Barea scores 29 as Mavericks beat Pistons 98-89
J.J. Barea scored 29 points (8 during a 17-0 run across the first and second quarters), and the Dallas Mavericks went on a 13-3 run in the third quarter to beat the Detroit Pistons 98-89.
It was tied at 58 when Dirk Nowitzki’s 15-foot fadeaway put the Mavericks ahead for good with 4:03 left in the third quarter. Wesley Matthews made 2 3-pointers as they pulled away to a 71-61 lead with 30 seconds left in the quarter.
The Pistons got within 77-75 on Marcus Morris Sr.’s 21-foot jumper with 7:50 to play, but Barea answered with a 3-pointer, and the Pistons got no closer than 86-83.
During clutch time, the Mavericks outscored the Pistons 6-2. Matthews scored 4 of the Mavericks’ 6 on 2 for 3 shooting.
Zaza Pachulia had 6 points and 11 rebounds.
For the Pistons, Morris had a season-high 31 points and 12 rebounds on 12 for 17 shooting, and Reggie Jackson went 1 for 7 from 3.
The Mavericks shot 45.9% from the field to the Pistons’ 38.3%. The Pistons outscored the Mavericks 16-2 on the fast break. The Pistons’ starters outscored the Mavericks 58-48 in 27 minutes together.