Now that they are back at .500, the Dallas Mavericks can move into the upper echelon of the Western Conference if they take advantage of a favorable stretch of schedule.

The Mavericks look to move above the break-even mark for the first time all season on Tuesday when they open a season-high seven-game homestand against the Los Angeles Clippers.

After opening the season with seven losses in nine games, Dallas (8-8) has won six of its last seven. The Mavericks climbed back to .500 with a 101-78 win over Sacramento on Saturday.

This is the latest Dallas has gone into a season without being at least one game above .500 since 1998-99, when the Mavericks went 19-31 in a lockout-shortened season and never had a winning record at any point. They were 11-5 after 16 games last season.

Dallas, which has made eight straight trips to the playoffs, is currently ninth in the West and hoping this lengthy homestand can get its season turned around. The Mavericks don't play on the road again until Dec. 17 in Toronto.

"We got off to a slow start, now we are at .500," point guard Jason Kidd said. "We have a two-week homestand coming up and we need to play well and get nice win streak going before we go on the road."

They open their homestand against the Clippers (3-13), who have had little luck at American Airlines Center.

The Mavericks have won four straight home games over Los Angeles by an average of 17.0 points, and 17 of the last 20 meetings between the teams in Dallas.

Dallas also had a six-game overall winning streak against the Clippers entering this season, but lost 103-92 at Staples Center on Nov. 9.

Dirk Nowitzki had 33 points and seven rebounds in the loss to the Clippers last month, while sixth-man Jason Terry had eight points and shot only 3 of 15 from the field.

Terry has been instrumental to the Mavericks' surge, scoring 20 or more points in each of the last five games for an average of 26.6. while averaging 26.6 points. He'd averaged 16.7 points in his previous six contests.

"I know what the team expects, I need to score and be a factor,'' Terry said. "Coming off the bench doesn't bother me at all.''

While Dallas is opening a long homestand, the Clippers open a four-game road trip Tuesday and play nine of their next 11 away from Staples Center.

At home on Saturday, Los Angeles defeated Miami 97-96 to snap a four-game losing streak. Zach Randolph had 27 points and 13 rebounds in his second game - and first start - with the Clippers.

Randolph, acquired from New York on Nov. 21, had finished with season lows of seven points and four rebounds in 25 minutes off the bench in his first game with Los Angeles, a 106-105 loss to Denver last Wednesday.

"We all have to play together and come out and play harder,'' Randolph said. "Being aggressive should be our key to more wins. We recognize that this season has been difficult for this team, but nothing is easy.''

Clippers center Chris Kaman, who has a strained arch in his left foot, did not play Saturday and probably won't accompany the team on this trip.