Mavs rally by Thunder behind Parsons, Dirk

Parsons, Mavs Rally Past Thunder

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DALLAS — Chandler Parsons scored 31 points, Dirk Nowitzki added 22 with some big 3-pointers, and the Dallas Mavericks rallied from 15 down in the third quarter for a 119-115 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday.

Russell Westbrook came within two rebounds of his seventh triple-double in 10 games and finished with 24 points, 12 assists and eight boards. He picked up his fifth and sixth fouls 0.6 seconds apart while trying to bring the Thunder back in the final minute.

It was a playoff-like finish to a game that had all the elements of a tense, postseason matchup through the first three quarters. There were five technical fouls and matching flagrant fouls called on Tyson Chandler and Westbrook.

The Mavericks moved into fifth place in the Western Conference and put a little more distance between themselves, the Thunder and New Orleans Pelicans, who are a half-game apart in the race for the final playoff spot.

Even with the news Serge Ibaka is out indefinitely with right knee soreness, the Thunder dominated inside for three quarters with the trio of Steven Adams, Enes Kanter and rookie Mitch McGary, who had a career high of 11 rebounds in his first six minutes as the Thunder outrebounded the Mavericks 59-37 overall.

But Chandler sent notice that Dallas would have an inside presence late by emphatically rejecting a shot by McGary early in the fourth quarter. Chandler finished with just five points and seven rebounds but hit two free throws to put the Mavericks ahead for good at 110-108 with 1:32 remaining. Chandler was 1-of-4 from the line before that.

Parsons hit a runner in the lane for a four-point lead, and Westbrook was called for pushing off on a drive at the other end. He argued the call briefly, then quickly got this sixth foul while trying to steal the inbounds pass when he knocked Parsons to the floor.

Rajon Rondo had 11 points and 13 assists for his first double-double in those categories since Dec. 22, his second game with Dallas. Monta Ellis scored 24 and made four free throws in the final 31 seconds, after giving the Thunder an opening by missing a pair from the line.

Kanter had 19 points and 13 rebounds, while McGary finished with 12 points and 13 boards.

The Dallas bench was livid when Chandler’s flagrant foul was called on video review and replay showed him partially blocking Kanter’s shot, with Kanter falling to the court after hitting the backboard with his arm. Teammates had to pull Chandler back so he wouldn’t get a second technical after getting called for one earlier, when he made contact with Kanter after a foul.

There was little question about the call against Westbrook, whose arm came down on the face of J.J. Barea on a drive.

The Thunder, after committing five of their 21 turnovers in the first five minutes and falling behind 9-0, went up 73-58 early in the third quarter on a turnaround shot by Adams, who had 15 points before fouling out. Parsons and Nowitzki then led the Mavericks back.

Parsons started the comeback with a running dunk over Westbrook on a drive, and Nowitzki, who was 4-of-7 from long range, hit a pair of 3-pointers. Parsons hit a tying 3 in the final seconds of the third quarter and missed a chance for a four-point play after he was fouled by Kyle Singler.

TIP-INS

Thunder: Westbrook had seven turnovers and four steals, both game highs. … The previous rebounding high for McGary, a rookie from Michigan, was 10 against Portland on Feb. 27. … Anthony Morrow had 13 points. … Coach Scott Brooks said Ibaka was evaluated for possible surgery Tuesday.

Mavericks: Rick Carlisle (331-213) has a chance to catch franchise wins leader Don Nelson (339) before the season ends. Dallas’ win Friday over the Clippers pushed Carlisle past Dick Motta (329) for second place. … Devin Harris left early in the second quarter with an undisclosed illness and didn’t return.

UP NEXT

Thunder: Home against Boston on Wednesday.

Mavericks: Home against Orlando on Wednesday.

Copyright by STATS LLC and The Associated Press

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