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Cavaliers' search for consistency continues vs. Mavericks

Dec 27, 2007 - 2:26 PM Cleveland (13-16) at Dallas (19-10) 8:00 pm EST

DALLAS (Ticker) -- After alternating wins and losses over their last six games, the Cleveland Cavaliers seek their first two-game winning streak in a month when they meet the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday.

The Cavaliers have not won consecutive games since winning four straight from November 21-27.

But starting with its 109-74 blowout loss to the Pistons on November 28 in which LeBron James sprained his finger, Cleveland preceded to lose five straight with him out of the lineup and has gone just 4-4 since his return.

Cleveland's struggling defense played much better in a 96-82 victory over the Miami Heat on Christmas Day.

Cleveland will look to end its seven-game road skid against one of the league's best home teams in the Mavericks, who are 13-2 in American Airlines Center and have enjoyed a great deal of success against the Cavaliers.

Dallas is 12-2 its last 14 meetings against Cleveland.

The Mavericks will look to rebound from their first loss in six games after they dropped a 99-90 decision in Utah on Wednesday.

Dirk Nowitzki scored 20 points to lead the Mavericks in the loss, the first time in four games he scored less than 30.