Clippers lose eighth in row

DALLAS -- Josh Howard took over a tight game midway through the third quarter, carrying the Dallas Mavericks past the Clippers, 103-90, on Tuesday night in their first game since losing Dirk Nowitzki to injury.

It was the Clippers’ eighth consecutive loss.

Dallas, which had lost three straight, led only 60-58 when Howard got rolling.

Howard scored 20 of the Mavericks’ next 26 points, putting them up by 16 early in the fourth quarter. He finished with 32 points, easily his most since Jason Kidd arrived.

Erick Dampier also stepped up for Dallas, scoring 19 points and matching his season high with 17 rebounds. Jerry Stackhouse scored 20 and Kidd had 10 points, eight assists and six rebounds.

The Mavericks need all the contributions they can get with Nowitzki, the team’s top scorer and rebounder, sidelined because of a sprained left knee and ankle.

Corey Maggette led the Clippers with 21 points before fouling out. Tim Thomas had 13 and Nick Fazekas had 10 points in 16 minutes. Fazekas was a second-round pick by Dallas who was cut to make room for the players acquired in the Kidd trade.

“We did a good job as long as we could,” Clippers Coach Mike Dunleavy said.

TONIGHT

at San Antonio, 5:30 PST, Ch 5

Site -- AT&T; Center.

Radio -- 710.

Records -- Clippers 21-49, Spurs 48-23.

Record vs. Spurs -- 0-2.

Update -- The second game of a tough Texas two-step comes against the Spurs. The Clippers have lost seven straight to the Spurs and last won in San Antonio on Jan. 31, 2002. Both teams will be playing the second of back-to-back games tonight.

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-- Jonathan Abrams