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DALLAS (AP) _ With the playoffs and a potential first-round matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers approaching, the Seattle SuperSonics are fading fast.

The way Seattle has been playing lately, it would have a hard time beating just about anyone in a five-game series.

Erick Strickland scored 15 of his 21 points as the Dallas Mavericks were building a 23-point halftime lead Friday night en route to beating the SuperSonics 117-103, Seattle's fourth loss in five games.

``It was a thorough beating that we took,'' SuperSonics coach Paul Westphal said. ``I was impressed with the Mavericks and very unimpressed with us. The Mavericks have been one of the hottest teams in the league. They've been beating pretty much everybody that they've played.''

The Mavericks posted their 37th victory, the team's highest victory total since winning 47 games in the 1989-90 season. That was the last time the Mavs made the playoffs.

``We want to win every game we can,'' Mavericks guard Steve Nash said. ``We're playing for pride. The way we're playing now is a lot of fun.''

Cedric Ceballos had 19 points and nine rebounds in 17 minutes, Michael Finley scored 18 points, and Greg Buckner had 17 off the bench for the Mavericks, who improved to 20-19 at home.

Nash's 12 points, and 10 each from Dirk Nowitzki and Sean Rooks, helped Dallas win for the sixth time in seven games and 13th in 18 games. The Mavericks had a season-high seven players in double figures and held a 57-41 rebounding edge.

``Our offense was clicking and everybody's confidence was real high,'' Mavericks coach Don Nelson said. ``We're playing our best ball right now, at the end of the season, and that's a credit to the team.''

Strickland converted seven of eight first-half field goal attempts and the Mavericks made six 3-pointers to take early control against the lethargic SuperSonics.

``That's the type of team we have,'' Strickland said. ``When we're running and hitting our open shots, we're hard to beat. Everything was going right.''

Vin Baker's 25 points, Lazaro Borrell's 15 and Gary Payton's 12 paced the SuperSonics, who are currently eighth in the Western Conference.

If the playoffs were to start today, Seattle would face the top-seeded Lakers in the first round.

The Mavericks surged to a 73-50 halftime lead, Dallas' highest-scoring half of the season. Dallas made 13 straight shots from the field during one stretch in the first half and sank 28 of its first 38 field goal attempts.

Dallas led by as many as 27 in the second quarter and shot 67 percent (31-for-46) in the first half as Buckner scored 14 points.

The Mavericks maintained their intensity after halftime and took a 105-73 lead into the fourth quarter.

Nelson sat his starters for most of the fourth quarter.

``We haven't had many games where we've been able to rest players in the fourth quarter with a big lead,'' Nash said. ``It's a nice feeling.''

Notes: Mavericks center Shawn Bradley served a one-game league suspension for initiating a fight by elbowing Houston's Walt Williams during Thursday's loss to the Rockets. Bradley was also fined $10,000. Williams was suspended for a game and fined $5,000. ... Ceballos started for Bradley as Nelson went with a small lineup. Ceballos had missed nine of the previous 10 games with a broken pinkie on his left hand. ... Dallas' 73 points in the first half were the most allowed by the Sonics in a half this season.