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Mavs top Jazz in home opener

Oct 31, 2014 - 5:01 AM Dallas, TX (SportsNetwork.com) - Dirk Nowitzki and Chandler Parsons dropped 21 points apiece and the Dallas Mavericks toppled the Utah Jazz on Thursday, 120-102, in their home opener.

Two nights after losing a tight game to the defending-champion Spurs, Dallas' stars made sure it wouldn't fall to 0-2. Nowitzki and Parsons shot a combined 17-of-29 from the floor.

"We were moving the ball," Parsons said. "Our spacing was unbelievable."

Al-Farouq Aminu contributed 16 points and 10 rebounds off the bench, Monta Ellis netted 14 points with six assists and Tyson Chandler scored 13.

The Mavs led by as many as 30 points and never trailed.

Derrick Favors went for 17 points and 11 rebounds for Utah, which hasn't won in two games this season. Gordon Hayward and Trey Burke both scored 16 points in defeat.

"We have to focus on the defensive end," said Favors. "We did a good job with it in the preseason, and I think that got to our heads a little bit. We thought we were a good defensive team, and now reality set in."

Dallas made its first eight shots from the floor, asserting its dominance from the opening tip. Nowitzki, Ellis and Chandler each hit a pair of field goals in the early going to stake the hosts a 20-11 lead. The Mavericks shot 64 percent (16-of-25) in the opening period and led 36-20.

Devin Harris came off the bench and scored eight of his 12 points in the second as the red-hot Mavs extended their lead to 69-44 at halftime.

Utah made things interesting late in the third, twice pulling to within 14 points, but Aminu and Brandan Wright both made two free throws and J.J. Barea nailed a jumper to make it 88-68. The lead was 20 after three.

Barea signed with Dallas earlier this week after he was waived by Minnesota. The speedy, undersized combo guard was a key cog during the Mavericks' title run three years ago before signing with the T'Wolves the following offseason.

Game Notes

The Mavs have won 21 of 23 against the Jazz at home, and six straight meetings overall ... Seven Mavericks scored in double figures ... Dallas only turned the ball over nine times ... Utah was outscored 52-28 in the paint.