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Suns, Mavericks square off in postseason rematch

Dec 28, 2006 - 3:38 PM Phoenix (19-7) at Dallas (21-7) 8:00 pm EST

DALLAS (Ticker) -- The Phoenix Suns simply were looking for a win the last time they faced the Dallas Mavericks. The Mavericks meet a different group this time around.

Winners in 16 of their last 17 games, the Suns aim to exact a measure of revenge against the Mavericks when the Western Conference powerhouses collide Thursday.

Phoenix stumbled out of the gate this season and fell to 1-5 after dropping a 119-112 decision to Dallas on November 9.

But the loss seemed to galvanize the Suns, who have gone 18-2 since.

After spending two days in Denver due to a major blizzard, Phoenix had its franchise-record 15-game winning streak snapped in a 144-139 overtime loss to Washington on Friday.

On Tuesday, however, the Suns put together one of their most complete performances of the campaign, resting their starters in the fourth quarter in an easy 110-87 win over Portland.

Phoenix hopes to carry some momentum into its clash with the Mavericks, who eliminated the Suns in six games last spring in the conference finals.

Josh Howard scored 27 points and Dirk Nowitzki added 23 as Dallas posted a 97-84 victory over Charlotte on Tuesday. Devean George added 12 points off the bench for the Mavericks, who dished out 20 assists to extend their winning streak to six games.