Dallas ? This time it was Jason Richardson’s turn to hit a buzzer-beater to help Golden State shock Dallas.

Richardson scored 40 points, including a three-pointer with less than a second remaining to send the Warriors past the Mavericks, 122-121, on Thursday night.

The Warriors surprised the Mavericks on their previous visit to Dallas on Dec. 30, when Baron Davis’ jumper with 0.5 seconds left gave Golden State a 111-109 victory.

Davis is out because of a sprained ankle, and Richardson picked up the slack.

Richardson had 20 points in the third quarter and went 14-for-23 from the field, 5-for-10 from three-point range.

“Jason was unreal the second half,” Golden State coach Mike Montgomery said. “They didn’t really have an answer for him.”

Dirk Nowitzki led the Mavericks with 51 points, his highest regulation total ever and just two short of his career high, set in overtime on Dec. 2, 2004, against the Houston Rockets in Dallas.

Dallas forward Dirk Nowitzki (41) shoots over Golden State guard Jason Richardson (23) and forward Troy Murphy. Nowitzki led all scorers with 51 points, his highest total for a regulation game in his career, but the Mavericks lost, 122-121, Thursday in Dallas.

The Warriors need an incredible finish to climb into playoff contention, but they seem to save their best for the Mavericks. Golden State has won four of the last eight meetings, three in a row in Dallas, after dropping 20 straight to the Mavericks.

“It’s a great place to play, the crowd’s really into it,” Richardson said. “There’s a lot of things about this arena to like playing in it.”

Nets 86, Timberwolves 82

East Rutherford, N.J. – Vince Carter and Richard Jefferson each scored 21 for New Jersey. The Nets improved to a season-best 11 games over .500 and have won 15 of their last 18 home games.

Kevin Garnett led Minnesota with 24 points, but scored just nine in the second half.

Wizards 109, Jazz 97

Salt Lake City – Gilbert Arenas scored 31 points, and Washington set a franchise record with 16 three-pointers.

Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison scored 27 apiece, and Jared Jeffries pulled down 12 rebounds for the Wizards. Carlos Boozer scored 30 for the Jazz.

Suns 125, Trail Blazers 108

Phoenix – Amare Stoudemire, in his first game of the season, had 20 points and nine rebounds in 19 minutes to lead the Suns, who scored an NBA-season-high 76 points in the first half. Seven Suns scored in double figures.

Rockets 93, Hornets 92

Oklahoma City – Yao Ming and Rafer Alston each scored 22 points and helped Houston snap a six-game losing streak.

David West had 14 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Hornets.

Grizzlies 95, Clippers 85

Memphis, Tenn. – Eddie Jones scored 23, reserve Mike Miller added 21 points and 14 rebounds, and Memphis earned its fifth straight victory.

Elton Brand paced the Clippers with 25.