(Sports Network) - The Dallas Mavericks shoot for their fifth straight win tonight, when they take on the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Ford Center.

Dallas posted its fourth win in a row with a 94-90 triumph versus the New Orleans Hornets on Monday at American Airlines Center, as Dirk Nowitzki netted eight of his season-low 10 points in the fourth quarter to stymie the Hornets.

Jose Barea registered a season-high 23 points on 10-of-13 shooting, while Jason Kidd had 13 points and 13 assists for the Southwest Division-leading Mavericks, who got 14 points and eight rebounds out of Josh Howard.

"The big thing is that we are winning those close games," said Kidd, whose Mavs are 8-1 in games decided by five points or less. "The big thing is that we've won a bunch of close games and that can only help us down the road."

The Mavericks are 9-4 away from Big D this season and sit 3 1/2 games ahead of Houston in the division standings.

Oklahoma City has dropped two straight and four of its last seven games, including Monday's 102-93 setback at Denver. Kevin Durant ended with 32 points and 10 rebounds for the Thunder, who will open a two-game homestand Wednesday versus the Mavs and Pistons, and are 6-6 as the host this season.

Russell Westbrook contributed 14 points, six assists and six rebounds, while Nick Collison also had 14 points and Thabo Sefolosha added 11 in defeat.

"They turned it up defensively," Thunder head coach Scott Brooks said of the Nuggets. "That's a great team over there. When they're a special team, they're aggressive."

Dallas won two of three meetings with Oklahoma City a year ago and owns a 15-2 mark in the past 17 matchups in this series.