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Dallas Mavericks hope to get back in the win column Friday in Indianapolis as they work toward nailing down a playoff spot in the Western Conference.
The Mavs, who visit the Indiana Pacers this evening, currently hold the eighth and final playoff spot in the West and are 3 1/2 games ahead of Phoenix. Dallas lost the opener of a quick two-game road trip Thursday in Atlanta, where Joe Johnson poured in a game-best 24 points, grabbed seven rebounds and doled out four assists to lead the Hawks to a 95-87 victory over Dallas.
Dirk Nowitzki recorded his 22nd double-double of the year with 23 points and 12 boards for the Mavericks, who have dropped three of four overall and are five games behind San Antonio in the Southwest Division. Ryan Hollins totaled 13 points and Brandon Bass 10 had in the setback, which dropped Dallas to 16-20 on the road.
Antoine Wright, who was forced to leave the game briefly to receive four stitches in his left elbow, had 16 points for Dallas.
The Pacers, meanwhile, dropped their fourth straight game Wednesday in Indianapolis against the Portland Trail Blazers. Brandon Roy was one of six Portland players in double figures with 20 points in that one, as the Blazers dominated in a 95-85 final over Indiana.
Danny Granger returned to the starting lineup and poured in 35 points and grabbed 10 boards for the Pacers, who have lost five of their last six games overall and are four games behind Chicago for the final playoff slot in the East. Roy Hibbert scored 14 points and Jarrett Jack had 13 in the loss.
The game marked Granger's first start in exactly one month. The All-Star came off the bench against Toronto on Sunday in his first action since missing 11 contests with a partially torn tendon in the sole of his right foot. Granger suffered the injury in a loss to the Raptors on February 18.
Power forward Troy Murphy, the Pacers' leading rebounder at 11.9 per game, sat out the game against Portland with a bruised left calf. Murphy is listed as questionable for tonight's contest.
Indiana, which is 19-13 at home, has lost six of its last seven games against the Mavs, including a 109-106 setback in Dallas earlier this season.
