DALLAS (Ticker) -- The Dallas Mavericks look for their eighth
consecutive victory when they face the Seattle SuperSonics on
Tuesday.
Dallas, which is 14-2 since Avery Johnson took over as coach
following Don Nelson's retirement, owns the third-best record in
the Western Conference. However, Seattle is the third seed
because it won the Northwest Division.
Dirk Nowitzki scored 24 points and Michael Finley added 20 to
lead the Mavericks to a 114-112 victory over the Los Angeles
Lakers on Sunday.
Nowitzki is averaging career highs in scoring (26.3) assists
(3.1) and blocks (1.55) and needs five points to reach 2,000
this season.
Seattle has won its last two contests after a six-game losing
streak. On Sunday, the SuperSonics posted a 109-94 triumph over
the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Ray Allen scored 34 points and Rashard Lewis added 28 for
Seattle, which will face the Sacramento Kings in the first round
of the playoffs.
The Mavericks have won six of the last eight meetings against
the SuperSonics, including two of the first three this season.
Nowitzki scored 31 points to lead Dallas to a 95-90 triumph over
Seattle in their last showdown on Wednesday.