RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME FLOW

DALLAS (AP) _ Keith Van Horn's 15-foot buzzer-beater lifted the New Jersey Nets to a 103-102 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday night.

Trailing 102-101, the Nets forced a turnover when Van Horn flicked the ball away from Erick Strickland and New Jersey's Scott Burrell took possession with 5.3 seconds left.

Dallas had a foul to give and Strickland took it, fouling Stephon Marbury with 2.2 seconds left. Van Horn took the ensuing inbounds pass and, with Dennis Rodman defending, launched a jumper from near the free throw line as time expired.

Marbury had 25 points and 11 assists and Van Horn added 23 points and 11 rebounds as the Nets won for the fifth time in eight games. Reserve Johnny Newman had 23 points for New Jersey.

Strickland had a career-high 31 points and Rodman pulled down a season-high 21 rebounds. Dirk Nowitzki and Michael Finley added 21 points each for the Mavericks.

Strickland's two foul shots with 1:15 left gave Dallas a 100-98 lead, and Rodman's tip-in with 36 seconds left made it 102-98.

Burrell's 3-pointer from the top of the key with 30 seconds remaining pulled the Nets within 102-101.

Newman scored 11 of New Jersey's first 15 points in the fourth quarter, including two 3-pointers, as the Nets moved to a 94-91 lead with 5:57 to play.

A basket by Finley and a 3-pointer by Nowitzki with 4:22 left gave Dallas a 96-94 lead.

Lou Harris' 20-footer with 2:57 left tied it at 96.

Coach-GM Don Nelson was missing from the Mavericks bench due to the flu. Nelson was replaced by his son and top assistant, Donn.

Dallas opened the third quarter with a 14-6 run to lead by as many as 13 points and carried an 84-79 advantage into the fourth quarter. Strickland had 11 third-quarter points, making all three 3-pointers he attempted in the quarter.

The Mavericks took a 54-49 halftime lead. Rodman was active on the boards, pulling down eight rebounds in the first quarter to help Dallas to a 30-24 advantage.

Notes: Dallas center Shawn Bradley also missed the game with the flu. ... The Mavericks will retire Rolando Blackman's No. 22 during halftime of the March 11 game against Phoenix at Reunion Arena. Former Mavericks players and coaches Mark Aguirre, Derek Harper, Brad Davis, Dick Motta and Richie Adubato will participate. Davis is the only other Maverick to have his number retired. ... Thursday night was the second time Donn Nelson coached the team this season. With his father serving a one-game suspension on Jan. 8, the younger Nelson coached the Mavericks to a 95-85 victory over the Atlanta Hawks. ... The last time Don Nelson missed a game due to illness was in the 1994-95 season with Golden State when he sat out 10 games. His son took over and won four of 10 games.