HORNETS 97, MAVERICKS 92: Chris Kaman continued to improve his trade value with 20 points and 13 rebounds as host New Orleans ended its most recent slide at two games and handed slumping Dallas its fourth straight setback.

Xavier Henry added 19 points off the bench and Jarrett Jack came through late for the Hornets, who had dropped three straight to the Mavericks.

Dallas is averaging 90 points during its four-game slide.

The Hornets built an 82-70 lead with 9:15 left in the fourth but went the next 5:10 without a point as the Mavericks crept back into the game.

Dallas cut it to a basket, 82-80, on Rodrigue Beaubois’ three-point play before New Orleans responded. Solomon Jones connected on an 18-foot jumper and Xavier Henry picked off Dirk Nowitzki’s pass, taking it the other way for a transition dunk.

Nowitzki’s 3-pointer and a transition layup by Beaubois cut it back to 91-89 but four points from Jack in the final 17 seconds sealed it for the Hornets.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Beaubois led the Mavericks with 25 points … New Orleans dominated the glass, 50-34 … Dallas has not reached 100 points in seven consecutive games … Nowitzki, who was hobbled by a lower back strain in his last game, scored 19 points in 36 minutes on Friday.