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Nowitzki, Mavericks go for fifth straight win

Nov 25, 2008 - 2:46 PM Indiana (5-7) at Dallas (6-7), 8:30pm EST

DALLAS (Ticker) -- A week-and-a-half ago, the sky was falling on the Dallas Mavericks. But just a short time later, things are starting to look up.

The Mavericks will look accomplish the small victory of reaching the .500 mark Tuesday night as they host the struggling Indiana Pacers.

Dallas has been one of the powers in the Western Conference for the last several years, but stumbled to a 2-7 start through the first 2 1/2 weeks of the season. But since then, the Mavericks have rebounded with four straight victories and are looking to make it five against an Indiana squad that has dropped four of five.

Naturally, it has been former league MVP Dirk Nowitzki spearheading the charge. He has averaged 30.0 points per game during the stretch, including a 39-point, 15-rebound effort in a 124-114 triumph over the New York Knicks on November 16.

The Pacers will come in fresh after two nights off - and it's two nights they needed after being victimized by Olympians Dwight Howard and Dwyane Wade in back-to-back nights. Howard registered 24 points, 17 boards and five blocks in a 100-98 victory on Friday, while Wade led a come-from-behind effort with 38 points and eight assists in a Miami victory a night later.

Indiana is led by forward Danny Granger, who is beginning to establish himself as a premier scorer. He leads the club with 23.9 points per game this season - eight in the NBA - while swingman Marquis Daniels is putting up a career-high 16.3 points.