DALLAS – Jason Terry scored a season-high 28 points and J.J. Barea added 25, lifting the Dallas Mavericks to a 112-105 victory over the suddenly Eric Gordon-less Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday night.
The performance by the reserve guards helped Dallas erase an early 15-point deficit. The Mavs turned things around with a 23-6 spurt in the third quarter, then a 14-0 run in the fourth quarter. They wound up with their most points of the season, and their most bench points of the season.
The Clippers announced during the first half that a wrist injury will sideline Gordon for at least three weeks. He's their leading scorer at 24.1 point, eighth-best in the NBA.
Tyson Chandler had a season-high 21 points and Dirk Nowitzki added 20 for the Mavericks, who've won three of four since a six-game losing streak. It was the first time since Feb. 18, 2009, that the Mavericks had four players score at least 20 points.
Clippers rookie Blake Griffin had 22 points and 11 rebounds, but wasn't much of a factor after scoring 12 points in the first quarter. He played the fourth quarter with his left arm in a protective sleeve after being thrown down by Dallas' Brendan Haywood.
Baron Davis scored 21 for Los Angeles. Randy Foye, who started in Gordon's place, scored 15 and Ryan Gomes added 14.
Los Angeles dominated the first half, scoring at will even without Gordon. They scored 62 points and made 68 percent of their shots. All Dallas had going was Chandler and Barea.
Then the Mavericks clamped down their defense in the third quarter and everything changed. Dallas put things together on both ends of the court and Los Angeles fell apart. Shawn Marion put the Mavs ahead for the first time on a rebound-dunk with 1:39 left in the third quarter, and they would never give up the lead.
Nowitzki, who is still getting over a knee injury, was cut on his face in the first quarter and didn't have a basket until the final 2 minutes of the first half. He got rolling after that, though, finishing with some long jumpers during the final breakway rally.
Terry scored 22 of his points in the second half. He finished 11 of 22, including 4 of 7 on 3-pointers.
Barea scored 14 of his points in the second quarter. He finished 9 of 12, and 3 of 4 on 3-pointers.
For the Mavericks, this was a great way to start a four-game homestand. It also was a nice welcome for their newest player, Peja Stojakovic. He watched from the bench in jeans and had to go from wondering what was wrong with the club to wondering why they need him.
NOTES: Chandler hadn't cracked 20 points in three years. ... Dallas made eight baskets in the second quarter. Barea hit the first five, then Nowitzki hit the last three. Dallas' only other scorer in the period was Chandler, with four free throws. ... Los Angeles' 62 points at halftime was the most by a Mavs foe this season. ... Dallas' 63 bench points are fifth-most in the NBA this season. ... Things got testy in the fourth quarter. Davis threw a little elbow jab at Barea while crossing midcourt, then smacked his chest and chin with his off arm, toppling the little guard. Davis and Carlisle each got a technical foul over it.
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