The Atlanta Hawks have dropped a season-high three consecutive games, and it won't get any easier with the Dallas Mavericks visiting on Friday. The Mavericks have won five of their last seven to climb into sixth in the competitive Western Conference standings. The Hawks boast the third-best record in the mediocre Eastern Conference, but they're just 1-4 against Western Conference opponents.
The Mavericks escaped with a 103-99 win over Golden State on Wednesday despite a season-low four points from leading scorer Monta Ellis, who was a career-worst 2-for-16 from the floor. The Hawks were blasted 113-84 in Houston on Wednesday by a Rockets team playing without leading scorer James Harden. Dallas has won the past two meetings, including a 118-109 win in the season-opener Oct. 30, a game in which Ellis poured in 32 points.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FSN Southwest (Dallas), SportSouth (Atlanta)
ABOUT THE MAVERICKS (10-6): Dallas looks like a bit of an offensive juggernaut on good nights, and Wednesday was one of them with six players scoring in double figures despite Ellis' off night while nursing a stiff back. The bench contributed 43 points, allaying one of the team's primary concerns, with rookie point guard Shane Larkin giving the Mavericks a spark. "They played well," coach Rick Carlisle said of the reserves. "Of all the games we've played all year, tonight was the night we really needed the bench to step up and be big, really at both ends of the court, and they were."
ABOUT THE HAWKS (8-8): Center Al Horford (17.1 points, 8.1 rebounds) and point guard Jeff Teague (16.9 points, 8.4 assists) lead four players who average double digits in scoring. Atlanta's depth was seriously tested against Houston, though, with Kyle Korver (bruised ribs) and Shelvin Mack (ankle) out with injuries and Lou Williams still avoiding back-to-backs while working his way back from knee surgery. That's a problem for a team that doesn't get much from the bench as it is, and a thin roster will have a tough time keeping pace with Dallas' up-tempo style.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Dallas F Dirk Nowitzki has moved past Kevin Garnett for 14th on the NBA's all-time scoring list in each of the past two games. Garnett (25,368) reclaimed the spot Tuesday, but Nowitzki (25,383) moved back in front Wednesday.
2. The Mavericks are 9-0 when leading after three quarters.
3. Korver has made a 3-pointer in 88 consecutive games, one shy of tying Dana Barros' NBA record from 1994-96.