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Terry helps Mavericks win franchise-high 15th game in a row

Mar 4, 2007 - 7:05 AM DALLAS (Ticker) -- Jason Terry and the Dallas Mavericks are at 15 straight and counting.

Terry collected 29 points and a season-high 15 assists as the Mavericks won a franchise-high 15th straight game with a 103-98 victory over the slumping Orlando Magic.

Dirk Nowitzki had 24 points, nine rebounds and seven assists and fellow All-Star Josh Howard scored 21 for Dallas, which also extended its home winning streak to a franchise-best 22 contests.

"We haven't really paid much attention to it but as we've accomplished the feat, it's definitely a great accomplishment," Terry said. "We just want to get better and grow and keep going into each game with the same mind-set, handle business each task at a time."

"Every record is great," Nowitzki said. "It's something that's never been done before so that's great. We're really not focused on all of these streaks. We know we've got a lot of work to do. Until then, hopefully we'll improve game to game and have another great playoff run."

The win also helped the Mavericks (50-9) become the first team in the NBA to reach the 50-win plateau this season - and the sixth-fastest do so in league history.

Dallas has not suffered a defeat here since December 7, a 92-83 setback to the Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons.

The Mavs made it 96-92 when Nowitzki converted a three-point play with three minutes left. But All-Star Dwight Howard and Jameer Nelson both sank a pair of free throws, tying the game one minute later.

However, Terry drained the go-ahead, pull-up jumper in the lane and, following a turnover by Nelson, Josh Howard also completed a three-point play to give Dallas a 101-96 edge at the 1:30 mark.

"We really took control of the game, defensively and then offensively we executed just like we practiced," Terry said. "That carry-over there says a lot about the growth and the maturity of this team. It didn't look like we were going to pull it out, but we believed, we believed in each other and we made it through."

"(Terry) did a great job," Nelson said. "He did what he was supposed to do."

Dwight Howard recorded 25 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks and Hedo Turkoglu scored 19 for the Magic, who have dropped seven of their last eight games.

Despite Orlando's struggles, Dwight Howard still believes his team will make the postseason.

"I think so. We just came through one of the tough stretches for any team," Dwight Howard said. "We played some of the best teams on the West Coast and also on the East Coast and we did pretty good as far as defense. In all of the games we've got left, we've just got to come out and play hard and aggressive like we did."