Dallas Mavericks’ Monta Ellis (11) is pressured by San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan, right, as he tries to score during the first half of Game 2 of the opening-round NBA basketball playoff series on Wednesday, April 23, 2014, in San Antonio. AP
SAN ANTONIO — Monta Ellis scored 21 points and the Dallas Mavericks rolled to a 113-92 victory over San Antonio on Wednesday night, snapping a 10-game skid against the Spurs and evening their first-round series at a game apiece.
Shawn Marion scored 20 points, Dirk Nowitzki added 16, Devin Harris had 18 and Jose Calderon 12 for Dallas, which never trailed after the opening minutes of the second quarter.
Manu Ginobili had 27 points, Tony Parker added 12 and Tim Duncan 11 for the Spurs.
Dallas didn’t relent in Game 2 after blowing a 10-point lead in the final eight minutes of the series opener. San Antonio’s ineptness had as much to do with tying the series, however. The Spurs averaged 14.4 turnovers during the regular season, but had 15 with 3 minutes left in the first half. They finished with 22 turnovers, which resulted in 33 points for the Mavericks.
Dallas was extremely physical in the first half whenever Parker and Ginobili drove the lane, much to San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich’s dismay when no fouls were called – not that it mattered when they were. San Antonio finished 18 for 29 on free throws.
The Mavericks attacked the basket with the same intensity, finishing with 44 points. San Antonio pulled within 61-56 with 8:38 remaining in the third quarter when Kawhi Leonard made two of three free throws, but it was the closest it would get in the second half.
Nowitzki finished 7 for 19 after missing his first six attempts.