• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Bosh, Raptors hope to end six-game slide against Mavs

Jan 14, 2007 - 3:21 PM Dallas (30-8) at Toronto (17-20) 1:00 pm EST

TORONTO (Ticker) -- Chris Bosh and the Toronto Raptors must be tired of playing the role of doormat to the Dallas Mavericks.

Bosh and the Raptors look to halt their six-game skid against the Mavericks when the teams square off Sunday at the Air Canada Centre.

Toronto has not captured a victory over Dallas since a 77-71 win here on November 6, 2003. The Mavericks rolled to a 117-98 victory in the teams' previous meeting this season despite a six-point outing from superstar Dirk Nowitzki, who left the contest in the first quarter with blurred vision.

Sunday's contest figures to be a showdown between Bosh and Nowitzki, two of the NBA's top power forwards. The 6-10 Bosh averages team highs of 21.2 points and 11.5 rebounds per game while the 7-foot Nowitzki paces the Mavericks, averaging 26.3 points and 9.4 rebounds.

The Raptors, who own a one-half game lead over New Jersey (16-20) for first place in the Atlantic Division, won for the fourth time in five games with Friday's 95-86 triumph at Boston.

Bosh scored 27 points and T.J. Ford chipped in 19 points and six assists for Toronto, which concluded a three-game road trip.

The Raptors return home Sunday to face a Dallas squad which improved to a league-best 30-8 with Friday's 115-113 overtime victory over the Indiana Pacers.

Nowitzki led the way with a season-high 43 points and 12 rebounds for the Mavericks, who have won three straight contests and 16 of their last 17.