Hot-Shooting Matthews, Mavericks Get Road Win Against Wizards

Wesley Matthews got hot from behind the arc and towed the Dallas Mavericks to a road win over the Washington Wizards via a score of 116-104. Matthews hit 10-of-17 three-pointers on the way to a season-high 36 points, his best since joining the Mavericks in free agency in the last offseason.

All five starters finished in double-figure scoring for the Mavericks, who shot 38-of-76 (50 percent) from the field and 16-of-31 (51.6 percent) from the three-point area.

Dirk Nowitzki had 19 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists while Raymond Felton had 11 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists. Deron Williams also had a nice game with 11 points and 9 assists and Zaza Pachulia added 10 points and 7 rebounds.

The Wizards held a 58-55 lead at halftime but the Mavericks turned things around with a 14-5 run to start the third quarter. The Wizards replied with their own run and cut the lead down to 87-84 before the start of the final quarter.

However, the Mavericks looked fresher again after the quarter break unleashing an 11-4 run for a double-digit lead and the Wizards never seriously threatened again to drop to 4-6 at home this season and 8-10 overall.

Washington, which has now lost six of their last eight games, was led by John Wall’s double-double of 28 points and 10 assists. Bradley Beal added 21 points but missed 12-of-19 shots while Otto Porter Jr. posted his own double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds.

The Wizards actually had fewer turnovers than the Mavericks, 6-16 and outscored Dallas in the paint, 42-28 but the Texas team won the rebounding battle, 50-31.

Dallas improved to 12-9 for the year and will travel to New York to take on the Knicks on Monday before a three-game home stand against the Atlanta Hawks, Wizards and Phoenix Suns. Washington takes on the Miami Heat on Monday on the road.