Mavs attempt to tie franchise record against Lakers

Dallas won a franchise-record 14 straight games at the start of the 2002-03 campaign.

All-Star Dirk Nowitzki poured in a season-high 36 points and Josh Howard came up huge with 18 points and 12 rebounds, as Dallas stretched its winning streak to 13 games with a 90-85 decision over the San Antonio Spurs on Friday at the AT&T Center.

Nowitzki and Howard were the only two Dallas players in double figures, but the Mavericks were able to rally from a 12-point second-quarter deficit.

The Mavericks, who play the middle contest of a three-game road trip, are 11-4 on the road this season. They will visit Carlos Boozer and the Utah Jazz on Tuesday at EnergySolutions Arena.

The Lakers try to extend their winning streak to four games. Smush Parker scored 23 points and the Lakers defeated the Denver Nuggets, 123-104, at the Staples Center despite only eight points from superstar Kobe Bryant, who did finish with 10 assists.

Andrew Bynum scored 19 points and pulled down 10 boards for LA, which has won four of its last five games overall. Luke Walton scored 18 points and handed out eight assists for the Lakers, while Brian Cook and Maurice Evans netted 16 apiece.

LA is 15-4 as the host this season. The Lakers are scheduled to visit the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday and the Houston Rockets on Wednesday.

This is the second meeting of the campaign between the clubs. On December 13th, Nowitzki had a fabulous all-around game with 23 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists to lead Dallas to a 110-101 win over the Lakers at American Airlines Center.

Dallas has lost two of three and 28 of its last 30 at the Lakers. The Mavericks have won two in a row in this series.