Shawn Marion had a season-high 29 points and 14 rebounds and the Dallas Mavericks stretched the league’s longest active winning streak to 12 straight games with a 125-112 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night.

The Tayshaun Prince who played in January, after nearly missing most of the first half of the season, wasn't the player the Pistons had grown accustomed to.

But team officials said Monday that Parker won't need surgery, meaning he may be able to return later this season.

New looks and new attitudes on display is a post from: Lakers blog

MINNEAPOLIS -- The play of Roddy Beaubois this season and particularly of late has perked up the ears of the French Federation, which runs the French national basketball team that will compete in the World Championships this summer.

Beaubois is from Guadeloupe -- a French holding in the Caribbean -- and is eligible for the French team, which already has five NBA players. However, San Antonio's Tony Parker, out with a hand injury, has said he won't play this year.

Could that open up a point guard spot for Beaubois?

"I got a call a few days ago and they talked about coming here to talk about it," he said Monday. "We'll see when they come. But until then, I just try to focus on the season. If they come, we'll talk and I will think about it."

Beaubois added that it would be "an honor, for sure" to represent his country.

Owner Mark Cuban has never been a fan of NBA players competing internationally. He can't officially block a player from playing internationally, but he can certainly encourage a player one way or the other. He said he'd have to think long and hard about it if Beaubois gets the chance.

Parker, Nicolas Batum (Portland), Ian Mahinmi (Spurs), Boris Diaw (Bobcats) and Ronny Turiaf (Warriors) all were on the most recent French national team.

Beaubois figures to be a hot commodity for the French in future international tournaments. -- Eddie Sefko

MINNEAPOLIS -- When the win streak reaches a dozen, sooner or later you're going to get a gimme win.

Make that 26 gimmes, as was the case Monday night.

That's how many times Minnesota gave the ball away to the Mavericks, who happily took advantage with a whopping 32 points off turnovers that made a 125-112 victory seem all too casual at Target Center.

The Mavericks should be preparing thank-you notes today for the Timberwolves. Five days earlier, they committed 22 turnovers in Dallas. The 26 on Monday were the most this season by a Mavericks opponent.

"That helped a lot," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said. "We weren't necessarily doing a great job of stopping them. But the turnovers and the points off turnovers were a big boost."

The night, however, ended on a sour note as J.J. Barea stepped on Darko Milicic's foot with 2:29 left in the fourth quarter. Barea limped to the locker room. X-rays were negative and Barea said "I think it'll be OK," as he hobbled around the locker room.

It couldn't put a damper on the winning streak, however. The run is tied for fifth-longest in franchise history, and it'll be another 11 days before they face a team with a winning record. Plus, their next four are at home.

In addition, nobody has been able to slow them offensively lately. They have averaged more than 116 points in the last four games.

Shawn Marion had his biggest offensive night of the season with 29 points and added 14 rebounds. And all nine Mavericks who suited up played and scored against the invisible 'Wolves' defense.

"Offensively, I think we're in a pretty good groove with the small lineup," Dirk Nowitzki said. "Shawn's been in a groove slashing and scoring. So it's been fun."

"But we know small ball just isn't going to cut it in the long run against the big boys."

Without centers Erick Dampier and Brendan Haywood, plus Jason Terry's absence, the offense hasn't missed a beat. But defensively, the Mavericks are doing little more than surviving, the 26 turnovers notwithstanding.

They were hammered 54-39 on the boards. Of course, when the other team gives the ball away after they rebound it, it matters not.

The Mavericks never were pushed after a huge run in the first half earned them an 18-point lead. The lead never dwindled below double figures in the fourth.

Not that there wasn't drama. With 3:48 to go former Maverick Ryan Hollins was ejected for a flagrant foul, penalty 2 when he hit Nowitzki in the face. It was the second time this season Hollins has been tossed from a game with the Mavs.

"Hollins is a little out of control out there," Nowitzki said. "But we won, that's all that matters."

The great outdoors

The Mavericks are scheduled to play in Phoenix's annual outdoor preseason game in the Palm Springs area in October. The exact date of the game is undecided.

Dirk honored

Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki has been named the Western Conference player of the week, winning the honor for the second time in a row.

Mo Williams made two free throws with 9 seconds left and Delonte West made the kind of plays down the stretch reserved for James as the Cavs won for the first time in three seasons without their superstar,

LAKERS TUESDAY: vs. 32-29 Raptors, 7:30 p.m. is a post from: Lakers blog