ATLANTA, United States (AFP) - German star Dirk Nowitzki scored 27 points and Jason Terry added 26 as Dallas defeated Atlanta 98-83, the Mavericks keeping pace with National Basketball Association champion San Antonio.

The Mavericks improved to 54-16, half a game behind the Spurs for the Southwest division and Western Conference lead thanks to a 122-121 loss to Golden State on Thursday.

The Mavericks, ranked sixth in scoring defense with 92.9 points a game allowed, bounced back after surrendering 30 or more points in the final three quarters against Golden State.

Dallas kept Atlanta to one field goal in the final nine minutes of the first quarter while the Mavericks were on a 20-4 run that gave Dallas a 24-10 lead after the first quarter. The Hawks went a woeful 4-of-26 in the first quarter.

The Mavericks surged ahead 51-35 at half-time and Nowitzki, who grabbed 13 rebounds, scored the first eight Dallas points in the third quarter to stretch that margin.

Terry, a former Hawk, scored 11 consecutive Dallas points after Atlanta had pulled within 71-61 late in the third period. His 11-2 run ended with back-to-back 3-pointers for an 82-63 lead and Dallas rolled from there.

Jerry Stackhouse added 16 points for Dallas. Al Harrington had 19 points and Joe Johnson finished with 17 and seven rebounds for Atlanta.