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Mavericks-Thunder Preview

Feb 16, 2010 - 2:11 AM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

Dallas (32-20) at Oklahoma City (30-21), 8:00 p.m. EDT

Dallas has another steady scorer after acquiring Caron Butler in a trade during All-Star weekend. One of his most important initial tasks with the Mavericks, though, will be trying to stop Kevin Durant.

In the teams' first game following the break, the struggling Mavericks will likely match up one of their newest acquisitions with perhaps the hottest scorer in the league as they try to end the Oklahoma City Thunder's six-game winning streak Tuesday night.

Dallas (32-20) has lost nine of 16, including a 127-91 rout by Denver last Tuesday. Those struggles may have prompted a seven-player trade Saturday that saw them get Butler, center Brendan Haywood and guard DeShawn Stevenson from Washington.

Josh Howard, Drew Gooden and reserves Quinton Ross and James Singleton were sent to the Wizards.

"We were struggling here for a month, so we are excited now to have some new guys," Mavs forward Dirk Nowitzki said. "It's not going to be an easy ride, but we are looking forward to coming together quick and hopefully finish the season strong."

Butler, a two-time All-Star, was key to the deal. The veteran forward averages 16.9 points and 6.7 rebounds, and is expected to move in the Mavs' starting lineup. He's also averaging 1.7 steals a game for his career, and will become one of Dallas' better perimeter defenders. The Mavs, giving up an average of 112.4 points over their last eight games, can use the help.

Butler and Shawn Marion will likely each get time trying to guard Durant, who's helped Oklahoma City (30-21) extend the franchise's longest winning streak since taking nine in a row in 2004, when it was still based in Seattle.

Durant ranks second in the league in scoring, averaging 29.7 points. He has scored 25 or more in 25 straight games - the longest stretch since Allen Iverson did it in 27 consecutive contests with Philadelphia during the 2000-01 season.

When Butler was with the Wizards, Durant averaged 35.0 points and shot 60.0 percent, though he did commit a total of 10 turnovers as Oklahoma City won both matchups.

Durant, though, had a tough time against the Mavs on Dec. 16, matching a season low with 12 points on 4-of-18 shooting in a 100-86 loss. He scored 30 in the teams' only other meeting this season, a 99-98 Dallas win Jan. 15.

The Mavs are 17-2 in their last 19 against the Thunder franchise.

Butler will join a couple of All-Stars in Nowitzki and Jason Kidd, along with star sixth man Jason Terry, to give Dallas a formidable offense. Nowitzki had 22 points for the Western Conference in a 141-139 loss to the East in Sunday's All-Star game.

Haywood provides needed depth in the post behind Erick Dampier. Dallas envisions using both players at the same time to match up against other teams using two big men.

Oklahoma City isn't strong at center with veterans Nenad Krstic and Nick Collison seeing of the time at that position. Instead, the Thunder rely on strong young perimeter players such as Durant, Russell Westbrook and rookie James Harden.

Durant had 33 points and 11 rebounds in Oklahoma City's last game, an 89-77 win over Portland last Tuesday, and scored 15 for the West in the All-Star game.

"The most important thing is that we come back ready to play after the All-Star break," Durant said. "We need to enjoy the break but come back with that mind set ready to fight through these last 30 games."