Rookie Doncic, veteran Barea lead Mavs past Thunder 111-96
DALLAS (AP) — Rookie Luka Doncic scored 22 points and veteran J.J. Barea added 21 off the bench, including 16 in a first-half surge, as the Dallas Mavericks defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 111-96 Saturday night.
The Mavericks won for the second time in nine games and snapped the Thunder's seven-game winning streak after they had lost their first four games of the season.
Harrison Barnes and Dorian Finney-Smith scored 11 points each and Dennis Smith Jr. had 10 for Dallas.
Paul George and Steven Adams had double-doubles for Oklahoma City, each finishing with 20 points and 13 rebounds. Dennis Schroder added 19 points and Jerami Grant had 13.
Oklahoma City raced to an early 18-12 lead, but Barea scored 11 points in a foul-filled first quarter, including two free throws for a 23-22 lead at the end of the quarter. Barea accounted for 16 of the Mavericks' 20 points for a 32-24 lead before returning to the bench.
Dallas stayed hot, building its lead to 24 points, 57-33, before the Thunder scored the last 12 points of the first half.
The 34-year-old Barea was the second-oldest Maverick active for the game. He led the way as the Dallas bench outscored Oklahoma City's 22-5.
The Mavericks' youngest player, 19-year-old Doncic, scored nine of his points in the third quarter.
The Thunder made only 39 percent of their field goal attempts (38 for 97).
In the first quarter, George and Schroder scored eight apiece for the Thunder, who committed eight of the 15 fouls in the quarter.
Dallas outscored Oklahoma City 34-11 in the first 10 minutes of the second quarter .
Barea scored his game-high 16 first-half points in 10 minutes. George and Schroder each had 11 at halftime.
TIP-INS
Thunder: Russell Westbrook missed his third game because of a sprained left ankle. . The bench scored only two points in the first half on 1-for-13 shooting. . Raymond Felton, Oklahoma City's oldest player, was born the same day as Dallas' J.J. Barea - June 26, 1984.
Mavericks: Allowed a season-low 96 points -- 13 less than their previous low, 109 by Chicago on Oct. 22 . Led by J.J. Barea's 16, the bench provided 30 of Dallas' 57 first-half points. . Held the Thunder to 45 points in the first half, the fewest this season for a Dallas opponent. . The Mavericks shot 13 for 18 (72 percent) from the field in the second quarter, including 6 of 8 (75) from 3-point range.
UP NEXT
Thunder: Play the first of two home games against Phoenix on Monday.
Mavericks: Take a quick trip to play Chicago on Monday.
