Mavericks 113, Pistons 102: Dirk Nowitzki led the way with 24 points as visiting Dallas won for the eighth time in 10 games.

All five starters scored in double figures for the Mavericks, who overwhelmed the Pistons' imposing frontcourt to prevail for the second time in as many nights. Vince Carter had 18 points, Samuel Dalembert added 12 points and 11 rebounds and Monta Ellis racked up 12 points and 13 assists.

Josh Smith scored 32 points in a losing cause for Detroit, which was outrebounded 50-39. Greg Monroe had 17 points and 17 rebounds while Will Bynum added 17 points in a reserve role.

Leading 29-27 after a back-and-forth opening quarter, the Mavericks finally gained some separation with a 9-1 run just before the midway point of the second. Brandan Wright kicked it off with an emphatic dunk and Vince Carter bookended it with a driving layup as the Mavericks rode the surge to a 64-54 halftime lead.

Detroit kept pace with the Mavericks throughout the third quarter, closing to within four on Kentavious Caldwell-Pope's short floater in the lane with 1:18 remaining and entering the fourth trailing 88-82. They would make it a four-point game once more on a Caldwell-Pope Layup with just under nine minutes left, but Ellis and Devin Harris converted back-to-back layups and another Ellis layup restored Dallas' double-digit advantage with 4:58 remaining.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Pistons C Andre Drummond found himself in foul trouble for most of the night and finished with just eight points and three rebounds in 20 minutes. ... The Mavericks improved to 7-6 in the tail end of back-to-backs this season, while the Pistons fell to 6-9. ... Dallas wraps up a stretch of six road games in a seven-game span Monday night at Madison Square Garden against the Knicks.