Mavs aim to lasso 11th straight win vs. Raptors

After starting the season 0-4, the Mavs have ripped off 10 consecutive wins, including Monday’s 93-87 home victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. Dirk Nowitzki ended with a season-low 15 points on just 2-of-8 shooting, as Dallas blew a 17-point lead in the final quarter.

Erick Dampier came up with a game-saving block on Wolves rookie Randy Foye and ended with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Josh Howard had 15 points for the Mavs, whose longest winning streak is 14 games, established at the start of the 2002-03 season. Dallas also won 13 straight games last season.

The Mavericks are 5-2 at home this season and 2-0 so far on a four-game homestand. After hosting Toronto on Wednesday, Dallas will close out the homestand versus Sacramento on December 1.

Toronto, meanwhile, has won two straight and three of its last four games. On Tuesday the Raptors notched a 94-77 win over the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets at the Ford Center.

Chris Bosh and Anthony Parker each scored 19 points for Toronto. Bosh finished 6-of-13 shooting and pulled down 14 rebounds, while Parker went 7-of-12 from the field.

Andrea Bargnani scored 16 points and Joey Graham added 14 for the Raptors, who recorded their first road win this season. Jose Calderon contributed 13 points and dished out four assists.

Raptors guard Morris Peterson has a slight tear in his left elbow and is expected to miss Wednesday’s game.

Dallas went 2-0 against the Raptors last season and is 13-7 in the all-time series. The Mavs have won five straight, eight of nine and 11 of the last 13 matchups in the series.

Toronto has lost six straight and seven of its last eight trips to Dallas. The Raptors are 2-8 lifetime at the Mavericks.