Mavs surge in third quarter to end losing run

DALLAS (Reuters) The Dallas Mavericks emphatically ended their six-game losing streak with a 109-100 triumph over the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday.

Jason Terry and Shawn Marion came off the bench to score 22 points apiece, while Jason Kidd had a season-high 21 points and 10 assists as the Mavericks used a potent third quarter to end their slide.

Dallas (27-14) trailed the two-time defending champions by eight midway through the third but closed the period on a 28-11 run to take control and never look back.

Kidd scored 13 points during the critical stretch, including a trio of three-pointers after previously struggling with his shot this season.

"I came in this league (as not the best shooter), so right now I'm going through a little shooting mentality. Tonight the ball was going in," Kidd told reporters.

"Were a veteran ballclub, were desperate and it showed tonight."

Pau Gasol scored a team-high 23 points and Kobe Bryant added 21 and 10 assists but the Lakers (31-13) took their second defeat in three games.

Los Angeles led for most of the contest before being blitzed in the third and falling behind by as much as 16 in the fourth.

"It was a lack of defense," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said.

"They had so many open shots and they started making them. They had that third quarter that got us on our heels."

Lamar Odom recorded 20 points and 10 rebounds in the losing effort for Los Angeles.

Dirk Nowitzki scored 14 points in his third game back from a knee injury that sidelined him for nine contests.

Dallas was 2-7 in his absence and has been dealing with multiple injuries this season.

Center Tyson Chandler played after missing his previous two games with illness and forward Caron Butler is out indefinitely with a knee injury.

(Writing by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles; Editing by John O'Brien)