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Mavs aim to lasso win over Lakers in Big D

Mar 12, 2011 - 4:02 PM (Sports Network) - The Dallas Mavericks are closing in on their 11th consecutive 50-win season and look to move closer to that mark tonight versus the two-time defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers in Big D.

The Mavericks have the second-best record in the Western Conference at 47-18 and sit six games behind San Antonio for the top seed. They have won 21 of the last 25 games and opened a short homestand with Thursday's 127-109 victory over the New York Knicks at American Airlines Center.

Dirk Nowitzki and Shawn Marion scored 23 and 22 points, respectively, for the Mavericks, whose 127 points were a season high and have averaged 106.2 points per game on 49.1 percent shooting over the last 25 contests. Jason Terry scored 21 points, helping the Mavs improve to 4-0 when at least three players post 20-plus points in game.

"We really attacked. This is a team that goes up and down. You have to attack for great opportunities and consequently get into some high scoring games," said Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle. "It was a good win for us."

The Mavericks have scored 100 or more points in 20 of their last 22 games and are 36-3 when reaching the century mark this season. Terry made 3-of-4 three- pointers for a Dallas squad that has gone 35 games in a row with six or more threes made -- the longest active streak in the NBA.

Dallas is 24-9 as the host this season. Forward Peja Stojakovic is questionable for Saturday's game with a stiff neck/back.

Los Angeles will try to get back on course after having an eight-game winning streak halted with Thursday's 94-88 setback in Miami. LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh combined for 63 points to lead the Heat.

Kobe Bryant paced Los Angeles with 24 points and Pau Gasol added 20 for the Pacific Division-leading Lakers, who are 2-1 on a four-game road trip and 24-12 as the guest. It was LA's first loss since the All-Star break.

"[The Heat players] beat us to the ball tonight," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "They were quicker on the ball than we were and it showed up at the very end."

After tonight's game, the Lakers, who are third in the West, will return home for a seven-game residency versus the Magic, Timberwolves, Blazers, Suns, Clippers, Hornets and Mavericks.

Jackson needs just one more win for his 600th career regular season victory in Los Angeles. He is trying to become the fifth coach in NBA history to win at least 600 games with one franchise, joining Jerry Sloan (1,127 with Utah), Red Auerbach (795 with Boston), Gregg Popovich (787 with San Antonio) and Red Holzman (613 with New York).

Dallas topped the Lakers, 109-100, on Jan. 19 this season in Big D thanks to 22 points apiece from Marion and Terry. Los Angeles has still won eight of the past 11 matchups with the Mavs, however.