The next night at Houston, Carlisle's squad dismantled the Rockets. Along the way, Dallas authored an inspiring 26-0 run that blew the game open. Even the Mavs were surprised by it. Considering the previous game, they should have been.

"I wasn't really aware of it," Dirk Nowitzki said. "I just heard about it afterward. Obviously, I knew we were doing well, moving the ball offensively, getting stops and pushing the ball out.

"I think that once we get into transition, we're pretty good. We can get guys running and not have to grind it out. We knew we were doing well, but I had no idea we had almost a 30-0 run."

Carlisle wasn't sure if he's ever seen a run of that magnitude.

"But it's not even the numbers. It's just how we're playing. It's the process by which we're playing. When the activity is there, we're moving the ball, screening and helping each other, we're a different team."

That's the maddening part. Maybe Carlisle's crew has turned the corner. The Mavericks have won their last two by a combined 52 points.

MAVERICKS 113, PACERS 92: Dirk Nowitzki rolled up an efficient 31 points as Dallas easily handled Indiana on the road Friday night. The Mavericks have won seven of eight to improve to 12-4.

The Southwest Division leaders pounded the Pacers on the boards 54-33. Jason Terry, Shawn Marion, Jason Kidd and Kris Humphries also joined Nowitzki in double figures. Humphries and James Singleton also each had at least 10 rebounds off the bench.

For the second consecutive game on the road, Dallas had the win safely in hand heading into the fourth quarter. The Mavs were up 26 after three, allowing Rick Carlisle to empty his bench. Nine players logged at least 17 minutes.