"Dirk Nowitzki was headed in one direction in the Dallas Mavericks' locker room after Saturday's 106-102 triumph over Houston and shouted what every other player probably wanted to shout.

"There's a Peja Stojakovic sighting," Nowitzki said.

After scoring just 16 points in his first three games with the Mavs, Stojakovic erupted for 22 points in 28 the Rockets. More importantly, the 6-foot-10 small forward appeared to be the dangerous shooter the Mavs were hoping he would be when they signed him to a free-agent contract last month.

"He's arrived in Dallas," Nowitzki said. "The easy baskets opened his shots up and he was making them all over the place."

Stojakovic hit 8 of 12 shots and was 4 of 6 from 3-point range. He was particularly hot in the third quarter, scoring 11 points to help the Mavs build a 72-49 advantage.

"He was aggressive," coach Rick Carlisle said. "His rhythm was good and he got some transition baskets and it came at a good time.

"Peja is an asset as it opens up Dirk. He wasn't making shots the first three games, and tonight he was huge for us."

Nowitzki scored seven of his 22 points in the third period when the Mavs (38-16) appeared as though they were going to get out of the Toyota Center with an easy victory. But the Rockets used a 30-12 rally to get within 95-92 with 2:14 left.

From there, Nowitzki made a jumper and Terry fed Jason Kidd for a layup and a 99-92 lead with 1:42 left.

"Our sluggish play hurt us and we have to avoid lapses," Carlisle said. "We have to be more solid with the basketball.

"We were night and day defensively to start the game."

Stojakovic also was night and day from his first three games with the Mavs, when he made 20 shots. But he got on a roll against the Rockets."