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Mavericks hope to return to form vs. Kings

Jan 27, 2007 - 4:08 PM Sacramento (17-24) at Dallas (35-9) 8:30 pm EST

DALLAS (Ticker) -- After losing their first four games of the season, the Dallas Mavericks have avoided consecutive losses and they'd like to keep it that way.

After suffering a rare defeat, the Mavericks will look to recover when they host the Sacramento Kings on Saturday.

In its last contest, Dallas was defeated by Chicago, 96-85. Dirk Nowitzki scored 28 points and collected 11 rebounds - his seventh straight double-double - for the Mavericks, who shot a season-low 31 percent (29-of-93).

Jerry Stackhouse had 16 points off the bench and Jason Terry added 12 and six assists for Dallas (35-9), which now is one-half game behind Phoenix (35-8) for the best record in the NBA.

The Mavericks had gone 35-4 since starting the season in inauspicious fashion before Thursday's defeat.

After a season-high seven-game losing streak, the Kings have played better as of late, winning three of their last four.

In its last contest, Sacramento defeated the New Jersey Nets, 88-87, in dramatic fashion. Mike Bibby scored all 10 points in a 10-2 run to close out the game and hit the winning basket with 10 seconds left from just beyond the foul line.

The Kings have dropped both matchups against the Mavericks this season, including a 109-91 rout on December 18.