Miami, FL (My Sportsbook) - The Dallas Mavericks try for their third straight win when they travel to AmericanAirlines Arena to take on the Miami Heat.

Dallas is the top seed in the Western Conference, four games ahead of both the Sacramento Kings and San Antonio Spurs. The Kings are the second seed by virtue of their lead in the Pacific Division.

The Mavericks are coming off an 88-79 victory over the New Jersey Nets. Dirk Nowitzki scored 24 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, while Steve Nash added 24 points and eight assists to the victory. Michael Finley chipped in with 15 points.

"We couldn't separate ourselves from them. It was frustrating," said Nash. "It was kind of a sluggish game, but fortunately we were able to pull away at the end."

Coach Don Nelson felt the game was good preparation for the grueling playoff games that lay ahead.

"We had to toughen up and play playoff basketball, which was good," Nelson said. "It was a great game to pull out."

The Mavericks have won three of their last four road games and have a 20-9 mark away from AmericanAirlines Center. Dallas is 22-4 against teams from the Eastern Conference.

Miami has dropped seven of its last nine games, most recently a 100-91 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. Brian Grant scored 20 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, while Malik Allen added 14 points and 12 boards to the losing effort.

"We were down by [three] points at the end of the third quarter," Miami coach Pat Riley said. "With the exception of when Anthony Carter was on the court, the team did not play with energy. We didn't play with the kind of energy that we need: tenacious, relentless energy to run, defend and cut. We had some guys absolutely sleepwalking for four or five minutes."

The Heat are 13-16 at home and have a 6-17 mark against Western Conference foes.

Dallas has won four of the last five meetings between the teams, including a 98-92 victory at AmericanAirlines Arena on February 15.

Miami has a 19-13 edge in the all-time series.