DALLAS - Jason Terry takes pride in being the energetic leader of the Dallas Mavericks, the guy whose actions set the tone for the entire team. It can come from diving for the first loose ball of the game. Or from hitting the go-ahead basket and following with a crucial three-point play. And it certainly can come from keeping his cool when opponents are losing theirs. Terry did it all Wednesday night, along with scoring 28 points, leading the Mavericks to a 112-99 victory over the Golden State Warriors and tying the series at one game apiece.

Golden State Warriors' Baron Davis, center, argues with officials after a foul was called against him in the second half of an NBA basketball playoff game against the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday, April 25, 2007, in Dallas. Looking on are Warriors forward Jason Richardson, left, coach Don Nelson, right, and forward Stephen Jackson. The Mavericks won 112-99. (AP Photo/Donna McWilliam)

"We came out tonight with passion," he said. "That's what was really lacking (in Game 1). Going back and really thinking about that first game, we just didn't have that air about us, that we're in the playoffs and we were excited to be there. That's the kind of energy we have to bring night in and night out."

Dallas had lost six straight to Golden State dating to last season. The Mavericks' search for a skid-buster included a new, smaller starting lineup in Game 1, but that only resulted in a 12-point loss.

So coach Avery Johnson went back to the formula that won 67 games in the regular season and saw his club back in synch from the start. The center tandem of Erick Dampier and DeSagana Diop proved they can hold their own against Golden State's little guys, and sixth man Jerry Stackhouse bounced back from a scoreless opener with 17 points.

Dirk Nowitzki scored 23 points and Josh Howard had 22 points and 11 rebounds. Dallas broke the game open with a 15-2 run in the third quarter.

"Everybody talked about the Xs and Os and the decision Avery made to go smaller, but it really wasn't that," Stackhouse said. "It was just the fact we didn't compete. I thought we came out and really competed tonight for 48 minutes and the game went in our favor."

Then again, it was easier with the Warriors' two best players getting ejected.

Baron Davis was tossed with 0.2 seconds left in the third quarter and Stephen Jackson was lost with 4:34 left in the game. Golden State already was trailing when the technical fouls started piling up.

"We're not good enough to lose a player to an ejection, much less two," Warriors coach Don Nelson said. "It hurt us when we lost Baron. I thought we had a shot at the time. It wasn't to be."

The Warriors certainly won't be unhinged by this loss, just their second in the last 12 games. Nelson won't allow it. He's kept his club loose, telling everyone they were lucky to win the opener and that there was a better chance of him being hit by lightning than of his team winning Game 2. His task now will be harnessing Jackson and Davis' emotions when the series shifts to Oakland for Game 3 on Friday night.

Davis and Jackson got their first technicals on the same play during Dallas' game-breaking run in the third quarter. Terry dribbled into Jackson, drawing a foul, then kept going into Davis. Words were exchanged and three technicals were issued to try calming everyone down.

Davis got another tech, and an automatic ejection, for arguing about a foul with 0.2 seconds left in the third quarter. He was smiling and clapping at the time, which he said was to keep his teammates' spirits up.

"I wasn't trying to show up the refs," he said. "I was trying to keep my emotions in check. Emotion is what got us to the playoffs. We have to channel that emotion into playing better defense."

The game was turning into a rout when Jackson got his second technical. Whatever he said to get tossed wasn't nearly as bad as his reaction afterward. He wouldn't stop screaming at officials as he headed to the locker room, with teammate Matt Barnes trying to cover Jackson's mouth with his arms, then with a towel.

Jackson, who declined to comment, led the Warriors with 30 points, his most ever in a playoff game. He also had eight turnovers. Davis had 13 points, two assists and one rebound; he had 33 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists in Golden State's victory in the opener.

"I feel we're in good position," Davis said. "They're supposed to beat us by 20. There's no pressure on us. Tonight we were just out of fire."

Golden State opened the game strong, going on an 11-0 run in the opening minutes. The Warriors were up 23-16 soon after, but all their points had come from Jackson and Monta Ellis. That duo was a combined 9-of-10; everyone else was 0-for-8.

Ellis had 13 points in the first quarter but didn't score again until the final minute of the third quarter. He finished with 20 points. Jason Richardson had 14 with 10 rebounds.

Howard filled his stat sheet with five steals and two blocks. Nowitzki was 7-of-15 with seven rebounds.

"It was a physical game and emotional," Nowitzki said. "I think they got us in the first game and took us out of our game. I said after Game 1 we need to execute a lot better. We made a couple of adjustments that worked. Now they'll make adjustments going home and we'll go from there."

Notes:@ Golden State had 24 turnovers and only nine assists. ... The Mavs were quick to clean up some problems they had in the opener. By the middle of the second quarter, they already had topped their Game 1 totals for fast-break points and bench points. ... Davis had two fouls in the first 3:13, but didn't get another until there was 5:05 left in the third quarter.