Ellis' season-high 38 points powers Mavs past Spurs in Rondo's debut

The shorthanded San Antonio Spurs put up a valiant fight and gave the Mavericks a scare, but came up short in Rajon Rondo's Dallas debut. 

Monta Ellis was lights out, dropping a season-high-tying 38 points – including 13 in the fourth quarter – on 15-of-23 shooting from the field to propel the Mavericks to a 99-93 victory over San Antonio on Saturday. 

Rondo scored six points, dished out nine assists and hauled in seven rebounds while playing in his first career game in a uniform other than the Boston Celtics'. He also added two steals and drew four charges in 34 minutes of action. 

The Mavericks were plus-17 when he was on the court, which was the best mark of any Dallas player. The Mavericks' newest star, who was acquired in a trade with the Celtics on Thursday, received a thunderous ovation when he was introduced pregame.  

Chandler Parsons recorded his first double-double of the season with 16 points and 11 rebounds, while Tyson Chandler secured a game-high 14 rebounds.

The Spurs led by as many as 12 points and held a three-point lead with under four minutes to play, but Ellis's strong finish – he scored 11 of the Mavericks' last 13 points – was too much for San Antonio to overcome. 

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich rested a number of key players after San Antonio became the first team since the Baltimore Bullets in 1951 to play consecutive triple-overtime games. Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Danny Green and Tiago Splitter all received the night off, while Tony Parker and Kawhi Leonard were out due to injury. 

Aron Baynes scored a career-high 16 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for San Antonio. Marco Belinelli dropped a team-high 21 points.

The loss was the Spurs' season-high fourth in a row.