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Pistons welcome Mavs to The Palace

Jan 10, 2012 - 3:43 PM (Sports Network) - After meeting President Obama and taking a tour through the White House, it's time for the defending NBA champion Dallas Mavericks to get back to work.

The Mavericks are scheduled to play two straight and six of their next eight games away from Big D and will take on the Detroit Pistons tonight at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Dallas hasn't played since a 96-81 victory versus New Orleans on Saturday and spent Monday in the nation's capital.

"This team really does have a heart that's the size of Texas," said Obama. "This was a remarkable run, a great victory."

Before meeting the President, Vince Carter and Ian Mahinmi led six Mavericks in double figures with 13 points apiece versus the Hornets, while Jason Terry and Delonte West both added 12 points for the Mavericks, who have won four of six games since losing their first three games of the truncated season.

"Ian is a great example of what is important this year," said Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle. "He is energetic and involved in every play. He is extremely valuable for us."

Rodrigue Beaubois had 11 points and Dirk Nowitzki finished with 10. Nowitzki needs 37 points for 23,000 in his career, but is averaging 12.0 points and shooting 30.8 percent over his last three games. Mavs veteran guard Jason Kidd missed the game with a strained lower back and is not expected to suit up tonight against the Pistons.

Detroit has lost four in a row and fell to 2-7 on the season with Monday's 92-68 setback at Chicago. Greg Monroe ended with 14 points, 10 boards and six assists for the Pistons, who got 13 points and five boards from Brandon Knight and could be casualties of the condensed schedule.

"Every team has a lot of games and that's just the reality," Pistons head coach Lawrence Frank said. "That's the reason why guys are getting hurt. There's a lot of games in a short of time, without the same previous training practices. It happened in the NFL and it happened here. It is what it is."

The Pistons played without guard Rodney Stuckey (groin) and forward Charlie Villanueva (ankle), and both players are day-to-day.

Dallas and Detroit split a pair of meetings last season, with each team prevailing as the host. The Mavericks have won five of six and 10 of the past 15 matchups in this series.