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Nowitzki, Mavericks face off vs. Knicks

Mar 20, 2007 - 2:45 PM Dallas (54-11) at New York (30-36) 7:30 pm EDT

NEW YORK (Ticker) -- The Dallas Mavericks beat the Eastern Conference's top team on Sunday and face LeBron James on Wednesday. In between, they will meet the New York Knicks.

Dallas owns the best record in the league and a 4 1/2-game lead over Phoenix in the Western Conference for homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs.

Nowitzki scored 21 second-half points in the Mavs' 92-88 triumph over the Detroit Pistons on Sunday in a possible NBA Finals preview.

On Wednesday, the Pistons will meet the second-best team in the East - James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Knicks are one-half game behind Indiana (30-35) and New Jersey (31-36) for the final two playoff spots in the Eastern Conference.

Stephon Marbury scored 21 points to lead the Knicks to a 92-74 win over first-place Toronto on Sunday.