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Reeling Mavs visit lowly Hornets

Mar 2, 2012 - 3:53 PM (Sports Network) - Mired in their third three-game losing streak of the season, the defending champion Dallas Mavericks search for success tonight against the New Orleans Hornets in the Big Easy.

Dallas suffered its third consecutive setback with Wednesday's 96-85 loss at Memphis, as Jason Terry led the way with 18 points off the bench and reserve Rodrigue Beaubois added 16 in defeat.

"We struggled to keep them from putting the ball in the basket," said Dallas head coach Rick Carlisle.

Brendan Haywood was the only other double-digit scorer with 10 points for the Mavericks, who got less than 10 minutes of action from superstar Dirk Nowitzki because of a back issue. Carlisle noted that Nowitzki experienced the problem during warmups and is questionable for Friday.

The Mavs have lost four of five games since a six-game winning streak and own an 8-8 ledger away from Big D this season. They are currently tied with Houston at 3 1/2 games behind San Antonio for the Southwest lead. Dallas is still without forward Lamar Odom, who is out for personal reasons.

Since showing sings of life with four wins in six tries, the Hornets are back to their losing ways with back-to-back defeats. They opened a three-game homestand on Wednesday with a 95-84 loss to the Toronto Raptors, as Marco Belinelli led the charge with 20 points and Chris Kaman added 17 and 10 rebounds.

Trevor Ariza and Gustavo Ayon compiled 11 points apiece for the Hornets, who fell to 3-15 in the Big Easy this season and are last in the Southwest.

"They did what was necessary to get the win," said New Orleans head coach Monty Williams. "I thought they were more aggressive going to the basket and that started early in the game. We couldn't guard the ball. A lot of that is on me."

New Orleans will close out the homestand Saturday versus Indiana and has lost the first two meetings of the season with the division-rival Mavericks. Dallas has won three straight and six of nine in this series.

The Mavs halted an eight-game slide in New Orleans with an 83-81 triumph on Jan. 21 this season. Nowitzki did not play in that contest, but Odom and Delonte West picked up the slack with 16 points apiece.