(My Sportsbook) - A pair of Western Conference contenders jockey for playoff position tonight when the Dallas Mavericks play host to the New Orleans Hornets in the front end of a home-and-home set.

The Mavs clinched the final postseason berth in the West on Wednesday with a 130-101 drubbing of Utah.

Dirk Nowitzki finished with 31 points and seven rebounds in that one to help the Mavericks secure their ninth straight postseason appearance. Dallas also moved into a tie with Utah for the seventh spot in the West, as both teams are one game back of sixth-place New Orleans.

Jason Terry added 21 points off the bench for Dallas, whose offense has been on a tear lately -- the Mavericks beat Phoenix by a 140-116 score on Sunday. Jose Juan Barea finished with 18 points and nine assists, while Josh Howard had 13 points, eight rebounds and seven of Dallas' season-high 16 steals.

The Hornets, meanwhile, are coming off a tough home loss to Phoenix on Wednesday. Steve Nash scored 24 points and dished out 13 assists in that one, and the Suns beat New Orleans 105-100, only to be eliminated from playoff contention later that night.

Chris Paul had 29 points and 16 assists for the Hornets, who remained in sixth place in the West. The Hornets are also 2 1/2 games behind Houston in the Southwest Division.

Rasual Butler, who pushed the Hornets into overtime with a shot at the buzzer Tuesday, had 10 points in this game.

David West scored 28 and had 12 rebounds for New Orleans, which was coming off a 93-87 overtime win at Miami Tuesday. Peja Stojakovic hit four three- pointers, on the way to scoring 18, but New Orleans lost for the third time in four games.

The Hornets have four games left in the season, starting with a pair against Dallas, then road games at Houston and San Antonio.

New Orleans has won both of its games against the Mavericks this season, the teams' first meetings since the Hornets trounced Dallas in five games in the first round of the playoffs last spring.