Perfect in February, Mavs Want More

Dallas Mavericks' Dirk Nowitzki, center, of Germany, gets off a shot after getting past Minnesota Timberwolves' Craig Smith, left, during the third quarter in a basketball game, Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2007, in Minneapolis. Nowitzki finished with a game-high 23 points. Dallas won, 91-65. Minnesota's Ricky Davis watches the play at background right. (AP Photo/Tom Olmscheid) (Tom Olmscheid - AP)

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Dallas Mavericks established a franchise record for fewest points allowed. They also, for the first time in history, finished a month without being beaten.

It's only February, however, and they're not interested in flattery.

Dirk Nowitzki had 23 points and 14 rebounds and Josh Howard rebounded from a sprained ankle suffered the night before to lead the Mavericks to their 13th straight victory on Tuesday night, 91-65 over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

"Nobody's in here jumping up and down," said Jason Terry, who had 18 points and seven assists.

Howard added 17 points, and Dallas raised its league-best record to 48-9.

That wasn't all, though.

The Mavericks, who improved to 11-0 on the second night of back-to-back games, went 10-0 in February. The 65 points managed by Minnesota was an all-time low for Dallas, breaking the previous mark of 68 for a team that was not too long ago derided as "Allas" _ as in no "D."

Coach Avery Johnson, in less than two years, has helped transform the Mavericks into a well-rounded bunch. They held Kevin Garnett and the lethargic Timberwolves to a franchise-worst 29.6 field-goal percentage on 24-for-81 shooting.

Some of that stemmed from Minnesota's struggles, but Dallas is clearly a difficult club to play against at any spot on the floor. It has become just as difficult, however, to get the Mavericks to acknowledge their near-invincibility.

"I can already count in my head about eight mistakes I had individually," Terry said.

Garnett counted six mistakes by the Wolves on their first six possessions _ one blocked shot and five turnovers. They never had a lead in this one.

"We don't have the experience nor the personnel to sort of get us in positions to climb ourselves out," said Garnett, who had 15 points and 13 rebounds. "We sometimes hang our hats on our youthfulness, and sometimes that's a disadvantage."