The Mavericks got diverse production from numerous players along with a little payback for the 34-point blowout they absorbed last month in Milwaukee.

But it hardly seemed satisfying, not after what happened the previous night, when the short-handed Spurs held the Mavericks to 76 points and won by 17.

But a win is a win, and at this point, with the playoff picture changing every day, they all count.

"After last night, we needed this,'' said Josh Howard, who paced the Mavericks with 27 points. "Coach [Rick] Carlisle reminded us of what happened the last time we played Milwaukee. I think everyone took that as a personal challenge.''

Five other Mavericks reached double figures against a Bucks team that was missing center Andrew Bogut and is fighting to hang on to the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

The Mavericks fell behind, 15-7, in the first quarter, then outscored the Bucks, 58-26, the rest of the half. Their giant cushion was safe throughout the second half. It would shrink to 94-83 early in the fourth quarter, but a flurry of buckets ended that brief glimmer of drama.

Perhaps the best bit of news for the Mavericks was Dirk Nowitzki seemed to snap out of what had been a three-game slump. He hit six of 10 shots, and while he only scored 14 points, it was significant that he beat Milwaukee's constant double-teams with a couple of nice moves in the fourth quarter.

He could find some humor in Wednesday's game, however. It was Nowitzki who was lit up for 19 points by Bucks forward Charlie Villanueva in the first quarter. After that, Villanueva only scored six. What happened?

"We took Nowitzki off of him, that was one thing,'' Dirk said.

Williams taking leave: If you haven't noticed Shawne Williams on the Mavericks' bench lately, there's a reason.

He's not there.

Williams has been in Memphis for the last month or so, ostensibly to let a foot problem heal.

But owner Mark Cuban said Wednesday: "We're helping him work through some issues.''

According to the Mavericks' players' log, the 6-9 forward has not been with the team for "personal reasons" since Jan. 23. But he's also battled the same foot problem Jerry Stackhouse had for more than three months.

It is believed the Mavericks have resigned themselves to playing the rest of the season without Williams, who played only 15 games before his departure. When he was acquired in a trade in October for Eddie Jones and two second-round draft picks, Williams brought with him substantial off-the-court troubles.

At the time, Carlisle said: "If any of that stuff ever came up again, his [butt] would be grass and me, Donnie [Nelson] and Mark would be the lawnmowers. It's got to be professional all the way.''

Nelson said that, for now, Williams and Gerald Green are in the same boat: "Our focus is 100 percent on the playoffs, and the development of young players right now has to be secondary.''

The Mavericks are on the hook for Williams' salary next season, about $2.4 million.

Blackman gets honor: Former Mavericks star Rolando Blackman will be inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame on Wednesday in Waco.

Blackman is one of seven athletes with Texas ties who will be enshrined. Blackman is second on the Mavericks' all-time scoring list at 16,643 points, trailing Nowitzki.

Mavericks SCHEDULE

FEBRUARY

Day Date Opponent TV Time

Fri. 27 Oklahoma City FSSW 7:30

MARCH

Day Date Opponent TV Time

Sun. 1 Toronto FSSW 8:00

Mon. 2 at Oklahoma City FSSW 7:00

Wed. 4 San Antonio ESPN 8:00

Thu. 5 at New Orleans TNT 7:00

Sat. 7 Washington FSSW 7:30

Tue. 10 at Phoenix Ch. 21 9:00

Wed. 11 at Portland Ch. 21 9:00

Fri. 13 at Golden State Ch. 21 9:30

Sun. 15 at LA Lakers Ch. 8 2:30