DALLAS — The Dallas Mavericks went to a familiar script down the stretch, leaning on Dirk Nowitzki to supply crunch-time offense.

Nowitzki scored 22 points, 11 in the final 6-plus minutes, Shawn Marion added 16, and the Mavericks held on to beat the Los Angeles Clippers 96-92 on Monday night.

Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle has praised his team’s balance on offense this season, but Nowitzki is still the go-to guy with the game on the line.

“He’s the classic case of a great player and you just stay the course,” Carlisle said. “I played with Larry Bird for three years and there were nights when he’d go two for 13 and then hit the last three shots to win the game. Dirk’s the same kind of guy.”

Jason Terry, Vince Carter and Brendan Haywood all contributed 10 points for the Mavs, who have won 10 in a row at home against the Clippers and extended their overall winning streak to four games.

Caron Butler of the Clippers scored a season-high 23 points against his former team, and just missed a three-pointer with less than five seconds left that would have put the Clippers in front. Teammate Blake Griffin added 20 points, but Griffin’s problems from the free-throw line cost his team as he missed seven of nine foul shots.

“He’s been shooting it real well,” Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro said. “I was surprised they went to foul him. … It was just one of those nights.”

Chris Paul had 16 points and nine assists for the Clippers, who completed a 4-2 road trip. They haven’t beaten the defending NBA champs in Dallas since April 19, 2006.

Dallas took control with a 7-0 fourth-quarter run capped by Marion’s layup with 4:48 remaining for an 86-83 edge.

Griffin had a chance to get the Clippers closer, but missed five straight free throws until connecting with 2:15 to play to pull his team within two points at 86-84.

Jason Kidd set up Terry for a layup with 2:02 left, and Nowitzki intercepted Griffin’s pass with 1:47 showing, and drained two free throws to extend Dallas’ edge to 90-84.

Griffin’s three-point play with 1:24 remaining and Kenyon Martin’s layup with a minute left narrowed the Mavericks’ lead to 90-89.

Nowitzki drained a 19-footer from the right wing and, after Marion stole the ball from Martin, converted two free throws with 21.2 seconds left for a 94-89 advantage.

“I had some looks I’ve got to make,” said Nowitzki, who missed five of seven shots in the final quarter, but got to the free-throw line seven times, converting six.

Paul’s three-pointer with 17.8 seconds got the Clippers within two points, and Butler’s three-pointer from the right wing missed with 4.5 seconds left.

“It felt real good,” Butler said of his final shot. “I had my feet under me. It just fell short. It would have been a great ending.”

In other Monday games:

76ers 98

Bobcats 89

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Lou Williams scored 23 points off the bench as Philadelphia built an early lead and held on to send Charlotte to its 15th straight defeat.

Heat 114

Bucks 96

MILWAUKEE — LeBron James scored 35 points and Miami used a third-quarter surge to beat the Bucks.

Magic 102

Timberwolves 89

ORLANDO, Fla. — Jason Richardson scored 17 points, and Jameer Nelson and Hedo Turkoglu each added 14 as Orlando used a big second half to beat Minnesota.

Hornets 86

Jazz 80

NEW ORLEANS — Chris Kaman scored a season-high 27 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, and New Orleans snapped an eight-game skid with a victory over Utah.

Warriors 102

Suns 96

OAKLAND, Calif. — David Lee had 28 points and 12 rebounds, Monta Ellis scored 18 points and Golden State earned its first three-game winning streak under rookie coach Mark Jackson with a victory over Phoenix.