It’s one day late, but Maverick fans may have something to get excited about as the Mavs decisively beat the Cavilers on Sunday night, 104-95, to stop a three-game slide.
Although Dirk Nowitzki remains out, Shawn Marion returned to the lineup after sitting out Saturday with a sore thigh. Marion offered up 21 points, his season high. DeShawn Stevenson also produced his season-high 21 points in a season-high 32:44 minutes for him.
Jason Terry started for the first time since early November, and it appears to have gotten the Former Sixth Man of the Year going again. Following point totals in the single digits in the team’s last two losses, the Mavs needed Terry to deliver. The Jet tallied 18 points on 8 for 14 shooting. From the very beginning, he looked like he was on. Tyson Chandler also chipped in a percent 6 for 6 shooting and 14 points. Terry and Stevenson also had their long-range shots working as Terry netted two and Stevenson an impressive five.
The Mavericks got out a double-digit lead and lost it like recent games. But what changed about Sunday was that the Mavs stayed positive and regained their advantage quickly and added to it. By the 4:47 mark of the third quarter, the lead stood at 17 points or 76-59.
Early in the second quarter, a run allowed the Cavilers to take a lead for one possession at 28-27, but the Mavs answered with a 7-0 run powered by J.J. Barea, rookie Dominique Jones and Brian Cardinal. Jones, who is back with the Mavs from the D-League, definitely showed his capabilities, posting nine points, five rebounds, three assists and two blocks.
The team is still awaiting an official diagnosis on Caron Butler’s knee, but early reports are not optimistic.
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