DALLAS (AP) – Dirk Nowitzki scored 21 points, the most important an open 3-pointer that helped prevent a major second-half meltdown, sending the Dallas Mavericks past the Chicago Bulls 98-94 Tuesday night and stretching their season-best winning streak to nine straight.

Dallas moved back into a tie with San Antonio for the best record in the Western Conference (35-10), with defense continuing to play a leading role. The Mavs have given up fewer than 100 points every game in all nine wins and 16 of their last 20 games.

Dallas limited Chicago to only 34 points in the first half, but the Bulls matched that in the third quarter. A 16-0 run whacked away at a 30-point deficit and the Bulls were within 89-84 with 5:20 left. They were shooting to make it a three-point game in the last half-minute, but missed four straight 3-pointers, two each by Kirk Hinrich and Andres Nocioni.

Dallas has won 15 of 16 against Chicago. This was the seventh time in eight years that the Mavericks swept the season series.

The loss was a tough way for the Bulls to open a seven-game, 14-day road trip. It also ended a four-game winning streak for Chicago.

Josh Howard led Dallas with 22 points and had nine rebounds. His 5-footer along the baseline came immediately after Nocioni got the Bulls within five for the first time since the first quarter, but the ultimate momentum-swinging basket came on the next possession when Nowitzki swished a 3 after losing his defender on a pick-and-roll with Jason Terry. That put the lead back to 10, forcing Chicago to call timeout.

Hinrich led Chicago with 28 points, 26 coming in the second half, and seven assists. Nocioni and Ben Gordon scored 14, and Tyson Chandler added 12 points and 16 rebounds.

Terry scored 13 points despite having missed his first eight shots, and Keith Van Horn added 12.

Dallas was helped by making 31 of 36 free throws. Chicago was only 22 of 31.

Mavericks coach Avery Johnson built up the Bulls before the game, noting they were among the four best teams in the league over the last week-plus, according to the team’s statistical analysis.

But Dallas took a quick 8-2 lead, then was up 32-16 before the quarter was over. Then the Mavericks started showing off in the second quarter.

Devin Harris blocked a 3-pointer just as it left Gordon’s hands, then dove out of bounds to keep the ball alive. It eventually got to Marquis Daniels for a nifty layup that featured a spin move between two defenders. Soon after, Chandler threw a pass that went off Gordon’s head and turned into a powerful dunk by Daniels.

Dallas ended up leading 58-34 at halftime. Othella Harrington was the only Chicago player with more than one field goal and he only had three. The Bulls were shooting 29.3 percent, including 1-of-7 on 3-pointers, and were 9-of-17 from the foul line.

Notes: With Detroit losing Tuesday night, the Mavericks have the longest winning streak in the NBA. … Dallas finished January 13-2, setting a franchise record for wins in the month. The club also set a record in December. … Chicago had cracked 100 points in six of its previous seven games. .. Dallas’ 15-1 record against Chicago the last eight years doesn’t make up for a 1-18 mark that preceded it.

AP-ES-01-31-06 2313EST