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Enigmatic Mavericks search for consistency against Heat

Jan 31, 2009 - 11:18 AM Dallas (26-19) at Miami (25-20) 7:30 p.m. EST

MIAMI (Ticker) -- The Dallas Mavericks have spent the last four games either getting hammered, or hammering someone else.

They will be looking for some consistency when they face the Miami Heat on Saturday.

The Mavericks lost by 34 points to the Milwaukee Bucks on January 21, followed that performance with a 19-point win at Detroit, suffered a 24-point setback at Boston on Sunday and returned home with a 24-point demolition of Golden State on Wednesday.

Dallas has been able to score throughout this stretch, averaging 107 points per game, but has seen its effort exposed on the defensive end. The Mavericks held the Pistons and Warriors to less than 43 percent shooting while allowing the Celtics and Bucks to go off at 56 and 57 percent clips, respectively.

The Mavericks imposed their will on the inside against Golden State, outrebounding the Warriors, 53-38, and blocking eight shots in the 117-93 triumph.

The Heat had a three-game winning streak snapped on Friday in a 114-103 loss at Indiana. It was the first time in the last nine games that Miami had allowed an opponent to top the century mark.

Dwyane Wade scored 24 points but the rest of the starting lineup managed just 16 against the Pacers.