Spurs at Mavericks final score: San Antonio holds off Dallas 116-107

A day after San Antonio Spurs head coach Greg Popovich said his team had an “embarrassing performance” in a 111-98 home loss to the Houston Rockets on Christmas night, the Spurs bounced back, beating the Dallas Mavericks 116-107 Thursday night.

Tony Parker scored 23 points, Tim Duncan had 21 points, 13 rebounds and three assists and Danny Green lit it up off of the bench, scoring 22 points on seven-of-seven shooting, including five-of-five shooting from beyond the arc.

Dirk Nowitzki led the Mavericks with 25 points and five rebounds. Monta Ellis added 23 points and six assists, Vince Carter poured in 20 off of the bench and DeJaun Blair finished with a double double, scoring 14 points and grabbing 11 rebounds.

The Spurs took a 15-point lead with just 5:43 to play in the fourth quarter, but the Mavericks battled back, using a 12-0 run (with Ellis scoring nine of the points) to cut the lead to three. With the Mavericks down 106-103, Green hit his fifth and final three of the night with 1:59 to play and the Spurs held off the Mavericks at the free throw line.

The Spurs are 23-7 while the Mavericks are now 16-13.