Mavericks vs. Wizards game recap: Washington can't hold halftime lead, fall to Mavs

Despite holding a four-point halftime lead, the Washington Wizards couldn't stop the Dallas Mavericks from mounting a comeback behind a 35-point third quarter as Dallas went on to send Washington to a second-straight loss, 103-94.

Washington guards Martell Webster, who finished with 14 points, and Bradley Beal, who finished with a team-high 22, helped the Wizards get off to a fast start at home on Tuesday night on their way to a 29-point first quarter showing.

Though the Mavericks' defense stepped up in the second quarter, the Wizards were able to keep a slight lead at half in pursuit of their fifth win of the season.

But when the second half started, the Mavericks turned a four-point deficit to a 12-point advantage in just 12 minutes. Mavericks forward Shawn Marion, who finished with a double-double, helped the Mavs get started, scoring six points in the first four minutes of the quarter. Mavericks guards Darren Collison and Dahntay Jones took it from there, combining for 11 points in the period.

Vince Carter led the Mavericks with 23 points.

Though the Wizards pulled the game to within seven points late in the final quarter on the strength of their guard play, the Mavericks held Washington off long enough to come away with a win to start their year.