Mavericks 118, Hawks 109: Monta Ellis scored 32 points to lead all scorers in his team debut as Dallas took care of visiting Atlanta in the season opener for both teams.

Dirk Nowitzki added 24 points and five assists and Vince Carter added 21 off the bench for the Mavericks. Ellis, who signed with Dallas this summer after 1 1/2 seasons in Milwaukee, finished 11-of-17 from the floor and distributed eight assists.

Jeff Teague paced the Hawks with 24 points and nine assists. Paul Millsap added 20 points for Atlanta, which ended a back-and-forth first half with a 55-53 lead at the break.

After Dallas quickly regained the lead to open the second half, Teague scored seven of the Hawks' first nine points of the third quarter to push Atlanta back in front. Trailing 70-67 with 5:48 left in the frame, Jose Calderon connected with Carter for an alley-oop to spark a 12-0 Mavericks' run and a lead the hosts would never relinquish.

Atlanta trimmed the lead to 89-86 early in the fourth quarter before Nowitzki knocked down a 3-pointer to start a late Dallas surge that sealed the win. Nowitzki, who finished 4-of-6 from beyond the arc, struck twice more from 3-point range and Calderon and Ellis also pitched in from long range in the final 3:50 as the Mavericks cruised down the stretch.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Calderon missed his first six field goal attempts in his Dallas debut but dished out a game-high 11 assists. ... SF Cartier Martin poured in 17 points off the bench in his first game with the Hawks. ... C Samuel Dalembert grabbed a game-high nine rebounds for the Mavericks, who beat Atlanta on the boards 42-33.