Mavericks 122, Nuggets 106: Monta Ellis scored 14 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter as host Dallas knocked off Denver.

Dirk Nowitzki had 21 points and Shawn Marion added 14 as the seventh-place Mavericks moved a full game ahead of the Memphis Grizzlies in the Western Conference playoff race. Vince Carter and Brandan Wright scored 13 points and Jae Crowder had 12 on four 3-pointers.

J.J. Hickson had 18 points and eight rebounds and Ty Lawson had 17 points and nine assists for the Nuggets. Randy Foye scored 15 points and Darrell Arthur added 11.

The Nuggets used a 16-4 burst to trim a 15-point fourth-quarter deficit to 99-96 on Arthur’s basket with 6:28 remaining. Nowitzki hit consecutive baskets to stem the tide and Ellis later scored eight straight points to make it a 16-point margin with 1:46 to play as the Mavericks finished strong.

Crowder hit three consecutive 3-pointers to give Dallas a 14-point lead midway through the second quarter and the Mavericks held a 61-53 lead at the break. Dallas rattled off a 15-3 surge in the third to take a 17-point lead before settling for a 90-78 advantage entering the final stanza.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Dallas collected 15 offensive rebounds while posting a 48-35 rebounding edge. … Foye made five 3-pointers as Denver went 13-of-30 from behind the arc, while the Mavericks were 12-of-22. … Ellis is 9-of-16 from 3-point range over the past six games.