and gave Dallas an 89-75 lead with 7:51 to play.

Golden State pulled within 93-86 on a 3-pointer by Charles Jenkins with 5:22 to play before the Mavericks answered with a 9-2 run that included the 1,500th 3-pointer of Carter’s career. Wright’s basket pushed the lead back to 14 with 1:57 to play.

Marion added 14 points and eight rebounds for the Mavericks, who hit 25 of 26 free throws while the Warriors converted just 11 of 21.

Jeremy Tyler had 15 points and eight rebounds and Jenkins had 10 points and 10 assists for the Warriors.

Golden State stayed in the contest with nine 3-pointers – Dorell Wright had four and Thompson drained three.

Dallas led by as many as 11 in the first half but led just 50-49 at intermission. Thompson had 16 first-half points for the Warriors. The Mavericks had a 30-18 rebounding advantage.

The contest was the first of a road back-to-back-to-back for Golden State. The Warriors visit Houston on Saturday and Minnesota on Sunday.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The Mavericks were just 3 of 19 from 3-point range and missed all 10 first-half attempts … Thompson has scored 20 or more points in four of the past five games … Dallas has had at least five players score in double digits in nine straight games … Golden State guard Nate Robinson (hamstring) missed his second straight game.