Mavs bounce back, beat Bulls 113-106
March 18, 2010
DALLAS (AP)—Caron Butler(notes) scored 27 points, Dirk Nowitzki(notes) had 26, and J.J.Barea scored 10 straight when things tightened up in the fourth quarter, helpingthe Dallas Mavericks beat the Chicago Bulls 113-106 on Wednesday night.
Dallas had three days off since ending a 13-game winning streak with a34-point loss to New York. The Mavericks bounced back strong, making nearly 70percent of their shots well into the third quarter, then let Chicago turn itinto a game.
The Bulls scored on 11 of their first 12 possessions in the fourth quarterand were within eight at 98-90 when Barea got rolling. He hit a jumper, two3-pointers and a layup to give Dallas some breathing room.
Chicago, wearing green uniforms for St. Patrick’s Day, lost its ninthstraight.
The Bulls got Kirk Hinrich(notes) back from a one-game suspension, but were stillwithout point guard Derrick Rose(notes) (sprained left wrist), swingman Luol Deng(notes)(right calf strain) and big man Joakim Noah(notes) (left foot plantar fasciitis).
Dallas native Acie Law(notes) scored a season-high 22 points for Chicago. Fiveother players scored in double figures, and two more scored nine points. But theBulls were done in by a defense that allowed at least 100 points for the 12thstraight game.
Barea finished with 15 points and Roddy Beaubois scored 11, picking up theslack for Jason Kidd(notes). He was 0 for 5 and ended a streak of 30 straight gameswith a 3-pointer, which had been second-best in the NBA. He was 0 for 4 frombehind the arc.
The bigger news for the Mavericks’ backcourt was the return of Jason Terry(notes)only two weeks after breaking a bone in his face.
Sporting a clear mask partly obscured by his headband, Terry entered to the“Phantom of the Opera” and quickly made his first three shots. He finished 4of 10 for nine points in 25 minutes.
Dallas led by 12 after the first quarter and was up by 18 after the third.Even after Barea’s surge, the Bulls made another push but it was too late forthem to finish the rally.
Hinrich missed the previous game because of contact with a ref. He mightneed to be on his best behavior from now on—he got called for a technical foulwith 2:05 left.
NOTES: Kidd appeared to have upped his 3-point streak by swishing a40-footer at the end of the third quarter. Alas, replays show he let go toolate. … Dallas has won 19 of its last 22 games against Chicago. … Rosemissed his third straight game, Deng his fourth straight and Noah his 16thoverall.
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