Dallas (22-17) finds itself in an unfamiliar place, sitting ninth in the Western Conference - one game back of the eighth and final playoff spot. The Mavericks dropped five in a row as part of a 2-7 start, but followed that by winning 20 of their next 26 prior to the current skid.

With that fresh in their minds, the Mavericks hope for another successful turnaround.

"Stay at it," first-year Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said. "These guys are professionals and they're competitive. It's got to be a team effort. Everybody can do something better to help us through this. That's what we're going to do."

They can start against Utah (24-16) before heading out on a four-game road swing versus Eastern Conference clubs. Though they have won five of their last six games overall, the Jazz won 101-91 at Memphis on Friday to snap a five-game road losing streak.

Utah is 8-12 away from home and has lost two in a row and 11 of its 13 games at Dallas. That history could benefit the Mavericks, who had their five-game home winning streak snapped in a 104-97 loss to New Orleans on Wednesday.

"I think the main thing is we've got to keep our spirits up somehow, as frustrating as it is," Dallas forward Dirk Nowitzki said. "We want to work. We want to get better. That's the only way it's going to work."

Jason Terry scored 28 points while Nowitzki added 20 with 13 rebounds Wednesday for Dallas, which shot 50.0 percent, but allowed more than 100 points for the sixth time in nine contests.

With forward Josh Howard likely to miss a fourth straight game Saturday because of a wrist injury, Nowitzki and Terry will be asked to continue to carry the load. Terry is averaging a career-high 20.5 points, while Nowitzki has scored 64 and pulled down 27 rebounds combined in his last two contests.

Terry had 26 in the Mavericks' 97-88 loss at Utah on Dec. 26 and is averaging 22.7 on 51.1-percent shooting in his last three games versus the Jazz.

Some depth could be on the way after the Mavericks acquired swingman Matt Carroll from Charlotte on Friday in exchange for reserve 7-footer DeSagana Diop.

The deal came the same day owner Mark Cuban was fined $25,000 by the NBA for coming onto the court at halftime to complain to Denver's J.R. Smith about throwing an elbow at the Mavs' Antoine Wright, and his conduct immediately following the Mavericks' 99-97 loss on Tuesday.

Cuban should still be courtside against Utah, which got 27 points and 12 assists from Deron Williams and 21 points from Ronnie Brewer versus Memphis.

The Jazz shot 52.1 percent to bounce back from a disappointing 114-93 loss at lowly Oklahoma City on Wednesday.

"That game (against Oklahoma City) left a bad taste in our mouths," said Brewer, who also had 21 versus Dallas last month. "We couldn't stay down."

Williams is averaging 16.5 points with 10.0 assists in 25 games since missing 13 with a sprained ankle, and 22.0 with 12.8 assists in his last five games against Dallas.