Los Angeles ? Coach Mike Dunleavy knows the Los Angeles Clippers have an outside shot of breaking the franchise record for victories. He has loftier goals on his agenda, however.

So does Elton Brand, whose 32 points and nine rebounds helped the Clippers rout Washington, 116-101, on Saturday for their 40th victory of the season. The 1974-75 Buffalo Braves, whose retro uniforms the Clippers wore against the Wizards, won 49 games. The Clippers need to go 9-5 the rest of the way to equal that mark.

“You’d love to win 50 games, but we’ve got to take it to the first step – which is getting into the playoffs,” said Dunleavy, who reached the 50-win mark once with the Lakers and twice with Portland.

“I’m really more concerned with just doing whatever we’ve got to do to get in. Once we clinch a playoff position, then it’s going to be really more about getting ready for the playoffs and putting ourselves in a position to play well.”

Sam Cassell scored 26 for the Clippers, who have recorded 40 wins for only the third time in the last 27 seasons and the first time since 1992-93 under Larry Brown. Chris Kaman added 21 points and 13 rebounds.

Antawn Jamison scored 31 for the Wizards, who had beaten the Clippers eight of the previous 10 times they faced each other in Los Angeles. Gilbert Arenas, who averaged 34 points in the two games against the Clippers last season, had 17.

Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowizki, right, drives against the Atlanta Hawks' Josh Smith during the first quarter of their game in Atlanta. Nowitzki scored 27 points Saturday in the Mavericks' 98-83 victory.

Mavericks 98, Hawks 83

Atlanta – Dirk Nowitzki scored 27 and grabbed 13 rebounds to help Dallas beat the Hawks.

Jason Terry added 26 points, and Jerry Stackhouse had 16 for the Mavericks (54-16), who are a half-game behind San Antonio (54-15) for the best record in the Western Conference.

Suns 107, Nuggets 96

Phoenix – Shawn Marion scored 21 and grabbed 14 rebounds to help Phoenix beat Denver in a showdown of division leaders.

With the victory, the Pacific Division-leading Suns are in the playoffs for the 16th time in 18 years.

Kings 91, Jazz 89

Salt Lake City – Mike Bibby scored 24 and had eight assists to help Sacramento hold off Utah and put more distance between the Kings and the Jazz in the race for the eighth playoff spot in the Western Conference.