DALLAS -- The Sixers kept Dallas relatively in check throughout Monday’s game, but it still wasn’t enough to avoid a winless road trip with a 97-94 loss to the Mavericks.
The Sixers finished their three-game trip 0-3, as their record dropped to 5-7.
Turning point
The Sixers led, 67-60, with 3:53 to play in the third quarter. Dallas closed out the quarter on a 14-4 run to lead by three entering the final period.
The Mavericks took their first lead of the game with 1:44 to play in the third and never trailed again.
Follow the leader
Monta Ellis led the Mavericks with 24 points. Eleven-time All-Star Dirk Nowitzki added 20 points and 10 rebounds.
Jose Calderon, who signed with the Mavs in the offseason, made four threes and finished with 14 points.
NBA
Evan Turner bounced back from a poor shooting night in New Orleans to lead the Sixers with 26 points. Tony Wroten, who has performed admirably while filling in for the injured Michael Carter-Williams, added 19 points.
Stat-egic
The Sixers definitely played their game. They won the battle of fast-break points (29-16) and points in the paint (52-26).
Take a bow
Thaddeus Young had a tough matchup defending the seven-foot Nowitzki. Nowitzki is four inches taller and his ability to spread the floor with his outside shooting adds to the degree of difficulty.
Young struggled offensively, shooting 5 of 17 from the floor. However, he was 3 of 5 in the fourth quarter.
Young finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
Young’s backup, rookie Brandon Davies, also did a nice job. Davies played a season-high 17 minutes, scoring four points and grabbing four rebounds.
What’s next?
The Sixers return home to face the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday.
The Sixers are 4-3 at the Wells Fargo Center this season and there is hope that Carter-Williams returns to the lineup against the Raptors. The rookie point guard has been sidelined for the past four games with a bruised arch in his left foot.