DALLAS -- It was a drama-filled second quarter with Jason Terry getting in the face of teammate J.J. Barea during a timeout and then coach Rick Carlisle emphatically pointing at Terry seated on the bench before tossing Terry out of the huddle.
Terry angrily removed himself to a seat at the end of the bench where owner Mark Cuban quickly met him and began trying to cool him down. Cuban again spoke with Cuban on the court during the next timeout. This all transpired at the 9:54 mark of the second quarter with the Mavs trailing the Los Angeles Clippers, 39-25. Terry remained planted at the end of the bench the rest of the way while his teammates clawed back from an embarrassing first quarter in which L.A. scored 35 points and led by 16.
Dallas hit nine of its first 11 shots in the quarter and got as close as 48-42 before ending the half trailing 54-47. Terry was the first Mavs player into the tunnel. It will be interesting to see if he plays in the second quarter. More interesting will be what's said in the locker room.
Corey Brewer got the start at shooting guard and he was one of the few Mavs who came to play from the opening tip. He finished the half with a team-high 14 points and five rebounds. He's the only one in double figures. Shawn Marion has six nine points. Dirk Nowitzki has just four points on 2-of-7 shooting in 17 minutes.
Dallas finally put a cap on the Clippers' dunk-a-thon in the first quarter. Blake Griffin and Mo Williams lead L.A.'s with 15 points apiece.