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Harris returns to Dallas as Nets try to snap skid

Feb 18, 2009 - 11:29 AM New Jersey (24-30) at Dallas (31-21), 8:30 p.m. EST

DALLAS (Ticker) -- For the second time, the Dallas Mavericks' faithful will get a chance to see exactly what they've been missing, up close and personal.

Former Maverick Devin Harris makes his second return to his former city on Wednesday night as his New Jersey Nets continue their two-day stretch through the Lone Star State with a meeting against Dallas.

For his part, Harris hopes his second reunion with the fans of Dallas goes a lot better than the first time did. In a March 8, 2008 meeting - just 2 1/2 weeks after the trade in which he was swapped for fellow point guard Jason Kidd - Harris was held to nine points on 3-of-12 shooting as the Mavericks rolled to a 111-91 victory.

But this is a different Harris. For the first time in his career, an offense is being run through him, and he has capitalized. He is 10th in the league in scoring at 21.8 points per game in addition to 6.5 assists on the way to his first career All-Star selection.

The Mavericks have had a rocky transition to the Kidd era, but things have been looking a bit more promising lately with six wins in their last eight contests.

Most recently, they blew a double-digit lead to the reigning champion Boston Celtics to close out the first half, as Paul Pierce out-dueled fellow All-Star Dirk Nowitzki en route to a 99-92 victory for Boston last Thursday.