Mavericks 87 Jazz 82: Game 55 Recap

The Lead
In the last game before the All-Star break, the Mavs grind out a win behind Barea's third quarter heroics.

Box Score 

Leaders
Mavs
Points: Barea, 22
Rebounds: Nowitzki, 14
Assists: Harris, 6
+-: Nowitzki, +11
Jazz
Points: Burke, 16
Rebounds: Kanter, 10
Assists: Hayward, 8
+-: Kanter, Millsap, +2

Game Ball
J.J. Barea
22 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 8-15 FG, 4-7 3PT

X-Factor
Bernard James
9 points, 3 rebounds, 3 blocks

Goat Horns
Dante Exum
2 points, 1-8 FG, 0-4 3PT

Play of the Game
With the shot clock running down early in the fourth quarter, Devin Harris' prayer from deep is answered, as his three puts Dallas up by 10.

Stat of the Game
Monta Ellis' 7 steals were the most by a Mav since Jason Kidd had 7 steals on Feb. 17, 2010.

Of Note

• Ellis played 37 minutes despite a hip injury that caused him to leave Monday's game in the first quarter.
• Tyson Chandler missed the game with an ankle injury. Bernard James, who signed a 10 day contract earlier in the day, helped fill in the void with 9 points, 3 rebounds and 3 blocks in 22 minutes.
• Both teams were scoreless for the first4:13 of the game.
• J.J. Barea scored 15 of his game high 22 points in the third quarter.
• The Mavs 36-19 record at the All-Star break is the 2nd best of Rick Carlisle's Mavericks tenure behind the 2011 championship team.
• After the game Dirk Nowitzki was named to his 13th All-Star team to replace the injured Anthony Davis.

Grades
Nowitzki: B
Parsons: C+
Smith: C-
Ellis: B
Barea: A
Aminu: B
Harris: B-
James: A
Villanueva: B-

Quote of Note
 "It was good. I was out there battling with my soldiers. We needed this win. They could have got it without me, but I hate sitting on the sidelines. I went out there and tried to do whatever I could to help us win."
Monta Ellis

Bonus Quote
 "I think his fashion is horrible but then again, he tells me I dress like an old man. We think he dresses like Justin Bieber. If you're into that type of stuff, I guess vote for him [in the All-Star Fashion Show]. If you like some grown man stuff, some slacks, some button downs, then I've got him beat."
Dirk on Chandler Parsons being in a fashion contest during All-Star weekend

They Tweeted It
 

Players with 13+ All Star Game appearances: Kareem, Kobe, Duncan, KG, Shaq, MJ, Malone, Jerry West, Wilt, Cousy, Havlicek -- and now Dirk.
— Tim Cato (@tim_cato) February 12, 2015

Next Up
The Mavericks (36-19) return from the All-Star break on February 19 to face Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and Thunder (28-25) in Oklahoma City.