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Howard the King for Mavs
Josh Howard gets the hot hand early to continue the Mavericks streak.
Last Modified: 02 Dec 2006 11:13 GMT

Wins stack up: Jerry Stackhouse through the paint

Josh Howard scored 10 of his 24 points in the first five minutes on Friday as Dallas got off to another quick start en route to their 12th straight National Basketball Association win.
  
The blazing start helped the Mavericks cruise to a 109-90 victory.
German centre Dirk Nowitzki had 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Mavericks, apparently feeling no after effects after leaving the Mavs' last game on Wednesday with blurred vision.
It was a strong all round performance from the team which had five scorers in double figures, shooting 49 percent from the field and 89 percent from the free throw line while collecting a season-high 26 assists.
  
For the fourth straight game, the Mavericks never trailed, pouncing on their opponents from the opening tip-off.
  
Howard continues to be the key to their flying starts.
  
Since returning to the starting lineup four games ago, Howard has scored 11 points in the first five and half minutes of an 85-73 win over New Orleans, nine points in the opening quarter of a 93-87 win over Minnesota and 12 points in the first quarter of a 117-98 win over Toronto.
  
The Mav's Devean George adds two more with authority

It was more of the same Friday as Howard had a pair of three-pointers and two jumpers to help Dallas open a 15-9 lead in the opening minutes.
  
With the winning streak, the Mavericks have shrugged off a disappointing 0-4 start to the season with a vengeance, and re-established themselves as candidates to return to the NBA finals.
  
Austin Croshere, who once experienced a nine-game winning streak in his nine seasons with Indiana, said a double-digit winning streak was quite an accomplishment in the NBA.
  
"It's not an easy thing to do," Croshere said. "You can get a three-game stretch where you're playing teams under .500, or you might have a four-game home stand.
  
"But in 10 games, you're going to have some difficult tests. So it's really not an easy thing to do. We're proud of it. But when you're in the middle of it, you just ride it and try to look at the next game and make it 11 or 12 or whatever."
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