LOS ANGELES - Playing without Josh Howard, the Mavericks put forth their most lifeless performance in weeks.

So, naturally, a hero stepped up and saved them.

Jerry Stackhouse drilled a 3-pointer at the buzzer to deliver an improbable 95-94 victory to the Mavericks on Saturday night, dashing the hopes of the Los Angeles Clippers, who did their part at the end to help the Mavericks win their seventh consecutive game.

"Satisfaction guaranteed," said Jason Terry, who bungled an inbounds pass with 27.5 seconds left that could have - and probably should have - sealed a defeat. "We practice that play time and time again. Guys were in the right position and we had just enough time left."

With 8.1 seconds left, the Mavericks swung the ball to Dirk Nowitzki, who drew the double team. He whipped a pass to Terry, who quickly swung the ball to Stackhouse on the left wing outside the 3-point arc.

His shot was nothing but net. The officials reviewed it and ruled it was released a fraction of a second before the buzzer.

"We just made a basketball play," Stackhouse said. "Dirk drew the double team, Jet might have thought he had a tough look and he trusted his teammate to make a play.

"We were a little fortunate because we didn't have our A game. But the elite teams of the NBA can win games when they don't play their best."

The Mavericks weren't even close to their best for three quarters. They trailed by as much as 14 in the third with the Clippers shooting upwards of 55 percent most of the evening.

LA was up, 90-81, with under five minutes left, and the Mavericks needed help.

"There were a lot of times when we could have hung our head and said it's just not our night," Stackhouse said. "I've been on teams like that. With this team, we just don't quit."

Their tenacity paid off in this one.

Howard was in North Carolina taking care of a personal matter. He will rejoin the team in Sacramento for the finale of the road trip Monday.

Against the Clippers, the Mavericks got a huge lift late in the third quarter and early in the fourth from J.J. Barea, who was nearly sent to the Development League last week but provided three points and three dandy assists to help keep the Mavericks in striking range.

The Clippers gave the Mavericks a break when Corey Maggette missed two free throws with 3:20 remaining. When Devin Harris hit a pair from the line, the Mavericks were within 90-88.

Tim Thomas' finger roll put the Clippers back up by four, but the Mavericks tied the score with buckets by Erick Dampier and Nowitzki, who led the way with 22 points.

After Brevin Knight's free throws put the Clippers up 94-92, the Mavericks appeared to shoot themselves in the foot when Terry fumbled the inbounds pass.

AP

Dallas' Jerry Stackhouse (arm in the air) is mobbed by his teammates after his winning shot.

"I was mad at myself for two seconds," Terry said. "Then I realized we had 28 more seconds to play."

Rather than sulk, the Mavericks played good defense and caught a break when the Clippers shot with 5 seconds still on the shot clock. Had they run it down to the end, there would have been 2.5 seconds for the Mavericks to work with. Instead, they had 8.1 seconds.

Stackhouse, 3-of-11 from the field at that point, saved the Mavericks.

"I think we needed a game like that," coach Avery Johnson said. "We'd gotten away from a team or two. We haven't really been in a situation like this. It was good to see how we respond. Stack made a big shot.

"It was good to see because that's what we work on with all those drills that we do in practice. It was beautiful to see."

And it was a spellbinding finish to a game that lacked energy for long stretches. Clippers' games at Staples Center are such that the only time the crowd stands is for the T-shirt toss.