GAME THREAD: NBA: DALLAS (11-5) at NEW ORLEANS (11-6)

NBA: DALLAS (11-5) at NEW ORLEANS (11-6)

<h3>Mavs seek 20th straight win over Hornets</h3>

Dallas (11-5) at New Orleans (11-6) 8:00 pm EST


NEW ORLEANS (Ticker) - The Dallas Mavericks aim to continuetheir dominance of the New Orleans Hornets when the teams meetSaturday.


Dallas has won 19 straight meetings against the Hornets, withits last loss on January 24, 1998. The Hornets were located inCharlotte when they last beat the Mavs.


Following a three-game losing streak, the Mavs have won consecutivecontests, including a 91-80 triumph over the Portland Trail Blazerson Friday. Josh Howard scored 23 points to pace the Mavs.

Former Hornets forward Brandon Bass has become a valuable playerfor Mavericks coach Avery Johnson. The 2005 second-round pick isaveraging 9.9 points and 5.1 rebounds.


Saturday's matchup also features an interesting backcourt battlebetween two young floor generals in Chris Paul of New Orleansand Dallas rising star Devin Harris.


Paul ranks among the league leaders in assists (10.4), while the24-year-old Harris is off to his best start in four seasons asa pro.


David West scored 12 of his 22 points in the third quarter andPaul added 20 to lead the Hornets to a 92-86 triumph over theAtlanta Hawks on Friday.


"(Paul) started it off," Hornets coach Byron Scott said. "He gotoff to a great start, pretty much making everything. In thesecond half, David started taking over a little bit. It wasbig. We needed both of them to play well."

 

NBA: DALLAS at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">DALLAS VS NEW ORLEANS - INACTIVES

DALLAS NEW ORLEANS

PLAYER NAME REASON PLAYER NAME REASON
E JONES LEG INJURY R BOWEN LEFT KNEE INJURY
D GEORGE FOOT INJURY A HALUSKA COACH'S DECISION</div>

 

NBA: DALLAS at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">DALLAS AT NEW ORLEANS - PROBABLE STARTING LINEUPS


DALLAS NEW ORLEANS

F Josh Howard F Peja Stojakovic
F Dirk Nowitzki F David West
C Erick Dampier C Tyson Chandler
G Jason Terry G Morris Peterson
G Devin Harris G Chris Paul

OFFICIALS: Joe Derosa
Courtney Kirkland
Ely Roe</div>

 

NBA: DALLAS at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NBA DALLAS 4
NEW ORLEANS 8 8:42 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: DALLAS at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NBA DALLAS 14
NEW ORLEANS 17 5:44 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: DALLAS at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NBA DALLAS 19
NEW ORLEANS 24 2:51 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: DALLAS at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NBA DALLAS 23
NEW ORLEANS 32 END, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: DALLAS at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NBA END 1ST QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
DALLAS 23 23
NEW ORLEANS 32 32 END 1ST QTR

HIGH SCORERS AFTER 1ST QUARTER

DAL - JOSH HOWARD 10, DIRK NOWITZKI 6, DEVIN
HARRIS 3
NOR - PEJA STOJAKOVIC 9, TYSON CHANDLER 8,
DAVID WEST 7</div>

 

NBA: DALLAS at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NBA DALLAS 31
NEW ORLEANS 34 8:43 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: DALLAS at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NBA DALLAS 38
NEW ORLEANS 39 5:44 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: DALLAS at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NBA DALLAS 42
NEW ORLEANS 51 2:31 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: DALLAS at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NBA DALLAS 51
NEW ORLEANS 56 HALFTIME</div>

 

NBA: DALLAS at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NBA HALFTIME 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
DALLAS 23 28 51
NEW ORLEANS 32 24 56 HALFTIME

HIGH SCORERS AT HALFTIME

DAL - JOSH HOWARD 17, BRANDON BASS 7, JASON
TERRY 6
NOR - PEJA STOJAKOVIC 13, TYSON CHANDLER 12,
CHRIS PAUL 10</div>

 

NBA: DALLAS at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NBA DALLAS 57
NEW ORLEANS 65 8:52 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: DALLAS at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NBA DALLAS 67
NEW ORLEANS 69 5:35 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: DALLAS at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NBA DALLAS 75
NEW ORLEANS 78 2:25 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: DALLAS at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NBA DALLAS 81
NEW ORLEANS 80 END, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: DALLAS at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NBA END 3RD QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
DALLAS 23 28 30 81
NEW ORLEANS 32 24 24 80 END 3RD QTR

HIGH SCORERS AFTER 3RD QUARTER

DAL - JOSH HOWARD 19, JERRY STACKHOUSE 18,
DIRK NOWITZKI 13
NOR - CHRIS PAUL 23, TYSON CHANDLER 18, PEJA
STOJAKOVIC 16</div>

 

NBA: DALLAS at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NBA DALLAS 86
NEW ORLEANS 86 8:13 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NBA: DALLAS at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NBA DALLAS 91
NEW ORLEANS 91 6:05 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>