**BROOKLYN – Dallas Mavericks coach Jason Kidd couldn’t ask for a better belated birthday present.**
Kidd turned 52 years old on Sunday. Then on Monday, he discovered that one of his top players, Anthony Davis, was going to be able to play in that night’s game against the Brooklyn Nets.
And what a gift Davis presented Kidd with as he finished with 12 points, six rebounds, three assists and one block in 27 minutes and helped the Mavs run over the Nets,120-101, at the Barclays Center. It was the second straight win for the Mavs, who are 35-37 and will stay in New York to play the Knicks on Tuesday.
This was the first game for Davis since he played his only game for the Mavs back on Feb. 8 when he collected 26 points, 16 rebounds, seven assists and three blocks during a 116-105 win over the Houston Rockets. Unfortunately, Davis, who the Mavs acquired in a Feb. 2 trade with the Los Angeles Lakers, suffered a left adductor strain in that contest and missed the ensuing 18 games before making a triumphant return on Monday.
Davis scored the game’s first four points in less than a minute, setting the tone for what would be a very productive night for a Mavs squad that picked up 19 assists in the first half and 34 for the game. But after he beat the 24-second shot clock with a jumper to give the Mavs a 25-15 lead with 2:23 remaining in the first quarter, Davis didn’t attempt another shot until he scored at the outset of the third quarter.
It was a game where Davis wasn’t exactly trying to overly exert himself on the offensive end of the floor like he did when he made his Mavs’ debut over six weeks ago. Then again, the Mavs were in such an offensive groove that they didn’t a big offensive showing from Davis.
“We understand he’s one of the best players in the world, but he’s been out for some time,” Kidd said. “The last time we saw him against Houston everyone was excited.”
That excitement was on full display again on Monday when everyone found out Davis was going to be able to play.
Other than the inspiration Davis brought to the court, the Mavs got 22 points from Naji Marshall, 16 points and 12 assists from Spencer Dinwiddie, and 16 points and five assists from P.J. Washington. Also for the Mavs, Brandon Williams contributed 15 points and five rebounds in only 19 minutes, Kai Jones finished with 13 points and nine rebounds, and Max Christie added 10 points and five boards.
Nic Claxton (19 points, seven rebounds), Cameron Johnson (17 points, eight assists), Trendon Watford (12 points) and Day’Ron Sharpe (10 points, seven rebounds, four steals) led the way for the Nets.
The Mavs led from wire-to-wire in spanking a Nets’ team that’s 23-49 and likely headed to the NBA Draft Lottery. Dallas led, 32-15, late in the opening quarter and 32-17 when the first quarter ended.
With Washington tallying 11 points, the Mavs held a 62-48 lead at the game’s midway point and stretched that to as much as 22 points (94-72) late in the third quarter after Williams completed a 9-0 run with a driving layup.
The Mavs went on to assume a 96-77 lead after the third quarter in a game where they won the rebounding battle, 41-37.
Dallas was without Kyrie Irving (left knee ACL surgery), Dereck Lively II (right ankle stress fracture), Daniel Gafford (right MCL sprain), Dante Exum (left fractured hand), Olivier-Maxence Prosper (right wrist surgery), Caleb Martin (left hip strain) and Kessler Edwards (two-way player) for Monday’s game. However, the Mavs dressed 10 players, and this was the first time they dressed more than nine players for a game since the dressed 11 players during the March 3 contest against the Sacramento Kings.
**X: @DwainPrice**