Wizards-Mavericks Preview

By JEFF BARTL

(AP) -- Dirk Nowitzki has been asked to play plenty of roles during his 16-plus seasons with the Dallas Mavericks, and he's very rarely disappointed.

With Tyson Chandler still ailing, Nowitzki may be tasked with taking his perimeter game down low once again.

Chandler is questionable for Tuesday night's matchup as Dallas looks to win a 10th straight meeting with the visiting Washington Wizards.

Coach Rick Carlisle received a text message from a team trainer hours before tipoff Sunday noting that Chandler would have to sit out with back spasms. His reaction was to go with a smaller lineup, and Nowitzki tied his season high with 30 points from the center spot in a 112-107 win over Oklahoma City.

It marked the first time in five years Nowitzki played the position.

"We had to adjust a little bit, I'd say, without Tyson, our warrior, our paint protector," said Nowitzki, who picked up his fifth foul early in the fourth quarter. "Not really used to playing in foul trouble, because I never really foul. So I tried to move my feet and be long out there."

Chandler Parsons scored 26 points playing power forward, and Carlisle started a three-guard lineup with Rajon Rondo, Monta Ellis and J.J. Barea.

"It started with coach," said Rondo, who finished with 15 points, six rebounds and seven assists. "He shook up the lineup with Tyson being out, and he threw Barea out there. I think that made us the more aggressive team, and that's how we came out to start the game."

Ellis, who's shooting 35.2 percent over his last four games, hurt his ankle late in the fourth. Carlisle said after practice Monday that both Chandler and Ellis were progressing, but he didn't say if either will play despite Ellis' declaration that he would not sit out against Washington.

"I'm not missing any games," Ellis said. "I'll go home and take care of what I need to take care of and get ready for another game."

Ellis scored 34 points in Dallas' 105-102 win Nov. 19 at Washington, which hasn't beaten the Mavericks (22-10) since Oct. 27, 2009. Bradley Beal finished with 21 points in that contest, and he scored a season-high 33 in a 104-103 win over Houston on Monday as the Wizards started a five-game road trip against Western Conference opponents.

Paul Pierce added 21 for Washington (22-8), which improved to 7-2 against the West. It also matched the 1974-75 team for the best 30-game start in franchise history.

The Wizards nearly blew an 18-point lead, though.

"It was a big win," John Wall said. "We almost gave it away with me giving away two turnovers at the end and giving them opportunities to score, but guys stepped up and made big plays for us. "

Washington extended its winning streak to three and has won nine of 11, including four straight on the road. It will face Oklahoma City on Friday and San Antonio on Saturday before concluding the trip Monday against New Orleans.

"Listen, it's hard to win in this league," coach Randy Wittman said. "What am I taking away from this? It's a good win to start this road trip. There are things we can do better and we learn from them. But in my book there is not a bad win."

Ellis has averaged 25.6 points in his last seven against the Wizards. Rondo went scoreless with three turnovers in 21 minutes of a loss to Washington on Dec. 8 while he was with Boston after posting a triple-double in a win the previous night.