This was the second game in a row where J.J. Barea erupted at the beginning of the fourth quarter to help give the Mavs some breathing room. On Sunday the point guard scored nine straight to bridge the third and fourth quarters, and tonight Barea scored five in a row to break an 80-all tie and give the Mavs an 85-80 advantage. Barea’s impact on this team is well-known by now, and he still routinely finds ways to make his mark on a nightly basis.
The Mavs (14-27) play the Miami Heat (12-30) on Thursday at American Airlines Arena at 6:30 p.