Dallas holds off late Cleveland rally to defeat Cavaliers 102-97

Cleveland Cavaliers' Kyrie Irving drives past Dallas Mavericks' Shane Larkin during the second quarter Monday in Cleveland.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Cleveland Cavaliers' Kyrie Irving drives past Dallas Mavericks' Shane Larkin during the second quarter Monday in Cleveland.

CLEVELAND — Monta Ellis scored 22 points, Shawn Marion added 18 and the Dallas Mavericks held off a late Cleveland rally to beat the Cavaliers 102-97 on Monday.

Cleveland roared back from a 24-point deficit in the first half and trailed by three with 2.8 seconds remaining, but the Cavaliers were called for a five-second violation when Jarrett Jack failed to get the ball inbounds. Ellis put the game away with two free throws with 1.1 seconds left.

Kyrie Irving led Cleveland with 26 points. Luol Deng, acquired from Chicago on Jan. 7, scored 20 points in his first home game with the Cavaliers while Anderson Varejao had 18 points with 21 rebounds.

Dirk Nowitzki scored 17 points and DeJuan Blair added 13 for the Mavericks, who had six players in double figures.