Nuggets at Mavericks
THE STORY: The Dallas Mavericks used a well-earned win in Denver a week ago to kickstart a four-game winning streak. They'll be looking to extend their run of success against those very same Nuggets when the teams tangle Wednesday night at the American Airlines Center. Dallas is 2-0 on its three-game homestand, with narrow victories over Portland and the L.A. Clippers. The Nuggets have won two in a row themselves, including a 109-92 home win over Phoenix on Tuesday. This is the third meeting of the season between the Western Conference rivals.
TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, Altitude, Fox Sports Southwest
ABOUT THE NUGGETS (17-12): After struggling to generate much offense during a demoralizing five-game losing skid earlier in the month, the Nuggets have scored an average of 111 points in wins over Indiana and Phoenix. The win over the Suns halted a five-game skid at home, a particularly shocking development given the advantage many felt Denver had in the elevated confines of the Pepsi Center. Tuesday's win improved the Nuggets' home mark to a mediocre 8-7.
ABOUT THE MAVERICKS (18-11): It took a while for Dirk Nowitzki to return to form - but now that he has, it appears the defending champions have, as well. Nowitzki is averaging 25 points over the last four games, gutting out a 22-point performance against the Clippers despite shooting just 5 for 15 from the field. The 7-foot German star is still averaging just 18.5 points - more than four below his career average - but has a 23.1 mark in seven games so far in February.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Nowitzki has led the Mavericks in scoring in six straight games after doing so just six times in all of January.
2. The teams have split a pair of meetings, with the road club prevailing both times.
3. The Nuggets are 9-1 against the spread in their last 10 games in Dallas.