Dallas Mavericks build steam heading into home stretch

The Mavs are making up ground on the Western Conference leading Los Angeles Lakers.

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Rodrigue Beaubois and Jason Kidd

DALLAS — Almost everything seems to be going the Dallas Mavericks' way since coming back out of the All-Star break. Everything but the injuries.

Before the All-Star break, Dallas posted a record of 32-20, which was fourth-best in the conference behind Denver and Utah, and eight games out of the number one seed. Now, the Mavs (43-21) have leapfrogged over both the Nuggets and Jazz and are sitting just three games out of first in the west during the first 12 games out of the break.

"I think we're loaded," Jason Kidd said. "We have guys who know how to put the ball in the basket, and we all enjoy sharing the ball and being part of a play that's successful."

During these 12 games, the Mavs are in the midst of their second-longest winning streak in franchise history, which stands at 11 games heading into tonight’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Dallas’ longest winning streak is 17 games, which came from January to March of 2007.

Even with the injury to Jason Terry, the Mavs could and should run its current streak to 14 games – partly because the winning percentage of Dallas’ next three opponents is a dismal .226. If the Mavs do achieve this mark, it would be the longest streak in the NBA in this season, besting Cleveland's 13-game streak from January 16 through February 11.

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From veterans like Dirk Nowitzki and Kidd to rookie talent Roddy Beaubois, the Mavs seem to have it all going down the stretch run of the season.

"We're a motion team that has one of the great all-time point guards running the show,” head coach Rick Carlisle said. “Kidd helped us spread the floor and he gets a lot of our guys juiced up. He has helped Beaubois with some of his encouragement and telling him to shoot. He does a lot more for us besides scoring. Everything starts on this team with Kidd and Nowitzki."

Beaubois has been thrown into the fire and has done exceptionally well, putting up 18, 22, and 24 points respectively since the injury to Terry.

"It feels pretty good,” Beaubois said. “(Kidd) knows everything. He's given me some advice and I really appreciate it."

The biggest focus is staying healthy – and winning, Kidd said.