Pacers welcome Mavericks to Conseco Fieldhouse

Dallas has won two straight since having its 13-game winning come to an end against the Los Angeles Lakers on January 7. Since then the Mavs have topped Utah and posted a 99-74 win over Portland on Wednesday night.

Jason Terry scored 20 points and Josh Howard contributed 17 points and eight rebounds for Dallas. Dirk Nowitzki had just 11 points in the Mavs’ 15th win over their last 16 games. Devin Harris scored 14 points in the win.

The Mavericks, who have a three-game lead over San Antonio in the Southwest Division, will open a brief two-game road trip on Friday. They are 12-5 as the visitor this season.

Indiana, meanwhile, will aim for their fourth straight win. On Wednesday the Pacers notched a 97-84 win over the Boston Celtics at TD Banknorth Garden.

Jermaine O’Neal scored 23 points and pulled down 15 rebounds as Indiana made it three wins in a row. Jamaal Tinsley added 17 points and 13 assists for the Pacers, who snapped a four game skid in Beantown.

Danny Granger chipped in 16 points off the bench, while Stephen Jackson and Sarunas Jasikevicius each finished with 15 points for Indiana, which is 10-5 at home this season and three games off the lead in the Central.

The Mavericks defeated Indiana, 100-91, on January 4 this season and have won three straight and four of the last five meetings.

Dallas, though, has lost five of seven and 11 of its last 14 at Indiana.