Mavs Bake Up Another 12-Game Win Streak

Call it a triple-dozen. The Dallas Mavericks became the first team in NBA history with three winning streaks of at least 12 games in a season by beating the Atlanta Hawks 110-87 on Monday night.

The Mavericks' 12th consecutive victory gives them two 12-game winning streaks and one of 13 games _ or a baker's dozen. Dallas, which owns the league's best record at 47-9, has also won a club-record 20 consecutive home games after dismantling the Hawks.

Dirk Nowitzki had 27 points and eight rebounds, and Jason Terry added 21 points for Dallas, which shot 54 percent from the field, went 7-for-14 from 3-point range, and converted 18 turnovers into 25 points.

"When the ball is moving side to side so well, it's fun basketball to play," Terry said. "That's what you see from this team consistently, night in and night out."

In other NBA games, it was Philadelphia 89, Sacramento 82; New York 99, Miami 93; Denver 111, Memphis 107; San Antonio 107, Toronto 91; Orlando 94, Chicago 87; Boston 77, Houston 72; L.A. Lakers 102, Utah 94; Seattle 97, Portland 73; and the L.A. Clippers 100, Charlotte 93.

The only bad news for the Mavericks came in the fourth quarter when Josh Howard sprained his right ankle. He finished with 20 points.

Howard was helped off the court with 6:11 to play after he took a jumper and landed on the foot of Atlanta's Joe Johnson. X-rays were negative and Howard made the trip to Minnesota, where the Mavericks meet the Timberwolves on Tuesday night. Howard, who's been playing on a sore right ankle sustained under similar circumstances in a game last week against the Heat, is listed as day to day.

"Hopefully he should be OK," Mavericks coach Avery Johnson said.

Reserve Jerry Stackhouse, playing extended minutes with starting guard Greg Buckner out with a bruised left knee, contributed 19 points and a season-high nine assists for the Mavericks.

Also out for the Mavericks was swingman Devean George, recovering from a sprained ligament in his right knee.

The Mavericks needed their reserves to grind out the victory.

"We shouldn't have anybody out there who's tired when you're winning and having the success we are," Stackhouse said. "When Chicago was on its great runs, they didn't know it was cold outside. That's how we feel right now. We can't wait 'til the next game."

The Milwaukee Bucks (1970-71), Philadelphia 76ers (1980-81) and Los Angeles Lakers (1999-2000) have had three winning streaks of 10 or more in a season.

Knicks 99, Heat 93

At New York, Stephon Marbury scored 18 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter, and Jamal Crawford stuck it to Miami again with a big 3-pointer in the closing seconds for New York.

Shaquille O'Neal scored 20 points as Miami fell to 1-2 without top scorer Dwyane Wade, out with a dislocated shoulder.

Eddy Curry, in his first matchup this season with O'Neal, scored 28 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. Crawford had 20, including a 3 from the corner with 21 seconds left that gave the Knicks a 97-93 lead. He scored a career-high 52 points in his last game against Miami.

76ers 89, Kings 82

At Philadelphia, Samuel Dalembert scored 20 points and grabbed 17 rebounds, and Andre Iguodala had 22 points to lead Philadelphia.

The Sixers used a 12-5 run late in the fourth period to put away the Kings and snap a two-game losing streak. Andre Miller added 18 points and Joe Smith chipped in with a pair of buckets down the stretch that pushed back the Kings.

Kevin Martin scored 23 points for Sacramento. Ron Artest added 13 points, returning to the starting lineup after missing the Kings' last game for personal reasons.

Nuggets 111, Grizzlies 107

At Memphis, Tenn., Carmelo Anthony scored 33 points, Nene added 27 and Allen Iverson had 25 to lead Denver.

Anthony, the NBA's leading scorer, helped the Nuggets snap a four-game losing streak and prevented the Grizzlies rom winning back-to-back games for the first time this season. Anthony's two free throws with 3:18 to go gave the Nuggets a 105-103 lead, one they never lost in the closing minutes.

Spurs 107, Raptors 91

Tony Parker scored 27 points and Tim Duncan had 24 points and 16 rebounds as host San Antonio extended its winning streak to a season-high six games.

Andrea Bargnani led Toronto with 17 points and former Spurs center Rasho Nesterovic added a season-high 16. Chris Bosh had 14 points and nine rebounds.

Celtics 77, Rockets 72

Paul Pierce scored 28 points to lead Boston over short-handed Houston and break a 12-game road losing streak.

The Celtics, who have the NBA's worst record, rallied from a 13-point fourth quarter deficit to avoid matching the franchise mark for most consecutive road losses. The win, against a Rockets team playing without both Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady, was just their second in the last 24 games.

Lakers 102, Jazz 94

At Salt Lake City, Kobe Bryant made up for an off shooting night from the floor by making 21 free throws and scoring 35 points for the Lakers.

Bryant was 21-for-24 from the line and 7-for-21 from the field. Smush Parker made six 3-pointers and finished with 24 points as the Lakers won their third straight.

Former Lakers guard Derek Fisher led the Jazz with 23 points and eight assists.

Magic 94, Bulls 87

At Chicago, Dwight Howard scored 21 points and had 16 rebounds and Jameer Nelson added 18 points as Orlando broke a four-game losing streak.

Darko Milicic added 14 points and had a career-high 16 rebounds for the Magic, and Howard had 11 turnovers for an odd triple double.

The Bulls, looking weary during their fourth game in five days, got 32 points from Ben Gordon and 23 from Luol Deng.

Clippers 100, Bobcats 93

Corey Maggette scored a season-high 25 points and Los Angeles beat visiting Charlotte after losing point guard Shaun Livingston in the first quarter with a dislocated left kneecap.

Gerald Wallace led the Bobcats with 20 points and 12 rebounds. Matt Carroll, starting in the injured Emeka Okafor's place, had 19 points and nine rebounds.

SuperSonics 97, Trail Blazers 73

Rashard Lewis scored 29 points and grabbed seven rebounds, and host Seattle cruised past Portland.

Ray Allen had 16 points, 10 rebounds and six assists. Seattle won its third straight at home and snapped a two-game skid.

The Trail Blazers were held to their second-lowest point total of the season.