"He's been very good. At both ends of the court he gives us something that's tangible," Carlisle said. "He gives us strong defense, can play on the ball or off, and offensively he gets the ball places that he can make passes and make plays, and his shooting is getting better every day. He's got to continue with his progress and this is what we had hoped that he could do."

Wright, Jerry Stackhouse, Jason Terry, Devean George, J.J. Barea and Gerald Green have all made starts. George had earned the most consecutive starts at 13, but Wright's play has since put the veteran George back on the bench in search of minutes.

Wright has played at least 34 minutes in two of the last three games and at least 25 minutes in five straight. He's scored in double figures in four of the past eight games and is averaging nearly four rebounds in the past five games.

"He's consistent when he understands what his role is," said Jason Kidd, Wright's teammate throughout Wright's entire career. "He is a guy who can slash, defend and he'll run. He knows if he does those things he'll get the ball."

MAVERICKS 95, 76ERS 93: Dirk Nowitzki had an awful night shooting, but he swished the game-winner at the buzzer after the Mavs blew a 12-point lead in the final minutes. Jason Kidd made it all possible by going berserk from the 3-point arc. Kidd made six of eight from downtown and powered the Mavs to a 32-point third quarter that changed the momentum of the game. Kidd finished with 22 points, 12 rebounds and six assists.