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Mavericks look to stay hot at home against Hawks

Dec 6, 2008 - 11:20 AM Atlanta (12-6) at Dallas (10-8) 8:30 p.m. EST

DALLAS (Ticker) -- A long homestand is helping the Dallas Mavericks continue their recent hot streak.

The Mavericks go for their fourth straight win on Saturday when they host the streaking Atlanta Hawks.

After losing its first four home games, Dallas has won each of its last four contests at American Airlines Center.

The Mavericks have eight victories in their last nine games, averaging 104.4 points per game over that span. Dallas was averaging just under 96 points during its first nine games.

The spike in production has been due to the play of Dirk Nowitzki, who tied a season-high with 39 points during Dallas' 112-97 victory against the Phoenix Suns on Thursday.

Nowitzki is averaging 25.1 points and opened the Mavericks' season-high seven-game homestand with 29 points and 10 rebounds during a two-point win against the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday.

Josh Smith tallied 16 points, eight rebounds and five assists and Marvin Williams added 18 points, leading the Hawks to an ugly 98-95 victory over the lowly New York Knicks on Friday night at Philips Arena.

The win was the third in a row for Atlanta and fourth in its last five games. However, the Hawks have dropped four straight on the road against the Mavericks and nine of the last 10 in Dallas.