Mavs hope for smoother road trip

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Mavs hope for smoother road trip

Team wants to put aside memories of previous stumble

By CALVIN WATKINS / The Dallas Morning News

The last time the Mavericks were on the road, they lost three of four games, and Avery Johnson let his team have it.

More importantly, the Mavericks seemed out of the race for the top spot in the Southwest division and the Western Conference.

Today, the Mavericks make their final road trip of the season: three cities in four days beginning in Los Angeles against the Clippers.

Unlike the ending of the previous road trip when the Mavericks saw their chances of a top seed in the conference slipping, there is life.

"The road wasn't too friendly to us the last time," Johnson said. "I'm already getting a bad memory. Hopefully, we'll have a better response on the road overall than the last game and give ourselves a chance to win by playing our system. But we've gone back to some basics that seem to have helped us."

Dallas is on a four-game winning streak and back to playing with that swagger that's pushed it to a 58-19 record. But winning on the road now, especially after the last trip, is imperative to keep pace with the first-place Spurs.

Dallas is just a game behind San Antonio for the top spot in the west.

"I like our chances on the road, and we're a good road team," Dirk Nowitzki said. "We have guys who can hit big shots down the stretch, and we've won big games on the road. It's another good test."

Dallas went 1-3 on the last road trip, ending it on a three-game losing streak. After a loss at Orlando, Johnson ripped his team in the locker room within ear shot of reporters.

"We might have lost three games but look who we lost to," Jerry Stackhouse said. "It was a different stage for us, and we got knocked back on our heels."

Playing the Clippers twice: Five games remain in the regular season, and the Mavericks face the Clippers twice. If the standings remain the same once the regular season ends, Dallas will meet Los Angeles in the first round of the playoffs. Dallas would be the fourth seed and Los Angeles the fifth.

This could be a time the Mavericks send a message to the Clippers.

"You will get a lot of each other," Stackhouse said. "That will happen in the next three or four weeks. We want to put a little doubt in their minds."

Dallas leads the season series, 2-0.

Howard-Daniels playing better: Since returning from injures, Josh Howard and Marquis Daniels have played well. Howard, out nine games with a strained left hamstring, is averaging 21 points and shooting 52.4 percent since his return.

"I'm just dealing with fatigue," Howard said. "It comes back from working out and staying focused. I'm not worried about [getting injured again]."

Howard battled a strained neck the last few weeks. He missed a game at Orlando and a home game against Denver due to injury. In the last three games since his return, Daniels has averaged 8.6 points. Howard said he's feeling better with no lingering effects.

Briefly: Injured guard Adrian Griffin is doubtful for today's game against the Clippers but he will make the trip. He could play Wednesday night at Golden State. ... With 58 wins, this Dallas team is tied for the second most wins in club history. ... The Mavericks are shooting 50 percent over the last nine games. Dallas is 47-4 when it outshoots its opponent.