DALLAS -- Monta Ellis scored 26 points, Dirk Nowitzki added 21 and the Dallas Mavericks pulled away from the Denver Nuggets in the fourth quarter of a 122-106 victory Friday night. The Mavericks avoided a season sweep by the Nuggets, who ran away with a win in Denver two weeks ago to hand Dallas its longest losing streak at three games. Dallas (42-28) got a boost in the playoff race when Miami rallied from seven down in the last 3 1/2 minutes to beat Memphis 91-86 Friday night. The Mavericks and Grizzlies (40-28) started the day in a virtual tie for the final post-season spot in the Western Conference. Vince Carter shook off a dislocated pinkie on his left hand in the first quarter to finish with 13. J.J. Hickson led Denver with 18 points and eight rebounds before leaving with an apparent injury in the fourth quarter. Ty Lawson had 17 points and nine assists after missing a game with a sinus infection, and Randy Foye scored 15, all on 3-pointers. The Mavericks led by 15 early in the fourth quarter but couldnt put the Nuggets away until late. Denver was within 99-96 after a 3-pointer and dunk from Dallas native Darrell Arthur, who had nine of his 11 points in the second half. But Nowitzki hit back-to-back fadeaway jumpers and Brandan Wright and Shawn Marion took turns feeding each other for baskets, the last one Marions dunk for a 109-99 lead with 4 minutes to go. Wright, a 6-foot-10 centre, had all three of his assists in a 4-minute stretch of the fourth quarter and finished with 13 points. Marion scored 14 as the Mavericks had seven players in double figures. Ellis, who scored 12 straight Dallas points to force overtime in a loss to Minnesota on Wednesday, ran off eight straight to put the Nuggets away and clinch a winning season after a 12-year run of winning records ended with a 41-41 mark last season. Ellis was 11-of-14 shooting and had seven assists. Hickson helped keep Denver close with 10 second-half points and was four shy of his season high against the Mavericks in November before going out. The Mavericks avoided the slow starts that plagued them the last time they played Denver and in an overtime loss to Minnesota, another West also-ran, in their last game. Jae Crowder really got Dallas going in the second quarter, going 4 of 4 from 3-point range, including three straight Dallas baskets that put the Mavericks up 50-36. Averaging 4.7 points per game coming in, Crowder led Dallas in the first half with 12 points but didnt attempt another shot. NOTES: The teams combined to go 25 of 52 from 3-point range. The Nuggets had 13 from long range and the Mavericks had 12. The season high is 12 for both teams. ... Nuggets C Kenneth Faried got a technical in the third quarter after colliding with Jose Calderon and knocking the Dallas guard to the floor. ... The Nuggets swept the season series with Dallas in 2008-09 and won four straight over the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons. ... The Mavericks recalled G Gal Mekel from the Texas Legends of the D-League. Hes played 31 games for Dallas and four games for the affiliate. The 26-year-old rookie from Israel missed nearly two months with a knee injury. Replica Air Max . -- Sonny Grays fastball wasnt as sharp as it usually is, and the Oakland Athletics young pitcher even had a quirky replay go against him. Wholesale Air Max . - Jordan Addesis shootout goal helped the Plymouth Whalers to a 3-2 win over the Sault Ste. https://www.airmaxchina.us/.com) - The Grand Slam season will get underway Monday at the Australian Open in Melbourne, where a new champion will be crowned this year. Air Max Sale . -- Josh Smith made a 3-pointer as time expired and finished with 20 points to lift the Detroit Pistons to a 99-98 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday night in both teams exhibition finale. Cheap Authentic Air Max . He insists hes not counting. "If youre thinking hits, youre not paying attention to wins," Altuve said Sunday after leading the Houston Astros past the Texas Rangers 3-2.GREATER NOIDA, India - Sebastian Vettel can afford to downplay the importance of winning Sundays Indian Grand Prix. He doesnt need to win the race to claim a bigger prize. With a massive 90-point lead over Ferraris Fernando Alonso in the drivers standings, the German needs only to finish fifth or better to claim a fourth successive world championship title and become the third man to achieve the feat, joining Formula One greats Juan Manuel Fangio and Michael Schumacher. "Obviously its looking pretty good, but we focus on the job we have this weekend which is to get the maximum both for the race and for the championship," a relaxed Vettel said Thursday. Vettel dashed Alonsos hopes of challenging for the title when he won the previous GP at Suzuka, Japan — his fifth straight win and ninth of the season. He can now cap his season of dominance by sealing the drivers title in India with four races remaining. "For sure its nice to have the opportunity," Vettel said. "Im not trying to focus on that, Im trying to focus on the race and Ive said many times the most important thing for us and myself is to win the championship. It doesnt really matter where and when." Vettel and Red Bull have dominated the 5.125-kilometre (3.184-mile) Buddh International Circuit since the first Indian GP in 2011, winning both previous races from pole position and leading every lap. Despite his obvious affinity with the track, Vettel says he feels no pressure to win the title here. Its not one of the things you want to get out of the way. It should be a very positive thing," he said. "Obviouslly were in a great position with a good gap in the points table, but I dont come here thinking I have to do this or have to do that.dddddddddddd I didnt do that the last three years." A resigned Alonso said Vettels only problem was deciding where he wanted to claim the title. "If Sebastian wins here or in Abu Dhabi, its more a problem for him," he said. "Depends when he wants to celebrate, which is the best country to celebrate." The only other driver apart from Vettel to record podium finishes at both Indian GPs is Alonso, who was third in 2011 and second last year. A two-time world champion, Alsonso said he doesnt need to be driving for a title to be motivated to finish well. "Motivation is always 100 per cent and you want to do well," the Spaniard said. "So for the rest of the year we will try to help the team to get the goal of second place in the constructors championship, try to score as many points as possible and get some podiums if I can." Mark Webber, who won pole position at Japan, is hungry for another win over his Red Bull teammate before leaving F1 at the end of the season, while Kimi Raikkonen and Lotus teammate Romain Grosjean have been building a sustained charge throughout the second half of the season, despite some poor showing in qualifying. Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg, with two wins this season, is also a danger. "Im sure its going to be a tough weekend," Vettel said. "I think we have reason to believe the car will be competitive, so were in good shape, but Im sure the others will try and push us very hard." ' ' '