Howard picks up for Dirk to lift Mavs

Los Angeles Clippers forward Corey Maggette, left, loses control of the ball as he collides with Dallas Mavericks forward Josh Howard (5) in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Dallas, Tuesday, March 25, 2008. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

DALLAS—Josh Howard took over a tight game midway through the third quarter, carrying the Dallas Mavericks past the Los Angeles Clippers 103-90 on Tuesday night in their first game since losing Dirk Nowitzki to injury.

Dallas, which had lost three straight, led only 60-58 when Howard got rolling.

Howard scored 20 of the Mavericks' next 26 points, putting them up by 16 early in the fourth quarter. He finished with 32 points, easily his most since Jason Kidd arrived.

Erick Dampier also stepped up for Dallas, scoring 19 points and matching his season high with 17 rebounds. Jerry Stackhouse scored 20 and Kidd had 10 points, eight assists and six rebounds.

The Mavericks need all the contributions they can get with Nowitzki, the team's top scorer and rebounder, out with a sprained left knee and ankle. The team is tightlipped about a return date, but the reigning MVP is likely to miss most of the remaining games, jeopardizing Dallas' playoff chances.

The Mavericks (45-26) are seventh in the West, two games ahead of Golden State and 2 1/2 ahead of Denver -- the two teams they play next, both on the road. The Mavs improved to 10-0 against teams with losing records since adding Kidd, but are 0-8 against teams with winning records.

The Clippers lost their eighth straight, but at least they have something to look forward to as former All-Star Elton Brand said before the game he expects to return for as many as the final eight games. He's been out all season recovering from a torn Achilles' tendon.

Corey Maggette led Los Angeles with 21 points before fouling out. Tim Thomas had 13, most coming on consecutive 3-pointers in the third quarter, and Nick Fazekas had 10 points in 16 minutes. Fazekas was a second-round pick by Dallas who was cut to make room for the players acquired in the Kidd trade.

Nowitzki watched from the bench, wearing a light beige jacket, even lighter shirt and a protective boot on his left ankle. His swelling was expected to be done Tuesday, so he could start a rehabilitation program soon. The Mavs have only 11 games left, with five of the next six against teams in playoff contention.

Malik Allen started for Nowitzki, but got two fouls in the first 2:21 and went to the bench. He finished with six points and a season-high nine rebounds in 27 minutes.

Howard was an All-Star last season and is among the players the Mavericks will need to play at a high level to compensate for Nowitzki's absence.

He started slowly, though, going 2-of-11 and taking only one free throw in the first half. Then he went 3-of-6 from the field and 12-of-12 from the line in the third quarter alone. He finished 8-of-22 and made all 15 of his free throws. He also had seven rebounds and four steals.

Notes:@ The Mavericks were 0-1 without Nowitzki this season and 15-11 (.577) without him for his career. They're 495-255 (.660) with him. ... Johnson indicated the Mavs have a target date for Nowitzki to return, but they aren't sharing it. Meanwhile, Germany coach Dirk Bauermann said "I have no fear at all that Dirk will be missing" from the Olympic qualifying tournament in July in Athens. Bauermann said he's exchanged text messages with Nowitzki since the injury. ... Mavs coach Avery Johnson turned 43 Tuesday. He celebrated by releasing a new autobiography.