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Mavs seek 13th straight win vs. Bucks

Dec 13, 2010 - 3:51 PM (Sports Network) - The Dallas Mavericks hope to keep their foot on the proverbial gas pedal when they shoot for a 13th consecutive win tonight versus the Milwaukee Bucks at American Airlines Center.

Dallas has ripped off 12 straight victories, including the first three tests of a six-game homestand. They recorded their seventh win in a row at home with Saturday's 103-97 triumph versus the Utah Jazz.

Jason Terry scored 14 points and knocked down a big three-pointer in the waning seconds for the Mavericks, who are on their longest winning streak since prevailing 13 times in a row from Feb. 17 - March 10, 2010. The longest winning streak ever recorded by Dallas lasted 17 games (1/27/07 -3/11/07). Dallas will also entertain Portland and Phoenix on the residency and is 11-3 in Big D this season.

"I'm happy that we won," said Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle. "I love that we were able to get off to that kind of a hot start. Those things never hold up...Is it perfect? No. But I think sometimes there are those types of games where you just lose leads."

The Mavericks improved to 19-4 on the year, marking their best start through 23 games since 2002-03. They began that season 14-0 and held a record of 20-3 after the first 23 contests.

Dirk Nowitzki posted 31 points and 15 rebounds on 10-of-12 shooting. The Mavs almost blew a 25-point advantage and improved to 12-0 when scoring 100-plus points in a game. They are 16-1 when scoring at least 95 points in a game this season. Dallas' previous loss was an 88-83 defeat at the hands of Chicago on Nov. 19 -- the last time it tasted defeat at home. Nowitzki now has 350 career double-doubles and eight this season. Dallas improved to 8-0 on the year when he posts at least 10 points and 10 boards in a game.

The Bucks will begin a tour through Texas tonight, as they are set to face both Dallas and San Antonio. They have lost five in a row on the road and own a 2-8 ledger away from the Land of Cheese this season.

Milwaukee has won two straight and three of four games, including Friday's 97-91 triumph versus Houston in the finale of a four-game homestand from the Bradley Center. Andrew Bogut had 24 points, a season-best 22 rebounds and five blocks, while John Salmons added 17 points, six rebounds and five assists for the Bucks, who beat the Rockets for just the second time in 12 meetings.

The Bucks won the rebounding war by a 48-37 margin and are allowing just 10.8 second-chance points per game, which is second-lowest in the league.

"Our defense is one of the top defenses in the league right now," Jennings said. "That's what's actually keeping us in these games, the close ones that we've lost. Fortunately we've been able to get the last two."

Bogut is averaging 20.8 points, 16.0 rebounds and 3.6 blocks in his four games since returning from back spasms. He also passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (495) for fourth in franchise history in blocks and now has 497 in his career.

Milwaukee is one victory away from the 1,800th in franchise history.

In injury news for the Bucks, forward Drew Gooden is doubtful for Monday's game due to a case of plantar fascitis in his left foot. Gooden, in his first year with Milwaukee, has missed four straight and six of seven games.

Dallas won both meetings with Milwaukee last season and is 10-4 in the past 14 contests in this series. The Bucks are winless in their last seven trips to Big D.