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Mavericks look to stay perfect at home

Nov 17, 2007 - 2:38 PM Memphis (2-6) at Dallas (6-2) 8:30 pm EST

DALLAS (Ticker) - Fresh off a convincing victory on Thursday, the Dallas Mavericks look to extend their stellar play at home.

The Mavericks aim for their fifth straight home victory as they host the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday.

Dallas shot 52 percent from the field and used first-half spurts of 17-1 and 11-0 in Thursday's 105-92 victory over the San Antonio Spurs. In defeating their in-state rival, the Mavericks ran their home record to 4-0, one season after going a league-best 36-5 at American Airlines Center.

In winning six of its first eight contests, Dallas has three players averaging nearly 20 points per game. Forward Josh Howard and sixth man Jason Terry are averaging 22.2 and 21.8 points per game, respectively, while reigning league MVP Dirk Nowitzki is right below the duo at 19.6.

Memphis, on the other hand, has dropped six of its first eight and is coming off a heartbreaking 120-118 overtime loss to the New Orleans Hornets.

The setback dampered the enthusiasm created by Juan Carlos Navarro, who notched a career-high 28 points and tied the rookie record for 3-pointers in a game - going 8-for-9 set by Jason Kidd in 1995 and Chris Duhon in 2005.

The Grizzlies will be hoping to see the return center Darko Milicic, who left the game early in the second half after injuring his left thumb. Preliminary X-rays were negative, but he did not return.