The Ultimate Example of Teamwork: Mavericks 122 Bulls 116

A couple of hours ago, I said the Mavericks would face a test from the Chicago Bulls. They passed it with flying colors. The game should be bottled and labeled as “A True Testament to Teamwork.”

Without Jason Terry or Brendan Haywood, the Mavs overcame a 36-point fourth quarter by the Bulls to win their 11th in a row, 122-116. The Bulls usually allow opponents to make 44 percent of field goals, the fourth best figure in the NBA. But the offense completely connected as the Mavs shot 56.3 percent for the game. The 122 points represents the most allowed by Chicago this season.

With the help of 3’s from J.J. Barea, Eduardo Najera, DeShawn Stevenson and Jason Kidd, the Mavs scored 36 points in the second quarter to go into halftime with an 11-point advantage at 66-55.

This 11-game win streak is impressive, but another streak also deserves recognition. With 24 points, rookie Rodrique Beaubois set a new career high in points for the third consecutive game. As if that is not enough, Beaubois also finished with five assists and five rebounds in 34:47 minutes in a starting role for the short-handed Mavs. The Jet would be proud that the rookie has really taken off.

But this win wasn’t focused on one player but the entirety of the effort. Shawn Marion matched his highest point total with 18. Najera netted 11, his most since his return to the Mavs, including three shots from long range. The 3-point shot is one of the game assets Najera developed after leaving the Mavs. Caron Butler, who had banked one 3 since coming to the Mavs, connected three times, Kidd was 2 of 5 on 3’s.

Butler led the Mavericks with 15 of his 24 points in the first half, followed closely by Marion, who registered 14 of his 18 before halftime. After two quarters, Dirk Nowitzki bucketed 12, a pedestrian mark by his standards. After getting just one basket in the third, the Big German turned it on for 13 in the fourth and ended with a team-high 27. As if following a script, the game got too close for comfort and the Mavs were happy to have Nowitzki take it another level again.

As a matter of fact, everyone rose to the occasion. Teams with chemistry can do that.