By Marty Gitlin
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

A glance at the team and individual statistics compiled by the Dallas Mavericks this season would hardly raise an eyebrow.

Yeah, they're performing well defensively, but that has been status quo since Avery Johnson took over as coach.

They're second in the NBA in free-throw percentage.

Yawn.

Dirk Nowitzki is averaging 23.4 points and 9.5 rebounds a game.

Real surprise there, huh?

So why are the Mavericks 19-7? How have they won 19 of their last 22 games?

Simple. They know how to win. They're no longer a team that hopes to outgun opponents in shootouts, so they are playing lower-scoring games and emerging with victories in nearly all of them.

They stumbled to an 0-4 start without Josh Howard and have remained on fire since. Howard is averaging 18.3 points and nearly six rebounds a game.

But perhaps the critical move by Johnson was the insertion of Erick Dampier into the starting lineup. He is averaging close to a double-double since replacing DeSagana Diop in the middle and leading the league in shooting from the field at 67 percent.

The Mavericks hope to win their sixth consecutive game Friday night at home against the Los Angeles Clippers. WagerWeb.com lists them as a 9.5-point favorites despite the uncertain status of Nowitzki, who is questionable with an ankle injury.

NOWHERE TO GO: Only the weather can cool off the sizzling Suns.

Phoenix can't win its 16th in a row if it can't get out of the Denver airport.

The Suns' clash against the Nuggets on Wednesday was canceled due to the blizzard, but they are scheduled to return home Friday night against Washington. That is, if their plane ever takes off.

The airport is expected to open, which means the Suns should arrive back in Phoenix in time to host the Wizards.

And speaking of the Wizards, they finally climbed over .500 with a 126-119 victory in Sacramento Thursday night. The usual talented trio of Caron Butler, Antawn Jamison and Gilbert Arenas wreaked havoc on the Kings, combining for 86 points. Brendan Haywood, who returned to the starting center spot after Etan Thomas sprained his ankle, added 12 points and 14 rebounds.

Washington is an 11-point underdog in Phoenix, according to WagerWeb.com.

DRIBBLES: Boston high-scoring forward Paul Pierce will miss at least a week with a foot injury, which could give Philadelphia a shot at breaking its 12-game winning streak Friday night against the host Celtics. WagerWeb.com lists Boston as a 2.5-point favorite. According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, newly acquired point guard Andre Miller was unable to fly out of Denver at noon Friday, when the airport reopened. ... Forward Ron Artest missed his team's loss to the Wizards with sore knees. He is questionable for Friday night's game in Denver in which Allen Iverson is expected to make his debut for the Nuggets. Denver is a 4 1/2-point favorite, according to WagerWeb.com. ... After missing nine games with a bone bruise on his right ankle, Seattle guard Ray Allen might return in time for Saturday night's game against Toronto. The word on backcourt mate Rashard Lewis, who received an MRI on a tendon in his right hand, will come down today.

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