NBA - Barea is the Mavs' whirling dervish [video]

DALLAS (NBA) - As dominant as 48-point Dirk Nowitzki was on Tuesday night, one of his Dallas teammates still managed to move into the limelight himself in the Mavericks' 121-112 triumph over Oklahoma City.

That player was Jose Barea, as fearless a point guard that there is in the league.

The recipient of a forearm shiver to the chest by Los Angles Lakers center Andrew Bynum in Game 4 of the Western Conference Semi-Finals, Barea was knocked down by the cheap shot, but he wasn't knocked out.

In the next game, Tuesday's triumph over Oklahoma City in the Game 1 of the West Finals, Barea had 21 points in 16 minutes.

Barea literally ran circles around the Thunder in the fourth quarter while pouring in 10 unanswered points for the Mavs.

The Puerto Rico international had three straight lay-ups, one of which led to a three-point play, and also drilled a three as Dallas opened up a 15-point lead with seven minutes remaining.

"JJ Barea in the fourth quarter ran six or seven times off the pick-and-roll and was able to get in the lane, and shoot a big three," Nowitzki said.

Even Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City's star player, mentioned Barea in his post-game press conference.

"We've got to do a better job on the pick-and-roll," Durant said.

"Barea got into the lane a few times and we just have to correct that."

Barea has averaged 7.7 points and 3.7 assists in 17.7 minutes in the play-offs.

FIBA