HOUSTON - The Dallas Mavericks will head into the National Basketball Association All-Star break on a high after posting their ninth straight victory, over the Houston Rockets.

Dallas Mavericks guard Jason Terry (R) blows past Houston Rockets forward Tracy McGrady as he drives to the basket during the first half of their NBA game in Houston February 15, 2007. [Reuters]

With superstars Dirk Nowitzki and Tracy McGrady locked in a fourth-quarter duel, Jason Terry emerged as the key for Dallas.

Nowitzki scored 26 points and grabbed eight rebounds and Terry scored the final six points of the game as the Mavericks edged the Rockets 80-77.

They enter this weekend's All-Star break with a nine-game winning streak and a league leading 44-9 record.

Nowitzki and McGrady combined for 27 points in their one-on-one scoring battle in the final period before Terry went to work.

The eight-year veteran made two free throws with 2:46 remaining to bring Dallas within 77-76.

The point guard then hit a pullup jumper from the right elbow with 69 seconds left to give the Mavericks a 78-77 lead.

After Luther Head missed a 3-pointer with 12 seconds left and clanked a runner in the lane with six remaining, Terry nailed two free throws to put the Mavericks up three with 4.2 seconds left.

McGrady tried to dribble up court, but was pressured by Dallas' defense and time expired on his pass to the 3-point line to Juwan Howard.

Jerry Stackhouse added 17 points and was crucial to the Mavericks' late rally in the third quarter.

Houston led by nine after a 3-pointer by McGrady with 4:24 left in the third quarter, Dallas went on a 12-0 scoring run over the next four minutes, capped by back-to-back shots from the arc by Stackhouse. Dallas entered the final period leading 58-57.

McGrady finished with 27 points and 10 rebounds - his eighth double-double of the season - and Juwan Howard had 14 points for Houston, who are still without superstar center Yao Ming.

Yao told the Houston Chronicle this week that he expects to resume workouts with the team within two weeks and be back in games by early March.

Yao said tests on his broken right leg show that he is progressing on schedule, but he plans to return a bit earlier than the March 1 comeback the Rockets had expected.