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Mavericks look to extend winning streak to 10 vs. Timberwolves

Nov 27, 2006 - 3:06 PM Minnesota (6-6) at Dallas (9-4) 8:30 pm EST

DALLAS (Ticker) -- So far it has been a tale of two seasons for the Dallas Mavericks.

The red-hot Mavericks will look to extend their winning streak to 10 games when they face the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday in the second contest of a four-game homestand.

On November 8, Dallas was 0-4 - the worst start in franchise history - and four games behind the New Orleans, which won its first four contests. After Saturday's win, the Mavericks are 1 1/2 games in front of New Orleans and one game behind San Antonio for first place in the Southwest Division.

In their last contest, Josh Howard returned to the starting lineup and provided a decisive early spark as Dallas won its ninth straight game, storming to an 85-73 victory over the Hornets.

Dirk Nowitzki had 28 points and nine rebounds the Mavericks, which opened with a 21-3 run and never looked back. Dallas put together its best defensive effort of the season, holding the Hornets to less than 36 percent shooting (26-of-67) from the field.

The Timberwolves also have been playing well in their first three-game winning streak of the season - their longest since they won five in a row from December 2-10. Rookie Randy Foye scored seven of his career-high 15 points in a decisive fourth-quarter run and Kevin Garnett had 25 points and 10 rebounds as Minnesota posted a 104-96 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.

Trailing, 95-84, with five minutes remaining, the Timberwolves finished on a 19-2 burst. Foye capped the spurt with an emphatic dunk at the buzzer, erasing a 12-point fourth-quarter deficit.

Dallas has won four of the last six meeting against Minnesota.