Somebody should call the federal government about some sort of bailout relief for the Mavericks.

Then again, what's the point if the Mavericks won't help themselves first?

They keep falling further into win-loss debt, and the latest defeat hurt worse than a declined credit card.

The Mavericks kicked away an 11-point, fourth-quarter lead and had two turnovers and a missed shot in the final 15 seconds in a 102-100 loss to the Orlando Magic on Friday. The Mavericks' fifth consecutive defeat dropped their record at American Airlines Center to 0-4.

The five-game slide is the Mavericks' longest losing streak since they dropped six in a row in 2000.

The Mavericks came up small again in the fourth quarter, hitting just six of 22 shots. In a somber locker room, players clearly struggled with growing frustrations that accompany a 2-7 record.

But Jason Terry, who scored 20 points but missed a potential game-tying jumper from the paint in the final second, said the Mavericks are coping with the losing streak because they know it won't last.

"You better get us now when we're going through what we're going through," Terry said defiantly. "We will get this win. And once we get it, we're going to be a heck of a team. You can see the potential is there. Just get one. Then watch out."

It was Terry who helped keep the Mavericks in front most of the game with strong perimeter shooting. But like everybody else, his touch went south in a 2-for-9 fourth quarter.

Dirk Nowitzki had put the Mavericks ahead, 100-99, with a 10-foot turnaround with 26 seconds to go. The Mavericks forced a miss by Jameer Nelson, but as Terry ran down the rebound, he couldn't stop himself from stepping out of bounds.

"That's how it goes when you're in a streak like this," he said.

Given a second chance, the Magic ran a play for Rashard Lewis, who was fouled on a drive and hit two free throws with 10.9 seconds to go. On the inbounds play, Josh Howard threw the ball directly to Nelson, who was fouled.

"I'll take the blame because I'm the coach, and when you throw it to the other team, I'll take the blame for that," Rick Carlisle said. "When you're this close to winning, you've just got to draw a line in the sand and decide you're going to get over the hump somehow."

After Howard's turnover, Nelson hit the second of two free throws with 7.6 seconds left.

Terry got a nice look in the paint, but his 12-foot fallaway rimmed out just before the buzzer sounded.

Nelson still waiting on Cuban: The attorney for Don Nelson said Friday the settlement from the arbitration that the former Mavericks coach won from owner Mark Cuban on Aug. 1 has yet to be paid.

John O'Connor said there is no legal reason for the holdup.

"They haven't paid," he said. "And they wrote into Don's contract that any dispute would be subject to arbitration and that it would be final and binding. They have no basis for appeal, and they know it."

Cuban confirmed before Friday's game that he had not paid the $6.3 million settlement. He declined to comment on what his intentions are regarding a possible appeal.