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NBA: Kings eliminate Mavericks 119-118
One last time, the Kings and the Mavericks showed off the NBA's two best offenses ！ and one last time, Dallas couldn't make the last shot.
The Kings' final three victories in the series all came down to the final shot ！ and Dallas failed on all three tries. Nowitzki, who had 31 points, couldn't get free from Peja Stojakovic ！ again an improbable defensive hero ！ and bounced his shot off the rim as time expired.
Stojakovic scored 23 points for the Kings, who tied their franchise playoff record of 11 3-pointers for the second time in the series. Sacramento needed every one of them, since Dallas held the Kings scoreless in the final 3:22 of regulation.
All-Star Brad Miller scored 21 points in a series-high 44 minutes.
The Mavericks closed within one point on Nowitzki's putback layup with 29.4 seconds left. Bibby ran the clock down and drove the lane, but couldn't draw a foul on Nowitzki and threw the ball away.
Steve Nash got the ball to Nowitzki, who barely missed. Kings owners Joe and Gavin Maloof rushed the court in celebration while the sellout crowd roared and Mavericks owner Mark Cuban frowned.
The Kings advanced to a probable second-round meeting with the top-seeded Timberwolves, who could close out Denver on Friday night. Minnesota was the only opponent to win two games in Sacramento this season.
After three games mostly dominated by defense and bad shooting, the NBA's two highest-scoring teams went back to the form they showed in the 221-point series opener. It was easily the highest-scoring game in the playoffs this season, with both teams reaching 100 points early in the fourth quarter and never letting up.
Showing off his celebratory bigfoot walk after nearly every big basket, Bibby scored 16 points in the second quarter, making nine straight shots altogether. He added 12 in the fourth to polish his playoff reputation and win a compelling duel with Nash, who had 24 points, 14 assists and seven rebounds.
Rookie Marquis Daniels scored 19 points for the Mavericks, whose entertaining nucleus might have played together for the last time. Nash is expected to opt out of his contract to become a free agent, and Cuban can't be satisfied by a first-round exit for his highly-paid team.
The Kings knocked out the Mavs for the second time in three seasons. Dallas beat Sacramento in seven games in last spring's playoffs.
The Mavericks opened with the appropriate desperation for a do-or-die game. They led 15-2 before most fans had settled into their seats, eventually scoring 37 points in the first quarter.
But once Bibby got going, the lead evaporated quickly. The Kings made their run with reserves Miller, Darius Songaila and Anthony Peeler playing most of the minutes, while Webber didn't even get on the court in the second quarter.
Notes:@ The Kings won a playoff series for the fourth straight season ！ the longest streak in the history of a franchise that began life as the Rochester Royals. ... After struggling at the free throw line in Game 4, Dallas was 18-of-18. ... Vlade Divac, whose minutes and confidence have declined in the last two months, missed two layups in the first four minutes and never played again. ... Raiders defensive lineman Warren Sapp sat courtside. Actor Mark Wahlberg wore a Kings cap several seats down the row. |
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