Michael Finley scored six of
his 17 points during a game-turning run in the third quarter and the Dallas
Mavericks held off a late charge to beat the San Antonio Spurs 95-92 Thursday
night.
Finley's 14-foot jumper less than two minutes into the second half put the
Mavericks ahead 50-49. It also ignited the 12-2 spurt that put Dallas in the
lead to stay.
Dirk Nowitzki had 26 points and Antoine Walker had 22 points and 11 rebounds
for the Mavericks, who have won all six home games this season.
The Spurs trailed by as many as 16 in the fourth quarter before an 11-2
spurt, getting to 88-82 on Manu Ginobili's 3-pointer with 2:46 left. By time Tim
Duncan drove down the lane virtually untouched for a dunk, it was 92-90 with 18
seconds left.
But the Spurs, playing their first game in Dallas since clinching the Western
Conference finals with an incredible Game 6 comeback here last May, couldn't get
closer. Tony Parker and Duncan missed 3-pointers in the final 10 seconds.
Duncan had 30 points and 17 rebounds for the Spurs. Rasho Nesterovic had 18
points.
Steve Nash, coming off his first career triple-double, didn't get into
double-figure scoring until hitting three straight free throws after Duncan's
dunk. Nash finished with 12 points.
Even though Finley made just 5 of 17 shots, he was the difference in the
third quarter. He added a jumper and after his ally-oop dunk from Shawn Bradley,
the Mavs led 60-51.
Finley also made both of his free throws after Anthony Carter was called for
a flagrant foul for grabbing Finley's jersey on a break. Finley was upset, and
had to be separated from Carter before hitting the free throws.
The Mavericks didn't have any turnovers in the third quarter, when they
outscored San Antonio 27-17.
It was the Spurs' first game in Dallas since that 90-78 win in Game 6 of the
Western finals. They scored 23 straight points in the fourth quarter, including
three 3-pointers by Steve Kerr, who has since retired and was broadcasting
Thursday night's game on television.
When the Mavericks won 81-78 at San Antonio two weeks ago, the Spurs played
without Duncan and Parker.
Dallas got within 47-46 after Nowitzki's 3-pointer off the break just before
halftime.
Duncan's layup early in the second quarter gave the Spurs a 29-21 lead, their
largest. Dallas then scored seven straight points, but didn't go back ahead
until the third quarter.
