Houston, TX (Sports Network) - Jason Terry scored 31 points, and Dirk Nowitzki added 24 points and 12 rebounds to pace Dallas to a 96-86 victory over the injury-riddled Houston Rockets.

Jason Kidd contributed eight points, nine rebounds and seven assists for the Mavericks, who won their third in a row following a five-game skid. The Mavs, who played without second-leading scorer Josh Howard (left ankle), also beat Houston for the 11th time in the last 14 meetings.

Rafer Alston and Tracy McGrady each scored 16 points, but the Rockets were without center Yao Ming (sore left foot). Forward Shane Battier practiced on Tuesday for the first time this season, but was in street clothes again as he continues be sidelined due to offseason foot surgery.

"When you don't have Yao, you've got to move the ball and you have to create situations," said Rockets coach Rick Adelman. "We don't have a lot of guys who can break you down off the dribble. So the guys who can't do that, you've got to give them some room and I thought there were times when we had the ball in the hands of someone who could get there and our thought process was very poor."

McGrady played despite leaving Monday's game against Oklahoma City with a knee injury, and Ron Artest put together a solid performance with 14 points and 13 rebounds despite playing on a gimpy ankle. But Houston shot just 37.2 percent from the field.

The Mavericks carried a 72-61 lead going to the fourth quarter, but Houston got three-balls from Aaron Brooks and Von Wafer to start the period. The Rockets, though, failed in their bid to play catch-up. McGrady's three-pointer had the hosts within 88-84 with 1:15 remaining, but Terry then knifed through the lane for a bucket with a minute left.

McGrady missed a three-pointer at the other end, and Nowitzki made four free throws down the stretch.

"We won the game defensively, not giving them second opportunities," said Terry. "Obviously, without Yao they didn't have that post presence, but our bench did a good job of maintaining a good balance on both ends of the floor."

The Mavericks started the game on fire, scoring the first eight points, but Houston bounced back to tie the game at 16 on an Artest layup. The Mavs finished the quarter on a 9-2 spurt for a 31-25 lead and they were up 53-46 at the half. The visitors held a sizeable lead throughout the third stanza.

Game Notes

Dallas will play nine of its next 11 games at home, starting Friday against Memphis. The Mavericks are 0-4 at home for the first time since the 1993-94 season when they lost their first 19 at home. Dallas is the only team in the league to not win a game at home this season...The Rockets play Washington Friday in the opener of a three-game road trip...Scola and Brooks each had 15 points...The Rockets were 6-of-25 from three-point range.