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Dallas opens home-and-home set with Nuggets

Nov 23, 2013 - 3:34 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Dallas Mavericks have won four in a row and look to extend their winning streak Saturday in the opener of a home-and-home series against the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center.

The Mavericks made it four straight wins with Friday's 103-93 triumph over the Utah Jazz in the finale of a three-game homestand. Monta Ellis pumped in 26 points and handed out six assists, Dirk Nowitzki and Samuel Dalembert scored 18 points apiece and DeJuan Blair netted 11 off the bench.

Dalembert added 12 rebounds to his totals and Shawn Marion finished with 10 points for Dallas, which shot 50.7 percent and posted a 41-31 rebounding advantage. Blair and Nowitzki grabbed nine and seven boards, respectively, and the Mavs opened the game on a 20-6 run.

Dallas had a 20-8 advantage in second-chance points and shot 50 percent or better for the fourth time in the last five tries.

"The key for us was probably from the get-go getting a good start," Dalembert said. "We know with the other teams we have we can't let them get their confidence back up."

Dalembert is averaging 10.7 points, 12.0 rebounds and 3.0 blocks in his last three games.

Dallas, which is 8-0 this season with a lead heading into the fourth quarter, is 7-0 at home and will try to improve its 2-4 road mark. The Mavs will host the Nuggets on Monday.

The Nuggets halted a two-game losing streak on Thursday with a gutsy, 97-87 victory over the visiting Chicago Bulls.

It was former Bull, Nate Robinson, who burned his old team. He made a pair of 3-pointers to start the fourth quarter and that essentially put the game out of reach for Denver.

"It takes one shot for me to see the ball go in and I can figure out what I can do to stay aggressive, make plays for my teammates ... do everything, be a total pest and cause chaos out there," said Robinson.

Jordan Hamilton led the way for the Nuggets with 17 points. J.J. Hickson was next with 14, followed by 12 apiece for Kenneth Faried and Randy Foye. Faried also pulled down 11 rebounds.

Robinson finished with 11 points and Ty Lawson, who is posting All-Star caliber numbers, was limited to 10 points.

The Nuggets took two of three matchups with Dallas last season, but have lost four of the last six overall in this series. Dallas has won two of the last three in the Mile High City.