Mavs at .500 after 100-86 Rout of Pistons

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - Dirk Nowitzki scored 18 points, and the Dallas Mavericks reached the .500 mark by routing the Detroit Pistons 100-86 on Tuesday night.

The defending champion Mavericks (5-5) started their NBA title defense slowly, losing four of their first five games, but they've bounced back. Tuesday's win was their first on the road. Shawn Marion scored 14 points and Vince Carter added 11 for Dallas, which led by as many as 28 in the second half.

Will Bynum led Detroit with 20 points. The Pistons (2-8) have lost five straight games, and this was actually the least lopsided of the bunch thanks to a late run.

The Mavericks, playing without injured point guard Jason Kidd, went on runs of 13-0 in the first quarter and 16-0 in the third.