Indiana Pacers (5-7) at Dallas Mavericks (6-7)
The Indiana Pacers continue a three-game road swing Tuesday when they face former coach Rick Carlisle and the streaking Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center.
Carlisle will be facing his old team for the first time since being fired by the Pacers following a disappointing 35-47 season in 2006-07. The veteran mentor led the Pacers to a franchise-record 61 victories during the 2003-04 season before losing in the conference finals to eventual NBA champion Detroit. Indiana then had two more playoff berths under Carlisle before falling off.
The Pacers dropped the opener of their trip on Saturday in Miami when Dwyane Wade continued his brilliant start to the young season as his 38-point, eight- assist effort lifted the Heat to a 109-100 victory over Indiana.
Marquis Daniels and Danny Granger paced Indiana with 25 and 23 points respectively, as the club has dropped four of its last five games.
The Pacers, who are just 1-4 on the road this season, will finish their trek in Houston on Wednesday.
The Mavs, meanwhile, won their fourth straight game and for the first time at home this season on Friday when Dirk Nowitzki had a game-high 25 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as Dallas downed the Memphis Grizzlies, 91-76.
Jason Kidd also notched a double-double with 18 points and a season-high 13 boards for the Mavs, who were coming off a 3-0 road swing on the heels of a five-game skid.
Jason Terry donated 20 points, 15 of which came in the first half for Dallas, which toiled without the dynamic Josh Howard for the second straight game. Howard, who is averaging 20.3 points and 8.2 rebounds, is day-to-day with a sprained ankle and will be a gametime decision tonight.
The two teams split the home-and-home season series a year ago but Dallas has won five of its last six meetings with the Pacers.
Indiana has lost four straight and in eight of its last nine trips to Dallas but the Mavs are just 1-4 at the American Airlines Center this season.
