Mavs try to get back on winning track against Raptors

This is the first of two meetings this season. The Mavericks are scheduled to host the Raptors on February 25, 2006 at American Airlines Center.

Dallas has won three straight and six of the last seven meetings in this series. The Mavericks have won two of three and four of their last six at Toronto.

The Mavericks play the first of a brief two-game road trip. On Saturday, Pau Gasol poured in a season-high 36 points and grabbed 15 rebounds to lead the Memphis Grizzlies to a 112-92 triumph over the Mavericks at American Airlines Center.

Dirk Nowitzki had 27 points and nine rebounds in the loss to Memphis for the Mavericks, who had their seven-game winning streak halted. Josh Howard had 17 points, but left the game late in the final quarter with a sprained right ankle.

On the injury front, Howard (ankle) is questionable for tonight’s game.

Dallas is 4-2 on the road this season. The Mavericks will visit Michael Redd and the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday at the Bradley Center.

The Raptors return home from a four-game road trip. On Saturday, Jason Richardson had 25 points and Troy Murphy added 21 points and seven rebounds to power Golden State to a 117-91 rout of the Raptors at Air Canada Centre.

Golden State shot 57.3 percent from the field and had 37 assists to just 15 for the Raptors, who finished their four-game swing with an 0-4 record. Morris Peterson and Chris Bosh each had 21 points in the loss to the Warriors for Toronto.

Bosh is off to a great start for the lowly Raptors. He leads the team in scoring (20.9 ppg) and rebounding (10.1 rpg). The 21-year-old Bosh is shooting just over 50 percent from the field.

Toronto is 1-6 at home this season. The Raptors only win in the 2005-06 campaign was at the Air Canada Centre, as they knocked off the Miami Heat, 107-94.

The Raptors are scheduled to host Pau Gasol and the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday in the finale of a brief two-game homestand.