(My Sportsbook) - The surprising Dallas Mavericks hope to send the San Antonio Spurs scurrying for tee times tonight when the two teams resume their Western Conference quarterfinals series in the Alamo City.

The Mavs took a commanding 3-1 edge in the series on Saturday when Josh Howard scored 28 points to lead a balanced attack, as Dallas held off the third- seeded Spurs, 99-90, in Game 4.

Veteran point guard Jason Kidd chipped in 17 points, seven rebounds and as many assists for the Mavs, who have won 17 of their last 18 home games (including the playoffs).

"We have to do the same things down there as we did up here," Howard said about Game 5. "It's going to be a tough crowd, they're going to come with everything and we've got to be ready and focused."

Dirk Nowitzki added 12 points and 13 boards, while Erick Dampier and Jason Terry had 10 points each in the win.

"It was a collective group effort, everyone giving it their all," said Howard. "We know as far as San Antonio what they want to do with Jet (Terry) and Dirk so we're working on and doing different things to get the ball in the basket and guys are responding great to it."

Tony Parker poured in 43 points, including 31 in the first half to tie George Gervin's franchise playoff record, on 18-of-29 shooting for the Southwest Division-champion Spurs, who won Game 2, 105-84, but have lost the other three games by a combined score of 38 points.

Tim Duncan, who has never lost a first round playoff series, donated 25 points, 10 boards and seven helpers in the setback. No other Spur reached double-figures in scoring.

Last year's Sixth Man of the Year, San Antonio's Manu Ginobili, is done for the season with a right ankle injury and the Spurs have clearly missed his instant offense off the bench and ability to finish games.

The Mavs have been a shaky road team this season, compiling just a 18-23 record away from "Big D," but stole home-court advantage in the series with an impressive 105-97 win in Game 1 at the AT&T Center.

The Spurs were also losing to the Mavericks, 3-1, in the 2006 conference semifinals and rallied to even the series before Dallas took Game 7 in overtime.

San Antonio hasn't lost a first round playoff series since 2000, when Phoenix topped the Spurs in four games while Duncan was sidelined with torn cartilage in his knee.

Game 6 of the series, if necessary, is set for Friday in Dallas.