DALLAS _ It's hard to make any statements when you are in the Western Conference cellar, but the Mavericks at the very least on Tuesday announced that they still know how to handle themselves in a rivalry game.
With a multi-pronged attack that featured strong efforts off the bench by Dwight Powell and J.J. Barea, the Mavericks took down San Antonio, 95-89, ruining the first game this season for Spurs All-Star Kawhi Leonard.
The Mavericks trailed by two going into the fourth quarter, but scored the first eight points of the period, six of them by Powell, who ended up with 12 points and 12 rebounds in just 17 minutes.
They stretched the lead to 91-80 as Wesley Matthews and Yogi Ferrell (16 points apiece) dominated in the backcourt against Danny Green and Tony Parker.
Their getaway included as pretty a reverse layup as you'll see by Barea and back-to-back 3-pointers by Matthews and Ferrell. Barea finished with 16 points, six rebounds and six assists.
Leonard had missed the Spurs' first 27 games with a quad injury. He was limited to 16 minutes upon his return and had 13 points and six rebounds.
The Mavericks had been pulverized in two losses last month to the Spurs by LaMarcus Aldridge, who had 33 and 32 points in those San Antonio wins.
He was a beast again, but the Mavericks forced enough misses to hold him to 23 points.
The Mavericks had lost 10 of their last 11 games against the Spurs.
