TONIGHT: The Denver Nuggets (1-3) face the Dallas Mavericks (4-1) in a 6:40 game at the American Airlines Center in Dallas.

BROADCAST: No television. Radio on KKFN (950 am) with Jerry Schemmel; pregame begins at 6:15.

THE SERIES: Dallas has gone 3-1 against Denver each of the last two seasons, and four of the last five. The Nuggets have lost eight straight games in Dallas, with their last win there coming April 19, 1997.

KEY MATCHUP: Denver's Tariq Abdul-Wahad vs. Dallas' Michael Finley or Dirk Nowitzki. Abdul-Wahad proved quite effective in stopping Nowitzki during a preseason game, but this is the real deal now, and both Finley and Nowitzki can put up big numbers in a hurry.