wolves/nba

Charlotte Bobcats (1-0) at Dallas Mavericks (1-1), 8:30 p.m.

(Sports Network) - After splitting their first two games of the season on the road, the Dallas Mavericks will try to avoid a second straight loss when they open a three-game homestand tonight against the Charlotte Bobcats.

The Mavericks began the 2012-13 season with Tuesday's 99-91 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers, but Dallas was then trounced 113-94 the following night in Utah.

Of course, Dallas has begun the season without superstar Dirk Nowitzki, who is recovering from knee surgery and isn't expected back any time soon.

However, the Mavericks are hoping center Chris Kaman, who also has sat out the first two games, is ready to return from a strained right calf. The 30-year- old Kaman signed a one-year, $8 million deal to join Dallas during the offseason.

Mo and Marvin Williams lit up the Mavericks for a combined 42 points on Wednesday, leading the Jazz to the rout at EnergySolutions Arena. Darren Collison led the Mavericks with 17 points and seven assists, while Brandan Wright added 15 points in the setback.

Vince Carter and O.J. Mayo scored 12 points apiece for the Mavs, who will try to win their home opener this year after starting 0-2 at American Airlines Center last season.

Dallas will host Portland on Monday before capping the homestand Wednesday against Toronto.

Charlotte finally ended their 23-game losing streak dating back to last season with Friday's 90-89 victory over the Indiana Pacers. In the season opener for the Bobcats, Kemba Walker led all scorers with a career-high 30 points and Gerald Henderson poured in 18 for Charlotte, which won in the debut of head coach Mike Dunlap.

"The most important thing was to kill the elephant and that elephant was that losing streak and get that off everybody's back," Dunlap said. "It's just one of those marks you want to clean off the board."

Ben Gordon finished with 10 points on 4-of-8 shooting, while Ramon Sessions added 11 points and four assists in the victory. The Bobcats, who had the worst winning percentage (.106) in league history last season, haven't started 2-0 since the 2007-08 season.

The Bobcats are 0-15 all-time against Dallas and they have never reached the 100-point mark versus the Mavs.