Mavs shoot for 50th win against Jazz

(SportsNetwork.com) - The Dallas Mavericks will try for a 50-win season on Monday night when they head to Energy Solutions Arena to take on the Utah Jazz.

The Mavericks haven't won 50 games since the 2010-11 season, which ended in an NBA Finals victory. Dallas went 11 straight campaigns with at least 50 victories until the season after the title, when Tyson Chandler left via free agency.

He is back in a Mavericks uniform and the team is once again headed to the postseason.

With fluidity all over the Western Conference standings, the Mavs are locked into the seventh spot and will play the Southwest Division champions in the first round be it the San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets, or Memphis Grizzlies.

The Mavs won three straight, including the opening two games of this road trip, which ends Monday. Dallas hosts the Portland Trail Blazers to end the regular season on Wednesday.

On Sunday, the Mavericks beat the Los Angeles Lakers, 120-106.

Chandler had 20 points and nine rebounds to lead the way for Dallas. Richard Jefferson and Dirk Nowitzki tallied 17 and 16 points, respectively, for the Mavericks, who have won seven straight against the Lakers. Rajon Rondo and Al- Farouq Aminu added double-double performances.

"It's just an opportunity for us to get tuned up heading into (the playoffs) next weekend," Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said. "It's a good win for us. It gives us a chance for 50."

The Jazz have won three of four and six of their last eight. They are lottery- bound, but played some solid basketball the second half of the season, including Saturday's 111-105 road victory over the Blazers.

Trevor Booker entered Saturday's game averaging just 6.7 points, but the Utah forward took advantage of his chance to start for only the fourth time this season.

Booker scored a career-high 36 points and pulled down nine rebounds.

With Gordon Hayward and Derrick Favors resting, Booker made the most of his playing time. He knocked down all four of his 3-point attempts and went 12- of-15 from the field to help the Jazz.

"My teammates did a good job of penetration and kicking out to me," Booker said.

Rodney Hood totaled 21 points and eight assists for Utah and Bryce Cotton came up big with 11 fourth-quarter points.

The Mavs have won eight in a row over the Jazz and three straight in Salt Lake City.