Mavericks rally to defeat Jazz in OT
DALLAS -- The Dallas Mavericks rallied from 21 points down in the second half to stun the Utah Jazz 112-105 in overtime Thursday night at American Airlines Center.
The Mavericks (21-32) snapped a two-game losing streak and avoided getting swept by Utah in the season series for the first time since Dirk Nowitzki was a rookie. It was Nowitzki's jumper with 2.8 seconds left in regulation that sent the game to OT.
The list of big contributors for Dallas was long. Harrison Barnes scored a team-high 31, including eight in overtime, and Nowitzki had 20 points. Seth Curry had 16 points, including a personal 5-0 spurt that tied the game 96-96 with 59.2 seconds left.
Wesley Matthews added 15 points and Devin Harris scored 13 off the bench, including the first four of overtime to put the Mavs up 104-100. Dallas never trailed in the extra session.
Utah (34-20) not only had a four-game winning streak end, but didn't take advantage of a season-high 36-point outing from Gordon Hayward. The first-time All-Star had a chance to win the game at the end of regulation with a 3-point try from the corner.
The Jazz knocked down 13 3-pointers, but went cold from outside down the stretch. Utah, which won the first three games in the season series, last swept Dallas in 1998-99.
Joe Ingles hit four 3-pointers and scored 16 for the Jazz, 14 coming in the first half. Rudy Gobert pulled down 15 rebounds and scored 15 for his 36th double-double before fouling out in regulation.
Utah's lead reached 21 twice in the third quarter, the last at 71-50 midway through the period. The Mavs began to chip away and finally tied it on Curry's driving layup with about a minute left in the fourth.
Ingles followed with a miss, but Gobert snatched the air ball and dunked it with 39.0 seconds remaining. Joe Johnson made a steal on Dallas' ensuing possession leading to another slam from Gobert.
Dallas had one last shot down 100-98 with the ball and 15.0 seconds left. Barnes missed a step-back jumper, but Nowitzki grabbed the long rebound and swished a jumper from the elbow.
The Mavs play the third in a four-game homestand Saturday against Orlando. Utah begins a three-game home set Saturday against Boston.
The Jazz took control with a 21-2 run in the second quarter and went into the locker room up 54-42. Utah drained nine 3-pointers on 14 tries in the half, with Ingles perfect on four attempts from deep.
Hayward had 16 points at the break. The Mavs were only 2 of 7 from beyond the arc. Barnes and Nowitzki each scored eight points.
NOTES: Utah PG George Hill (sore toe) didn't suit up more for precautionary reasons and to get a day of rest. "We miss George tremendously," coach Quin Snyder said. "He's been an anchor for us. We miss his shooting. We miss his defense. We miss his ball-handling; you look at our turnover numbers. Pretty much across the board we're a better team with him and significantly so." ... Dallas PG Deron Williams (toe sprain), C Andrew Bogut (hamstring) and G J.J. Barea (calf) were out. ... Jazz G Rodney Hood (right knee bone contusion/LCL sprain) is expected to be re-evaluated Friday in Salt Lake City. ... Mavs owner Mark Cuban is taking part in the NBA's celebrity game during All-Star weekend.