By Dennis Georgatos, Associated Press
DENVER — Will Barton scored 31 points, connecting on five 3-pointers, and the Denver Nuggets overcame the absence of three starters to beat the Dallas Mavericks 110-87 on Monday night.
Gary Harris added 20 points, and Wilson Chandler had 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Nuggets, who were without forward Danilo Gallinari because of a left groin strain and guard Emmanuel Mudiay due to a recurrence of a lower back injury. Also missing the game was forward Kenneth Faried, who was excused to tend to personal matters.
Dallas, which was also short-handed, was led by Seth Curry and Yogi Ferrell. They had 15 points apiece, but the loss ended a four-game winning streak for the Mavericks.
Trailing by as many as 27 early in the third quarter, the Mavericks closed the period with an 18-6 run and pulled to 82-67 going into the fourth. Wesley Matthews and Curry both hit 3-pointers in the run.
The Mavericks cut the deficit to 13 with just under six minutes remaining, but Denver responded with a 7-0 burst capped by Chandler's reverse layup with 3:30 left to rebuild a 20-point cushion. The Mavericks did not threaten again.
Dallas had plenty of ground to make up after being outscored 30-13 in the second quarter as Denver opened a 59-37 halftime lead. Barton was at the center of the Nuggets' strong early showing, scoring 19 points in the first half, including a trio of 3-pointers.
