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Hawks helpless to stop streaking Mavericks

Feb 27, 2007 - 6:24 AM DALLAS (Ticker) -- Josh Howard and Jason Terry sparked a pair of runs to lead the streaking Dallas Mavericks to another victory.

Howard scored 20 points before leaving the game with an ankle injury and Terry added 21 as the Mavericks rolled to a 110-87 victory over the Atlanta Hawks.

The Mavericks just had too much offense for the Hawks and posted their 20th straight home win and 12th straight victory overall.

Dallas now has its third streak of at least 12 straight wins this season and is 27-3 at American Airlines Center. Dallas has not lost at home since a 92-83 defeat to the Detroit Pistons on December 7.

Howard scored five points in a 13-4 run that gave the Mavericks a 40-27 lead with 8:12 left in the second quarter.

Terry scored six points and Howard added four in a 13-3 run in the third quarter that opened the lead up to 75-52 with 5:16 to go.

"The ball is moving side to side. It's been doing so here of late. That's when we're most successful," Terry said. "We're moving the ball and guys are playing unselfishly. It's fun basketball and I think that's what you see from this team offensively, consistently, night in and night out."

Howard left the game with 6:11 to play after injuring his right ankle when he landed on the foot of All-Star Joe Johnson after taking a jump shot. Howard had to be helped from the court and did not return.

X-rays were negative and Howard is listed as day-to-day for Tuesday's game at Minnesota.

Superstar forward Dirk Nowitzki had 27 points and Jerry Stackhouse added 19 and nine assists off the bench for Dallas.

"As the game went along, we got some great stops," Nowitzki said. "We rebounded the ball. That's always good for us, and offensively, I love the way we are moving the ball lately. We find the open guy and shoot the ball really well. We're sharing the ball offensively. It's been fun."

"I think Dallas, man they are good, because they are really doing it the right way," Atlanta Mike Woodson said. "They defend and rebound the ball. They've got so many offensive weapons, it's like pick your poison. You try to double and you switch, they've gotten so good now, I think, when teams switch them, they really know how to play off of each other. They're a tough matchup, especially for our young team."

Johnson scored 29 points and Zaza Pachulia had 24 for Atlanta, which was coming off a 1-2 homestand that included games against San Antonio, Houston and Phoenix. The Hawks lost to the Suns, 115-106, on Sunday.

Former Maverick Anthony Johnson had two points for the Hawks. Dallas dealt him to Atlanta last week for a second-round draft choice.

"It was good to see all of the guys out there. I didn't really get to say good bye to most of the guys, so it was good to see them," Anthony Johnson said. "On the other hand, the result wasn't what I had hoped for. My play wasn't very good tonight.

"As a team, coming off a back-to-back against Phoenix and having a tough loss, then coming in tonight, Dallas handed our butts to us. You've got to give them credit, that's why they're the top team in the league."