Mavs beat up on Jazz — on and off the court

DALLAS — The Mavericks had to fight until the final seconds to beat Utah on Saturday night.

In the case of Jerry Stackhouse, the fight extended into the tunnel well after the game was over.

Nearly 20 minutes after the Mavericks' 88-81 victory over the Jazz was completed, witnesses said Stackhouse was standing in the tunnel that leads to the Utah team bus talking to his wife. Accounts varied on what happened next. But this much is certain: Stackhouse and Utah rookie Kirk Snyder, who exchanged words during the game, quickly came to blows.

Mavericks officials and security guards were still piecing together information late Saturday night. The club said it would issue a statement as soon as it was clear what happened.

But there were reports that the fight lasted up to 40 seconds. Security officials from all over American Airlines Center rushed to break up the confrontation.

Stackhouse was escorted back to the locker room by teammates Josh Howard and Michael Finley. Jazz coach Jerry Sloan was informed of the fight by a reporter on his way out of the locker room. He rushed to the team bus and could be seen talking to Snyder, who was bleeding.

The fight overshadowed the fact that the win clinched home-court advantage for the Mavericks in the first round of the playoffs.

The seven-point win over Utah wasn't as impressive as their 36-point blowout of San Antonio two nights earlier. That's being kind. The Mavericks blew a 15-point fourth-quarter lead and were extended into the final minute by a vastly inferior opponent.

"Obviously, this game was a struggle for us," said Mavericks coach Avery Johnson, who warned his team in practice and the shoot-around to guard against a letdown.

"I've been in situations like this before. I've seen coaches scream and holler and kick chairs to get the guys ready to play. Sometimes, it takes a close game in the fourth quarter for you to wake up."

It was closer than expected. Still, the game continued the team's reversal of fortunes at American Airlines Center.

A team that was booed in Don Nelson's final two home games as coach is 6-0 at home under Johnson. The Mavericks aren't just winning these games, they're dominating; the average margin of victory is 19 points.

The Mavericks retain a mathematical chance to catch the Spurs for the Southwest Division title. But that is slim.