Mavs go streaking in San Antonio

Dallas, which is 26-3 since losing its first four games of the season, has won 12 straight games and posted a 100-91 win over the Indiana Pacers on Thursday at American Airlines Center.

Josh Howard scored 25 points and pulled down 11 rebounds to help the Mavs to their second 12-game winning streak of the season. Devin Harris registered a career-high 24 points and Dirk Nowitzki scored 20 for Dallas, which won 12 in a row after starting the season 0-4.

The current winning streak is two shy of a franchise-record, which came at the start of the 2002-03 campaign.

The Mavericks, who lead San Antonio by three games in the Southwest standings, have won four straight on the road and are 10-4 away from home this season. They will visit the Los Angeles Lakers and Utah Jazz on the trek.

Meanwhile, the Spurs have been struggling, losing two in a row and four of their last seven games since a five-game winning streak.

On Wednesday Spurs guard Manu Ginobili scored 26 points and grabbed seven rebounds in a 103-101 overtime loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Target Center. Tim Duncan had 24 points and 13 boards for the Spurs, while Tony Parker contributed 19 points in the loss.

The Spurs are 12-5 at home this season.

Friday’s matchup between the two Western Conference powerhouses is the third of four meetings this season. The 2006-07 series is tied at a game apiece.

Dallas has won two of three and four of the last seven encounters with the Spurs. The Mavs have also won two in a row at San Antonio.

Both teams will meet again for the final time in the regular season on April 15th at American Airlines Center.