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Mavericks take on Sonics seeking sixth straight win

Jan 11, 2008 - 2:42 PM Dallas (24-11) at Seattle (9-26) 10:30 pm EST

SEATTLE (Ticker) -- The Dallas Mavericks look to win their sixth straight game on Friday when they open a three-game road trip against the Seattle SuperSonics.

The Mavericks not only extended their winning streak during their last game, but made a statement to the NBA that they're still a championship contender.

Dirk Nowitzki scored 23 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead Dallas to a 102-86 victory over the Eastern Conference powerhouse Detroit Pistons on Wednesday.

"It's still January so it's early, but it was a great test and I think we responded well," Nowitzki said. "We're trying to get more consistent with what we're doing. We know we can play well, but I think we're trying to play well for a longer period of time."

Nowitzki, the reigning league MVP, is averaging 22.3 points this season - two points less then his average last season.

However, the difference this campaign is the role of his supporting cast, which has become a more consistent scoring threat. Josh Howard is averaging 20.8 points while Jason Terry and Devin Harris are both averaging over 14 points.

While the Mavericks are surging into form, the SuperSonics are mired in yet another losing streak.

Seattle suffered a 99-88 setback to the New Jersey Nets during their last game on Wednesday, extending its losing streak to five games.

The Sonics return home against the Mavericks after dropping all four games during their recent road trip.