Mavericks 92 Hornets 81: Game 58 Recap

The Lead
Stoudemire's impressive debut and Monta's big fourth quarter leads the Mavs to another win over the East.

Box Score 

Leaders
Mavs
Points: Ellis, 23
Rebounds: Nowitzki, 12
Assists: Jefferson, Ellis, Rondo, Harris, 4
+-: Jefferson, +16
Hornets
Points: Mo Williams, 22
Rebounds: Jefferson, 17
Assists: Stepehnson, 5
+-: Henderson, +1

Game Ball
Monta Ellis
23 points (15 in the 4th quarter), 4 assists, 3 rebounds

X-Factor
Amar'e Stoudemire
14 points, 5-8 FG, 4-4 FT in 11 minutes

Goat Horns
Al Jefferson
8 points, 4-16 FG

Play of the Game
It somehow it didn't count, but that didn't made Richard Jefferson's posterization of Michael Kidd-Gilchrist in the third quarter any less impressive.

Stat of the Game
The Mavericks defense led by Tyson Chandler held Al Jefferson to 4-16 shooting. In two games against the Mavs this year Jefferson only shot 25% (7-28).


Of Note

• Amar'e Stoudemire made a major impact in his Mavericks debut, scoring 14 points in 11 minutes including 3 dunks.
• Chandler Parsons missed the first of what will be at least three games with a sprained ankle.
• Starting in Parsons' place, Richard Jefferson had a double-double, hit 3 threes and had one emphatic dunk.
• Dirk, who had a team high 12 rebounds, sat out the last 10 minutes of the game.
• After starting the game 3-13, Monta Ellis scored 15 points in final 6:42 of the game on 6-8 shooting.
• The Mavs won the rebounding battle for a second straight game by a 49-47 count.

Grades
Nowitzki: B
Jefferson: A
Chandler: A
Ellis: A-
Rondo: B
Aminu: B
Harris: B-
Stoudemire: A
Barea: B+
Villanuvea: B

Quote of Note
 "As soon as I came down, I saw out of the corner of my eye him pointing the wrong direction, and I just -- at that point in time -- I black out and just start screaming. It's one of those things. I don't want to make a big deal out of it. I'm an old man. It happens every now and then. You get lucky once in a while."
Richard Jefferson on his dunk

They Tweeted It

Was Michael Kidd-Gilchrist in the In Memoriam tribute.
— RUSS BENGT$ON (@russbengtson) February 23, 2015

Next Up
The Mavericks (38-20), stay at home to face the second place team from the East, the Toronto Raptors (37-18).