Dallas Mavericks

It just wasn't the one anyone expected.

Second-year point guard Devin Harris stole the spotlight from Michael Finley, the other Wisconsin-ex in the building, and played a breakout role as the Mavericks claimed their home opener.

  Avery Johnson talks and Devin Harris apparently listened, because he scored a career-high 22 points in the Mavericks' victory. 

Harris scored a career-high 22 points -- 20 in the fourth quarter -- and the Mavs raced past the defending champion San Antonio Spurs 103-84 Saturday night before a sellout of 20,468 at American Airlines Center.

Dirk Nowitzki added a game-high 34 as the Mavs won their seventh consecutive home opener.

In the span of three games, the Mavs (2-1) played last season's two Western Conference semifinalists -- Phoenix and San Antonio. And won both.

Don't get carried away, Mavs coach Avery Johnson cautioned. He did praise his team's defensive effort, overall physicality and how it competed.

"It's the third regular-season game," Johnson reminded. "We don't want to get too ahead of ourselves. It's a long season and we haven't done anything yet, but they kind of teased me a little tonight."

The performance of Harris, the No. 5 pick in the 2004 NBA Draft, may have been the most tantalizing. He single-handedly matched San Antonio's scoring output in the final period.

"I don't know if I surprised them," said Harris, who occupies Finley's old locker.

It certainly looked as if Harris did, as he repeatedly broke down the Spurs' defense and got to the rim. Harris didn't miss in eight shot attempts, with six baskets coming on layups.

Before the game, Johnson repeatedly reminded Harris to push the ball in transition against San Antonio to get easy baskets.

The coach added that no divine words of inspiration were shared. Just the usual pregame spiel from a former point guard to a young one.

"It's all Devin," Johnson said. "He just made up his mind. It's nothing that I really told him."

San Antonio (2-1) had 19 turnovers, 12 coming off Mavs' steals, and surrendered 12 fast-break points. The Spurs, whowere in the second night of back-to-back games, had only six points in transition.

  Manu Ginobili found out that the Mavs and Dirk Nowitzki had the upper hand, at least for one night.

"We had a good feel for what they like to do and where they like to get the ball," said Harris, whose previous high was 17 last season. "We tried to deny those easy passes. We got out hands on some of those and it contributed to the fast break."

Nowitzki took advantage of smaller defenders, such as Bruce Bowen and Finley at times, and shot 12-of-20 from the field and 4-of-5 from beyond the arc.

"[Nowitzki] tried to mix it up, put the ball on the floor a little bit," Johnson said. "He didn't set for the jump shot. I thought he posted up really well."

Josh Howard added 17 points and 12 rebounds, and center Erick Dampier (seven points and six rebounds) did a serviceable job slowing down Spurs stalwart Tim Duncan (18 points).

Finley scored only two points in his return to his NBA home of 8 1/2 years. He was 1-of-6 shooting and missed both 3-point tries.

"I would be lying if I didn't say I was nervous before the game and throughout the game," said Finley, the recipient of a standing ovation in the first quarter.