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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
DALLAS (AP) – After 13 years of playoff frustration for the
Dallas Mavericks, Steve Nash wasn't about to let this game -- or
this season -- slip away.
|  | | The battle between John Stockton and Steve Nash turned bloody on Saturday, but Nash got the final say with a game-winning jumper. |
Nash, playing with seven stitches in his forehead, hit a
go-ahead turnaround jumper with 22.7 seconds left and Michael
Finley added two free throws as Dallas pulled out a 94-91 win
Saturday over the Utah Jazz, avoiding a first-round sweep.
"It's a different series now," said Nash, who had 16 points
and seven assists. "We were positive and aggressive, but they're
the more experienced team and I guarantee they'll play a great game
on Tuesday."
The Mavericks led by 11 early in the fourth, but the Jazz went
ahead 91-90 with 34 seconds left on a layup by John Stockton. It
was Utah's first lead since 18-16 and it left Dallas in jeopardy of
an embarrassing end to a great season.
"I knew we needed to counter and there wasn't much time," Nash
said. "The reaction was, 'Let's get going.' "
Nash, whose head was bloodied in a third-quarter collision with
Stockton, raced downcourt and, as he headed to the hoop, spun back
out and drilled a 10-footer to put the Mavs ahead 92-91.
Stockton then fed Donyell Marshall underneath, but Shawn Bradley
got a piece of the ball and Finley grabbed it. He was fouled with
eight seconds to go and hit both free throws.
The Jazz had one last chance, but Stockton uncharacteristically
wasted it.
He threw up a wild 3-pointer with five seconds left and the
rebound, fittingly, went to Nash. Stockton stood over Nash, but
let time run out rather than foul him.
"I got myself into the air, Donyell made a nice cut and I just
didn't make the pass. That's the ballgame," said Stockton, who had
his first triple double in 171 career playoff games with 12 points,
11 rebounds and 10 assists.
At the buzzer, Juwan Howard jumped atop the scorer's table
wearing a giant grin, Mavs coach Don Nelson thrust his right hand
in the air and 18,187 relieved fans cheered something they hadn't
seen since June 2, 1988: a Mavericks playoff victory.
It was the latest in a series of milestones for Dallas.
The Mavs' 53 wins in the regular season were their most in 13
years. And now the playoffs won't end like Dallas' last trip, a
first-round sweep in 1990. And the Mavericks have at least a chance
of becoming the sixth team to overcome an 0-2 deficit.
"We have confidence and that's what you need," said Howard,
who had 18 points and 11 rebounds. "It can take you to another
level."
The Jazz, who lead the best-of-five series 2-1, took advantage
of Dallas' inexperience to win the first two games at home. The
Mavericks were unable to match Utah's physical play and complained
a lot about the officiating.
This time, Dallas initiated the contact, dictated the tempo and
left the referees alone, leaving the griping to the Jazz.
The chorus was led by Stockton and Karl Malone, who had 29
points, 13 rebounds and six assists.
Stockton, who picked up five fouls, slapped the basket support
after one whistle and stood with hands on hips after another. He
was most stunned when he was penalized for the teeth-on-head
collision that cut Nash.
Malone, the victim of a flagrant foul by Bradley and a play that
resulted in a technical foul on Howard, often beefed about
non-calls and several possession decisions.
"We aren't good enough to play against this team when we get 30
fouls and they only get 15," Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said.
Sloan was more upset that his team shied away from muscling
Dallas.
"You can't beat a team that's athletic if you're going to take
all outside shots," he said. "When you're old and unathletic,
you've got to play smarter than that."
Sloan also was upset with the final possession.
"We didn't get to the right spots on the floor," he said. "We
were coming down the floor looking at the clock like we had the
lead."
The Mavericks got off to a strong start because Dirk Nowitzki
regained his touch. The team's leading scorer in the regular season
had been 10-of-31 and 3-of-14 on 3-pointers in the series.
He scored 16 of his 33 points in the first quarter and took the
scoring burden off Finley, who carried the load the first two games
but had only eight points Saturday.
Bradley added 10 points and 10 rebounds.
The Mavs had two 11-0 runs and led by as many as 13, though the
Jazz nibbled their way back down the stretch.
"I don't think we ran out of gas," Malone said.
Game notes
Nash finished third in voting for the NBA's Most Improved
Player award, and Nowitzki tied for fifth. Marshall got one vote.
... This was the first time the Mavericks won a game televised on
NBC. They had been 0-6. ... Malone's cheering section included his
mother, who drove from Louisiana, and sister, who lives in the
Dallas area.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Utah Clubhouse
Dallas Clubhouse
Mavericks-Jazz Series Page
RECAPS
Philadelphia 92
Indiana 87
Dallas 94
Utah 91
Minnesota 93
San Antonio 84
Orlando 121
Milwaukee 116
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Don Nelson says Dirk Nowitzki did what he needed to do on Saturday against the Jazz.
wav: 127 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Danny Manning says the Jazz have time to correct their mistakes.
wav: 79 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Steve Nash says the Mavericks are confident in their series against the Jazz.
wav: 112 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Juwan Howard knows the Jazz are an experienced team.
wav: 136 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
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