Dallas tries to get back on winning track at Meadowlands

On Monday, Gilbert Arenas erupted for 38 points and eight assists as the Washington Wizards cooled off the Mavericks with a 106-97 victory at the Verizon Center. The loss ended Dallas’ 12-game winning streak.

All-Star Dirk Nowitzki finished with a team-high 27 points and grabbed nine rebounds in the loss to the Wizards for Dallas, which fell for the first time since dropping its first four games of the season. Jerry Stackhouse and Devean George each both scored 14 in defeat.

Dallas won 13 in a row last season from January 14th to February 9, 2006. The Mavericks registered a franchise-best 14 straight wins from October 30th to November 27, 2002.

The Mavericks are 5-3 on the road this season. After tonight’s game, Dallas returns home to host the Detroit Pistons on Thursday and the Denver Nuggets on Saturday.

The Nets play the second of a six-game homestand. All-Star Vince Carter poured in a season-high 41 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead New Jersey to a 112-107 win over Allen Iverson and the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday at Continental Airlines Arena.

Richard Jefferson scored 24 points and pulled down eight boards in the win over the Sixers for New Jersey, while Nenad Krstic ended with 20 points for the Nets, who have won two straight after dropping six in a row. Jason Kidd finished with nine points and 13 assists in the victory.

New Jersey is 4-4 at home this season. It will also host the Phoenix Suns, Boston Celtics, Memphis Grizzlies and the Milwaukee Bucks on the current homestand.

This is the first of two meetings between the Mavericks and Nets this season. Dallas is scheduled to host New Jersey on March 6, 2007 at American Airlines Center.

New Jersey has lost six straight and nine of its last 11 at Dallas. The Mavericks have won 11 of the last 12 contests in this series.