When Avery Johnson was informed after Friday's 103-90 victory over the Miami Heat that the Dallas Mavericks have beaten all four conference finalists from a year ago, he cut the reporter off in the middle of the question.

"It doesn't mean anything," the Mavs' coach said. "Not yet."

Maybe not, but the Mavs are marching through the NBA like a hot knife through butter. After humbling the Heat, the Mavs (9-2) have carved out seven straight wins, and flew home in first place in the Southwest Division after the Chicago Bulls upset the San Antonio Spurs 106-99.

Josh Howard registered his fourth double-double of the season with 25 points and 11 rebounds, and the Mavs added the Heat to a list of wins over last season's conference finalists that also includes the Detroit Pistons, Phoenix Suns and Spurs.

"We just want to give ourselves a chance to win, hopefully against anybody that we play," Johnson said. "So if we don't beat the top teams, then that really means in some people's eyes that we're not good enough."

Howard scored seven consecutive points early in the fourth quarter to squash a Heat rally and turned a four-point lead into an 11-point cushion. He also helped hold All-Star guard Dwyane Wade to 7-of-19 shooting.

"It was difficult," said Howard, who has a sore groin and had his sore left thumb wrapped. "You've got to be ready for guys like that night in and night out, because he's a superstar and he's going to always get the ball in his hands."

Dirk Nowitzki aided Howard with 23 points and eight rebounds, and hit a pair of key 3-pointers after the Heat cut a 15-point deficit to two. In addition, Erick Dampier took advantage of Shaquille O'Neal's absence and worked Alonzo Mourning for a season-high 17 points.

Also, Marquis Daniels poured in 14 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Jason Terry contributed 10 points and became the first Mavs player this season with double-digit assists with 10.

"I knew it was a matter of time, but those guys knocked down shots," Terry said. "We got out in transition, which helps.

"Any time you can get out in transition you've got a chance for assists, because guys are running the lanes and finishing strong at the basket."

Former Mavs forward Antoine Walker had a difficult time finishing anything. Walker missed his first seven shots, was only 1-of-13 from the field and wound up with only two points.

The Mavs, who host Memphis tonight at 7:30, took the lead for good midway through the first quarter and kept the pressure on the Heat all night. Afterward, the players followed Johnson's lead and claimed that knocking off the NBA's version of the Final Four has very little significance.

"At this point it doesn't even matter," said Dampier, who added six rebounds and two blocks. "Our main focus every night is to just go out and focus on the task at hand, and that's to try and win.

"We know we're capable of playing good basketball against a lot of teams in the league. So it's going to be up to us to go out and be focused and prepared."