DPA/Los Angeles

The Dallas Mavericks had their new guy, and the San Antonio Spurs didn’t have their old guys. Rajon Rondo had six points, seven rebounds and nine assists in his Dallas debut on Saturday night and the host Mavericks got a huge game from Monta Ellis to rally for a 99-93 victory over the shorthanded Spurs.  
Ellis scored 11 of his season-high 38 points in the final four minutes for the Mavericks, who acquired Rondo on Thursday in a five-player deal with the Boston Celtics. A flashy passer, Rondo was a four-time All-Star and won a championship in eight-plus seasons in Boston and currently leads the NBA in assists.  
“I know he’s a point guard that passes,” Ellis said. “All we have to do is move, cut and he’ll find us.” Rondo started and played 34 minutes. He made just 3-of-11 shots and added two steals as he began getting acclimated with his new teammates and coaching staff. “It was exciting,” Rondo said. “The best part was we got the win.”
“He didn’t shoot particularly well, but he did a lot of great things,” Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said. “He did a lot of things that most guys in that position just don’t do - rebounding, making plays, things like that.”
This week, San Antonio became the first team in the shot clock era to play consecutive triple-overtime games, losing to Memphis on Wednesday and Portland on Friday. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich chose to leave home 38-year-old Tim Duncan and 37-year-old Manu Ginobili of Argentina.  
In addition, “French Flash” Tony Parker remained sidelined with a hamstring strain, Kawhi Leonard was out again with a hand injury and Popovich rested starters Tiago Splitter of Brazil and Danny Green. The defending champions used just eight players and played a 1-3-1 zone for much of the game. However, they could not hold onto a fourth-quarter lead and have lost four in a row for the first time since dropping six straight from March 23-April 1, 2011.  
“I thought we were great,” said Popovich, whose team committed 19 turnovers. “(I’m) really proud of them. We could have handled the ball better.” “They were in a zone the whole game, but at the end of the game we made them come out of it by making shots and driving,” said Ellis, who made 15-of-23 shots, including 5-of-6 three-pointers, and added four steals.  
The Spurs held a 12-point first-half lead and were still clinging to an 89-86 edge with 3:51 to play after a three-point play by Italy’s Marco Belinelli, who scored 21 points. Ellis drained a three-pointer and gave the Mavericks the lead on a layup with 2:55 to go.  
Ellis answered Cory Joseph’s jumper with one of his own and two free throws by Belinelli with another driving layup for a 95-93 lead. A steal by Ellis led to a follow shot by Chandler Parsons to make it 97-93 with 1:29 left.  
After a turnover by Belinelli, Ellis sealed the win with two free throws.  
“He was the best player on the floor tonight, without question,” Carlisle said.  
Parsons had 16 points and 11 rebounds and German juggernaut Dirk Nowitzki scored 13 points for the Mavs, who have won three in a row.  Australia’s Aron Baynes collected 16 points and 10 boards and Joseph scored 14 points for the Spurs, who made 26-of-26 free throws.  

Atlanta Hawks 104,
Houston Rockets 97
Kyle Korver scored 22 points and sparked a late burst for the visiting Hawks, who have won three in a row and 12 of 13. Dwight Howard collected 19 points and 11 rebounds and James Harden added 18 and a career-high 14 assists for the Rockets.  

Portland Trail Blazers 114, New Orleans Pelicans 88
LaMarcus Aldridge totaled 27 points and 12 rebounds and helped hold Anthony Davis to a season-low seven points on 3-of-14 shooting as the visiting Trail Blazers won their fifth straight game.  

Los Angeles Clippers 106,
Milwaukee Bucks 102
Chris Paul Paul had 27 points and nine assists and fueled a late rally for the Clippers, who have won seven straight home games. “Greek Freak” Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 18 points for the Bucks, who completed a 2-2 road trip.  

Denver Nuggets 76,
Indiana Pacers 73
Italy’s Danilo Gallinari scored a season-high 19 points off the bench for the host Nuggets. The Pacers have lost 10 of 11.  

Phoenix Suns 99,
New York Knicks 90
Eric Bledsoe had 25 points and 10 rebounds for the Suns, who improved to 2-0 on a three-game road trip. Carmelo Anthony had 25 points and 11 boards for the Knicks, who have lost four in a row and 14 of 15.  

Charlotte Hornets 104,
Utah Jazz 86
Kemba Walker scored 20 points and Al Jefferson added 19 and 10 rebounds for the host Hornets, who had lost their last 10 meetings with the Jazz.



 

 

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