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Mavericks gun for seventh straight win

Jan 4, 2008 - 2:20 PM Miami (8-24) at Dallas (21-11) 9:30 pm EST

DALLAS (Ticker) - It's been a long season for the Miami Heat. It doesn't figure to get any better on Friday against the Dallas Mavericks in the opener of a five-game road trip.

The Mavericks have won the first two games of the three-game homestand and are 15-3 overall at American Airlines Arena.

Dallas is coming off a 121-99 rout of Golden State on Wednesday, exacting a bit of payback against the team that knocked the top-seeded Mavericks out of the Western Conference playoffs a year ago.

The Heat have lost five consecutive games and are just 2-8 in their last 10 games, including a 103-98 home loss to Milwaukee on Wednesday.

Miami again played without Shaquille O'Neal, who missed his third straight game with left hip soreness. In addition, the Heat were without without point guard Jason Williams (sore left knee) and forward Dorell Wright (sprained ankle).

Miami doesn't return home until January 16 when the Heat host the Chicago Bulls.

Dallas has won six consecutive games against Miami, including the last five at home. Miami has lost its last four road games.