The Sonics are not only entering the second half of the season, but confronting one of their most difficult stretches, facing six teams that are either championship or playoff contenders in the next nine days.

It begins tonight at KeyArena with the Dallas Mavericks, followed by games against the Lakers, Celtics, Kings, Suns and Blazers.

The Mavs arrive at 35-14, looking to extend their club record to eight consecutive victories on the road. They are a freewheeling bunch, averaging 104.9 points per game, more than any other team. Dallas also leads the league in free-throw shooting (.805) and commits the fewest turnovers a night with 12.

A pair of foreigners, Dirk Nowitzki of Germany and Steve Nash of Canada, are coming off All-Star appearances in Philadelphia. Nowitzki, a 7-foot center with a guard's mobility, averages 24.4 points. Nash, who grew up in Victoria, B.C., distributes eight assists a game while shooting 50 percent and averaging 19.8 points.

Michael Finley and Juwan Howard are equally capable options, and the bench is filled with veteran savvy in the form of former All-Stars Tim Hardaway and Danny Manning, both 35.

Then there's Dallas' answer to the Space Needle, 7-6 Shawn Bradley.

The Sonics will hope for a continuation of their revitalized play just before the All-Star break when they beat Golden State and Phoenix back-to-back.

But they have not reacted well to long layoffs: The last time they had five days off between games, Philadelphia snuffed their seven-game winning streak.

At least the Sonics can call up some positive mental imagery: They defeated the Mavericks, 105-97, Nov. 20 in Dallas, a game in which Gary Payton had 25 points and 10 assists.

Calvin Booth had his most productive night with the Sonics, scoring 24 points against his former team. The 7-foot center won't be of any help tonight.

Booth, who has missed 24 games because of lingering ankle tendinitis, watched last night's practice at the team's training facility.

Coach Nate McMillan said Booth, who signed for $34 million in the off-season, might be able to practice next week and could return as soon as March.

The Sonics have persevered without Booth. At 25-23, they are in the playoff race, even if it is a back-of-the-pack battle to become likely first-round fodder.

Nonetheless, McMillan's team is exceeding expectations, and the coach was trying to tweak even more from his players last night, extending practice to 3 1/2 hours. Since training camp in October, it was the Sonics' longest practice.

For the last 15 minutes, they ran down-and-back, full-court wind sprints for every free throw missed by each player, all of whom took two attempts. Some missed both, causing down-and-back, back-to-backs.

"We tried to run them as much as possible to get their timing back and knock some of the rust off," McMillan said as his panting charges made a beeline for the locker room. "We didn't overdo it."

The Sonics will need a second wind tonight if they hope to keep up with the Mavericks, whom McMillan calls "a run-and-gun team."

Asked how the Mavs can limit their turnovers when they're in transition so often, McMillan said: "They don't pass it, they shoot it. The shot clock is not a factor with them."


SONICS VS. MAVERICKS


WHEN: Tonight at 7


WHERE: KeyArena


TV/RADIO: KONG-TV/6, 16; KJR-AM/950


RECORDS: Mavericks 35-14, Sonics 25-23. Sonics won first meeting, 105-97, Nov. 20 in Dallas.


INJURY REPORT: Mavs: F Eduardo Najera (knee tendinitis); G-F Greg Buckner (calf strain), G Charlie Bell (sprained ankle), C Evan Eschmeyer (sprained ankle) and F Donnell Harvey (sprained ankle) are out. Sonics: C Calvin Booth (ankle tendinitis) is out.


SCOUTING REPORT: Mavs, who have won 23 of their past 28 games, could challenge Sacramento and L.A. Lakers for best regular-season record. They lead the Midwest Division. Along with the big three of Dirk Nowitzki, Steve Nash and Michael Finley, Juwan Howard is averaging 18.4 points and 10.4 rebounds over his past eight games. Mavs have best road record in NBA at 17-7. Currently No. 2 seed in West, Dallas could face Sonics in the first round of the playoffs; Nate McMillan's team is No. 7.


OUTLOOK: For the Sonics, it figures to be a long evening. Homecourt is not an advantage against the Mavericks, who play well everywhere. Gary Payton could lead his team to an upset, but Sonics will need more output from their bench: Desmond Mason has made only 19 of his past 54 shots.


LINE: Pick'em


P-I PICK: Mavs, 110-101