CONFIRMATION! TURNOVERS AGAINST PISTONS

[DIRK BRASIL]

http://www.nba.com/games/20021111/PORDAL/preview.html

DALLAS (Ticker) -- The Dallas Mavericks try to remain the only unbeaten team in the NBA on Monday when they host the inconsistent Portland Trail Blazers at American Airlines Center.

The Mavericks have won their first six games for the best start in franchise history. They are winning by an average of 18.7 points and averaging a league-leading 109.5 points per game.

Dallas eclipsed 100 points for the fifth time in six games in Saturday's 114-75 romp over the Detroit Pistons. The Mavericks led by as many as 52 points before closing out their mist lopsided victory of the season.

Michael Finley scored 25 points and Steve Nash had 17 and 10 assists for Dallas, which shot 52 percent (41-of-79) from the floor, including 8-of-17 from 3-point range.

THE MAVS COMMITTED JUST FOUR TURNOVERS, TYING THE LOWEST TOTAL IN FRANCHISE HISTORY and falling one shy of the NBA record shared by four teams.

Portland has won two of its last three games and improved to 1-1 on a four-game road trip with a 95-76 victory as San Antonio on Saturday.

Bonzi Wells scored 19 points and Rasheed Wallace added 18 for the Blazers, who shot 51 percent (38-of-74) from the floor and snapped a three-game road losing streak.

Portland and Dallas have split the last three season series and each team won both its home games last season.