Mavericks 104, Hornets 100: Vince Carter hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with six seconds left as visiting Dallas outlasted New Orleans.

Carter went 5-for-7 from 3-point range en route to 22 points and added nine rebounds while Dirk Nowitzki led the Mavericks with 25 points. Dallas has won five of its last six to pull within four games of .500.

Eric Gordon scored 23 points, Jason Smith added 22 and Ryan Anderson collected 20 and 12 rebounds for the Hornets, who have dropped three straight.

The Mavericks held a 94-89 lead after five straight points by Nowitzki midway through the fourth quarter but went scoreless over the next 4:26 as New Orleans took control. Smith scored six points during the 8-0 run that put the Hornets on top 97-94 with 4:01 to play.

Nowitzki ended the drought with a jumper at the 2:43 mark and Mike James cut it to 100-99 on a 3-pointer with 43 seconds left before Carter’s go-ahead shot. Darren Collison clinched it at the free throw line.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Mavericks C Chris Kaman (concussion) began participating in practice on Thursday but missed his ninth straight game on Friday. … New Orleans starting forwards Anthony Davis and Al-Farouq Aminu combined to shoot 7 for 22 from the floor but pulled down 21 rebounds. … Dallas is still waiting for Anthony Morrow, who was acquired from the Atlanta Hawks at Thursday’s deadline, to join the team.