After carrying the Dallas Mavericks for most of the season, Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry have both struggled to find their shooting touch lately. They are going to need to step up their game, though, with another of the team's leading scorers injured again.

The Mavericks will likely be without Josh Howard on Sunday when they visit the Sacramento Kings, who are still seeking their first win of the new year.

Dallas (22-14) opened a three-game road trip Friday with a 128-100 loss to Phoenix, its most lopsided defeat of the season. The Suns took control in the third quarter when they outscored the Mavericks 40-19.

"We have to take this one on the chin and don't forget it, but move on to the next game," Terry said.

Terry's shooting struggles continued Friday as he finished with 11 points on 3-for-11 from the floor. In his last three games, Terry is averaging 10.0 points - 10 points below his season average - on 29.0 percent shooting.

Nowitzki has also seen a drop in his offensive production lately. He is averaging 14.5 points on 32.0 percent shooting in his last two games after averaging 31.0 points on 54.5 percent shooting in his previous two.

Nowitzki and Terry will likely be counted on to provide more offense for Dallas on Sunday, as Howard sprained his left wrist Friday and had to leave the game.

Howard was injured when he hit the court after going up for a rebound with 9:43 left in the third quarter. He departed in obvious pain cradling his left wrist. X-rays were negative.

"I got knocked off balance going up for a rebound and came down kind of off-balance and tried to catch myself and all the weight went on my left wrist," said Howard, who is third on the Mavericks with 18.1 points per game.

He said it was similar to an injury he had earlier in the season that forced him to miss two games - both losses. Howard also missed 11 games from Nov. 19-Dec. 13 with a sprained ankle, but the Mavs went 9-2.

While Terry has struggled lately, he has had success against the Kings (8-29).

He led Dallas with 24 points in a 101-78 win at Sacramento on Nov. 29, and is averaging 24.5 points in his last four games at Arco Arena while shooting 12-of-25 from 3-point range.

The Mavericks have won eight of the last nine meetings versus the Kings, with the only loss coming at Sacramento on Jan. 14 of last season.

The Kings have lost five straight and 11 of 12, with the only victory being a 92-90 home win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Dec. 30.

On Friday, Sacramento lost 119-115 in overtime to Miami after blowing a 10-point, fourth-quarter lead.

"It's obviously another disappointing loss after fighting so hard, having a chance to tie it up in regulation, going to overtime and having a chance to win another basketball game," Kings interim coach Kenny Natt said.

Kevin Martin had another solid game on Friday, finishing with 28 points in his second start since returning from an ankle injury. He is averaging 29.7 points in his last six games after missing 22 of the previous 24.

Martin was injured for the game against the Mavericks earlier this season, but averaged 30.7 points on 61.0 percent shooting in three games against them in 2007-08.