For about three-and-a-half quarters, the Mavericks looked unusually lethargic on the road, unable to separate from – or lead, for that matter – the Jazz in Salt Lake City. But a big run late in the fourth, keyed by about five minutes of crunch time shutdown defense, gave them a 36-17 advantage in the quarter and a somewhat misleading 94-77 final.
Jason Terry led the way for the Mavericks with an unusually efficient 22-point showing on just seven field goal attempts.Terry joined Jason Kidd and J.J. Barea in a three guard formation responsible for the late run. Shawn Marion (13-7) and Tyson Chandler (10-7) maintained the front court, keeping Dirk Nowitzki on the bench for an unusually long fourth quarter rest.
The win keeps Dallas one game behind the Lakers in the loss column and maintains their three game cushion over the Thunder. They travel to Phoenix to face the Suns Sunday night before a Wednesday-Thursday back-to-back in Los Angeles.