EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — All those losses in what's now the worst start in NBA history had already beaten down the New Jersey Nets.

So when the Dallas Mavericks hit them with a 49-point second quarter, the Nets simply had no fight left.

New Jersey was pounded into NBA infamy last night, falling 117-101 for its 18th straight loss to start the season.

"I think what happens is you know it wears on you," interim coach Tom Barrise said. "It's not a two-game losing streak. We play four games a week in this league and it's every day and every other day, and you know you hear it and you start to feel it a little bit."

The Mavericks made 17 of 19 shots and opened a 27-point lead in the second period, burying the Nets early in former New Jersey captain Jason Kidd's second trip back to his old home.

The Nets passed the 1988-89 Miami Heat and 1999 Los Angeles Clippers, who both dropped their first 17 games. New Jersey's next chance to end the streak comes tomorrow night at home against Charlotte. If the Nets defend the way they did last night, the skid could last a while longer.

Dallas shot 81 percent in the first half, the first NBA team to make 80 percent of its shots in a half since the Denver Nuggets hit 82 percent against the Clippers on April 4, 2006, according to STATS, LLC.

Dirk Nowitzki scored 24 points and Kidd had 16 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds for the Mavs.

Kiki Vandeweghe, the Nets' general manager, will run his first practice today and will coach the team the rest of the season.

NOTES

Cavaliers: Center Zydrunas Ilgauskas set a Cleveland record for games played (724) last night against Phoenix. It moved him past former teammate and current Cleveland general manager Danny Ferry.

Jazz: Jerry Sloan has signed a deal to return next year for his 23rd season as Utah's head coach the team announced yesterday. The 67-year-old Sloan is the longest-tenured active coach in major professional sports.