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Western Conference heavyweights square off as Jazz host Mavs

Dec 3, 2010 - 3:49 PM (Sports Network) - A pair of Western Conference powers riding identical seven- game winning streaks collide tonight in Salt Lake City, where the Utah Jazz will play host to the Dallas Mavericks at EnergySolutions Arena.

Utah owns a slim lead over Oklahoma City for the top spot in the Northwest Division and recorded its seventh straight win with Wednesday's 110-88 victory over Indiana. Deron Williams scored 24 points and dished out 16 assists, while Andrei Kirilenko added 18 points and seven rebounds for the Jazz, who improved to 8-0 versus the Eastern Conference this year and 2-0 on a six-game homestand.

"It's a great record. I want to give credit to our team," Kirilenko said. "We're playing well, and we're playing very concentrated and focused. But again, it's not over yet. There are many, many games in front of us, so we have to pay attention and keep playing the same way we're playing now."

Al Jefferson chipped in 17 points and 10 boards and Paul Millsap registered 16 points and eight boards for Utah. The Jazz will also host the Grizzlies, Heat and Magic on the residency and are 8-3 at home this season.

Meanwhile, the Mavericks kept their winning ways intact with a 100-86 triumph versus Minnesota at home on Wednesday. Shawn Marion scored 16 points, J.J. Barea had 14 and both Dirk Nowitzki and Caron Butler finished with 10 points for Dallas, which gave head coach Rick Carlisle his 400th career victory, 119 of which have come with the Mavericks.

"(The low post) was the point of emphasis for the game." said Carlisle "Everybody was consciousness about keeping a body on their man, finding out where Love was on the floor. And I think he still had 15 rebounds. I think the decisive point of the game was that we did outrebound them and we didn't give them a lot of extra possessions, which is key."

Tyson Chandler added nine points and a game-high 18 rebounds in the win. The Mavs are 6-1 away from Big D this season and will also make a stop in Sacramento.

Dallas is just a game behind sizzling San Antonio in the Southwest Division.

Utah took two of three meetings with the Mavericks a season ago and has won six of the last 10 matchups between the teams. Dallas is winless in its last five visits to Salt Lake City.