22pts for Barea in win over Hawks

By espn

Jose Barea saw the shot clock running down and a small opening toward the basket.


The 6-foot guard drove down the baseline, challenged a pair of much taller defenders and spun in an improbable reverse layup with his left hand that rolled around the rim before finally going in.

It's been that kind of week for Barea.

Barea scored 16 of his season-high 22 points in the third quarter and the Dallas Mavericks held on late after nearly losing a 19-point lead, beating the Atlanta Hawks 100-98 on Saturday night for their ninth win in 10 games.

"It's just been great just being out there with the guys," Barea said. "Winning has been the most important thing. My confidence gets higher and higher."

Barea, who saw only sporadic playing time before this week, has played a key role in the first three games of a seven-game homestand -- Dallas' longest of the season.

He hit the winning 3-pointer Tuesday to beat the Los Angeles Clippers and then scored 18 points in his first start of the season two days later, a lopsided victory over Phoenix.

Barea capped a memorable week with his best performance since scoring a career-high 25 points last November 3.

"I'm a believer that anything is possible," Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said. "Would I have predicted it? No."

Barea was 7-of-9 from the floor in the third, and Dallas outscored Atlanta 33-16 in the quarter to take a 15-point lead.

Atlanta led 43-41 at halftime before Barea and the Mavericks responded in the third.

Barea scored eight points in an 11-2 run that put Dallas up 74-59 heading into the final quarter.

The 6-foot Puerto Rican guard opened the fourth with a pair of baskets. One of those was the reverse layup that brought Nowitzki and his teammates up off the bench.

"I thank God that shot went in," Barea said.

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