Spurs 93, Mavericks 71
Richard Jefferson scored 16 points and got the San Antonio Spurs off to a quick start in thumping the visiting Dallas Mavericks 93-71 on Thursday at the AT&T Center.
San Antonio (5-2) won its fifth straight home game and fourth in a row versus the Mavericks (3-5), who fell to 3-8 in their last 11 meetings with the Spurs.
Jefferson knocked down three of the Spurs’ 16 3-pointers and Gary Neal, starting in place of the injured Manu Ginobili, scored all his 12 points from outside by going 4 for 7 from 3-point range.
The Spurs exploded out of the gate, opening the game with a 19-4 run. San Antonio took a 55-29 lead into the half, hitting 11 for 18 from beyond the arc in the first two quarters while Dallas went 0 for 11 from 3-point range at the break. The Spurs led by as many as 28 points.
The Mavericks scored less than 30 points in a half for the first time since scoring 29 points against Philadelphia on Feb. 11, 2008.
Dallas, playing its sixth game in eight nights, shot just 35 percent from the field, 1 for 19 from the 3-point arc and committed 15 turnovers.
Jason Terry led the way with 12 points for the Mavs. Dirk Nowitzki shot just 3 for 11 from the floor and finished with only six points.
Reserve Matt Bonner led San Antonio with 17 points off the bench, including five 3-pointers. Tony Parker scored 11 points and Tim Duncan added 10 points and five rebounds.
Dallas point guard Jason Kidd left the game early in the first quarter with a lower back injury and did not return.