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Mavs try to extend home streak over Kings

Feb 16, 2011 - 4:12 PM (Sports Network) - The streaking Dallas Mavericks will be in search of their 14th straight win over Sacramento in Big D when the two teams square off tonight.

The lowly Kings haven't tasted victory in north Texas since a 126-124 overtime win back on Feb. 27, 2003. Overall, the Mavs have won eight consecutive and 16 of 18 over Sacramento.

The Mavs bounced back from their first loss in three weeks on Saturday when Dirk Nowitzki and Peja Stojakovic each scored 22 points as Dallas disposed of in-state rival Houston, 106-102, in south Texas.

The Mavericks were playing for the first time since their 10-game winning streak was snapped in a one-point loss at Denver last Thursday and avoided losing back-to-back games for the first time in almost a month, getting 14 points from Shawn Marion off the bench and 12 points from Tyson Chandler.

"Houston made a run as we thought they would," said Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle. "Our sluggish play hurt us and we have to avoid lapses."

Stojakovic, who was signed by Dallas on Jan. 24 to help replace the injured Caron Butler, made four three-pointers against the Rockets to pass Dale Ellis for fourth on the NBA's all-time list with 1,723.

The Kings, meanwhile, fell to 1-1 on seven-game road trip in Oklahoma City on Tuesday, suffering a 126-96 rout at the hands of the Thunder.

DeMarcus Cousins returned to the lineup and recorded 21 points and 13 rebounds in a reserve role for the Kings, who have dropped six of seven overall. Cousins didn't travel with the team to Phoenix for Sunday's game and was fined for an altercation with teammate Donte Green after a loss to these same Thunder on Saturday.

Beno Udrih, Jason Thompson and Greene each had 10 points in defeat as Sacramento played without star guard Tyreke Evans due to plantar fasciitis, a problem that has plagued the reigning Rookie of the Year all season.

"They jumped on us right from the start and we could never get back in the game," Kings head coach Paul Westphal said. "It was a great performance by them; we couldn't stop them, we couldn't score. Next thing you know, we are down 20 points and chasing them the whole game. They're a good team at home and we obviously couldn't get anything going."

Evans is expected to try and play tonight.