DENVER -- Wilson Chandler scored 21 points, Ty Lawson had 20, and the Denver Nuggets snapped a six-game losing streak by beating the Dallas Mavericks 115-110 on Wednesday night. Pedro Rodriguez Spain . Kenneth Faried, Randy Foye and J.J. Hickson added 16 points apiece for the Nuggets, who have won all three meetings this season against Dallas. Hickson scored 12 of his points in the fourth quarter to help hold off the Mavericks, who play the Nuggets a final time this season in two weeks in Dallas. Dirk Nowitzki had 27 points to lead the Mavericks, who lost their third in a row. Its their first three-game losing streak of the season. Brandan Wright added 18 points and Vince Carter 17 for Dallas. A 3-pointer by Chandler gave the Nuggets a 77-60 lead midway through the third quarter. Dallas, though, scored 13 of the next 15 points, pulling to 79-73 heading into the fourth quarter. Nowitzki and Wright each had a pair of baskets in the stretch, with Dallas getting back in the game by outscoring Denver 22-11 overall in the third. The Nuggets responded with a 16-2 burst opening the fourth quarter, pulling away to a 25-point lead with 7:40 left. Chandler and Evan Fournier each hit 3-pointers in the flurry and Hickson had six points in the run, including a driving dunk at the end of a fast break for a 95-75 lead. The Mavericks fought back within 112-105 on a 3-pointer by Jae Crowder with 39.5 seconds remaining, but the Nuggets made enough free throws down the stretch to fend off Dallas. With its second-highest scoring total in the first half this season, Denver took a 68-51 lead at the break. Lawson helped the Nuggets get off to a strong start, scoring 17 of his points in the first quarter, when Denver opened a 41-34 lead. After Monta Ellis jumper pulled Dallas to 46-38 early in the second, Chandler shook loose for a breakaway dunk that started a 13-2 run that put the Nuggets in front 59-40. Chandler also had a 3-pointer in the stretch while Aaron Brooks finished two fast breaks with layups. NOTES: Denvers 41 points in the first quarter were the most the Nuggets have scored in the opening period this season. ... Dallas Devin Harris had 11 assists, a season high. ... Chandler has scored at least 20 points nine times this season. Javi Martinez Spain . Cassano has been at the Policlinico facility since Saturday, when he was taken for tests after suffering what the club described as a brain problem on the team plane following the teams 3-2 victory over Roma. Jordi Alba Spain . The incident happened during Barcelonas 3-2 win at Villarreal on April 27th when Alves, who is black, picked up the banana thrown by 26-year-old David Campayo Lleo, bit off a piece and then discarded it.Tuesday nights 4-3 loss to the Nashville Predators was the Winnipeg Jets 30th one-goal game of the season and their first home loss under new coach Paul Maurice. It was a game where the Jets did not score first and never had the lead. Rookie defenceman Seth Jones opened the scoring at 3:48 on a wrap around, his fifth goal of the year. But only 22 seconds later, Chris Thorburn would score his first of the year to tie it and thats the way the period would end. Mark Stuart and Jacob Trouba assisted on the goal, giving Stuart assists in back-to-back games. The shots were seven apiece. Nashville regained the lead only 42 seconds into the second on a beautiful passing play with Roman Josi getting the goal, his seventh of the season. The Predators then made it 3-1 on a controversial goal by Nick Spaling. A hit from behind on Keaton Ellerby by Paul Gaustad went uncalled, with Gaustad being the Nashville player to set up Spaling. Under a minute later, Mark Scheifele, with his 11th goal of the season, brought the Jets within one. The Jets would tie the game 27 seconds later when Scheifele set up Blake Wheeler for his team-leading 22nd of the year. Wheeler set a new career high in goals and hes scored five goals in the last five games, with 11 points in the his eight games. The two points give Scheifele 11 points in his last 11 games and 31 points on the season. Trouba also drew an assist on the Wheeler goal giving him seven points in the last seven games. Then came more questionable officiating. Late in the period, Devin Setoguchi took a high hit from Shea Weber and, with no penalty being called, retaliated with a slash that resulted in a Nashville power play that carried into the third. Shots on net in the second were nine each. Mike Fishers power play goal 42 seconds into the third proved to be the winner, as Carter Hutton shut the door as the Jets outshot the Predators 11-8 in thee third and 27-25 over the game. Jordi Alba Jersey. The Jets outhit the Predators 27-13 with Dustin Byfuglien, Stuart and Thorburn leading the way with seven each. Zach Bogosian led the way in ice time at 26:34, after playing 26:16 in Chicago Sunday. Thorburn and Scheifele were each a plus three in the game, as Thorburn was on the line with Scheifele and Wheeler in the absence of Evander Kane. Kane is out with a hand infection and is not expected back until after the Olympic break. Bogosian and Michael Frolik each had four shots on goal. Scheifele won nine of 14 face-offs. Olli Jokinen has now gone a season high six games without a point, while Setoguchi has one goal in his last 26 games. The Jets had played four games in six nights week last week, with three of the games on the road, and that perhaps led to some of the sharpness just not being there tonight. Ondrej Pavelec has started nine of the last 10 and was not as sharp as he has been in winning five of his previous six starts. “It was a hard grinding game,” said coach Maurice. “A battle all the way through. We spent a lot here in the last week and the guys gave everything they had tonight.” Maurice wasnt impressed with Setoguchis costly penalty. “A penalty we cant take," said the coach. "It was addressed.” In the last eight games the Jets have scored the first goal only twice, but Maurice sees no need to worry. “I am not concerned about our readiness," said Maurice. "Some of the shot selection and offensive things will be our focus going forward.” The Vancouver Canucks are at the MTS Centre Friday (TSN, TSN 1290). The Canucks are the last team to play in Winnipeg since the relocation. The last time the Canucks played in Winnipeg was February 21, 1996. The Canucks were 5-3 victors over the Jets. Trevor Linden and Alexander Mogilny had three points apiece in the win. ' ' '
