Dallas, TX (co.uk) - Jason Kidd racked up 20 points and nine assists, as the Dallas Mavericks extended their winning streak with a 96-87 victory over the New Jersey Nets at the American Airlines Center.

Caron Butler added 18 points for the Mavericks, who have won 13 straight to record the NBA's longest winning streak this season. Rodrigue Beaubois donated 16 points, while Dirk Nowitzki was held to just 12 points on 3-of-16 shooting.

Devin Harris finished with a game-best 21 points to go with seven assists for the Nets, who have dropped two straight since recording their seventh win of the season against the Knicks on March 6.

Terrence Williams netted 18 points and grabbed 13 rebounds off the bench, while Kris Humphries added 13 points and eight boards in defeat.

Dallas entered the fourth quarter up, 70-62, but the Nets cut the lead to one at 81-80 on a Humphries tip shot with under eight minutes to play. A Kidd triple and a Butler jumper pulled the Mavs ahead, 92-87, with less than two minutes remaining.

Brendan Haywood won a key jump ball and converted on a layup with under a minute left and Butler sealed it with two free throws following a unsuccessful possession by New Jersey.

"This is a really good basketball team at home," said Nets coach Kiki Vandeweghe. "You've got to play a perfect game to beat them here. We played very hard, I'm not sure we could have played a lot harder than tonight. We missed some shots down the end."

The Nets scored 11 in a row after Dallas' opening possession and finished the first quarter up 33-19. New Jersey extended its lead to 41-23 near the eight- minute mark of the second when Williams dunked from the baseline on a nice bounce pass from Humphries.

The Nets went into the locker room with a 47-39 lead.

"They came out and hit a bunch of shots and we weren't as good as we needed to be defensively so we got in a big hole," said Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle. "At half time, basically, we felt like if we could have a 40-point defensive half, we'd be in position to win the game. Thats exactly what we held them to. When we are playing with our bigger, more physical lineup, it's going to be more about our defense."

The Mavericks rallied in the third, tying the score at 51 following a 12-2 run capped by two Shawn Marion free throws with 7:30 remaining.

Marion added two more at the line and Kidd drilled a three to put Dallas in front a short time later, and the hosts led by eight, 70-62, heading to the fourth.

Game Notes

Marion finished with 14 points and 13 rebounds for the Mavs...Jarvis Hayes had 11 points off the bench for the Nets...Dallas outscored the Nets 51-29 in the second and third quarters combined...Nets forward Yi Jianlian missed his third straight game with a sprained left ankle.