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Mavericks-Thunder Preview

Dec 15, 2009 - 8:33 PM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Dallas (18-7) at Oklahoma City (12-11), 8:00 p.m. EDT

Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder have made big strides this season after posting one of the worst records in the NBA in 2008-09.

Their last two games, however, showed that they still have a ways to go.

Durant and the Thunder will try to contain Dirk Nowitzki, who had two 40-point performances against them last season, when they host the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night.

Oklahoma City (12-11) had the third-worst record in the Western Conference last season at 23-59, but is more than halfway to surpassing its win total of '08-'09.

Durant has sparked the surprising start, averaging 28.5 points to place among the NBA leaders. He scored at least 25 in the last nine games - the longest active streak in the league - and recorded two double-doubles in the last three games.

Despite Durant's progress, his team still struggles against the NBA's elite. Its last three losses - to Boston, Cleveland and Denver - came by an average of 13.3 points, with the Thunder averaging fewer than 90 points in those games.

Oklahoma City lost 102-93 to the Nuggets on Monday after falling 102-89 to Cleveland the day before. Durant scored 32 points and added 10 rebounds against Denver, but the Thunder shot 39.2 percent and were outscored 30-17 in the second quarter.

Forward Jeff Green, who came in averaging 15.0 points, was held to eight.

The Thunder's tough stretch continues Wednesday night against Dallas (18-7), and they take on Detroit, Houston, the Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix in the next four games.

"We've got to make sure we come out ready to play on Wednesday," big man Nick Collison said. "You don't want bad habits to sink in."

Oklahoma City faces a major challenge in defending Nowitzki, who averaged 36.8 points in his last four contests versus the Thunder. He had 46-point and 41-point games against them last season.

The Thunder have lost 15 of 17 to the Mavericks and dropped two of three last season. Durant missed the only win because of a sprained ankle and was limited to less than eight minutes in another matchup because of the same injury.

Durant has averaged 14.0 points and 37.5 percent shooting in six career games versus Dallas.

The Mavericks won their fourth straight Monday, 94-90 over New Orleans despite a season-low 10 points from Nowitzki, who is averaging 26.6.

The Hornets constantly double- and triple-teamed the Mavericks star - a defensive approach that the Thunder may have noticed.

"They're just running at me aggressive," said Nowitzki, who shot 4 of 11. "Every time I faced (the basket), I was looking at two, three guys on my side. Sometimes I spun and then another guy or two guys were there. So I just passed the ball and let other guys make plays."

That led to one of his teammates having his best game of the season. J.J. Barea scored a season-high 23 points on 10-of-13 shooting, which helped Dallas overcome a season-high 23 turnovers.