Times wires
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
DALLAS — Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Kidd and the Mavericks are going back to the NBA Finals.
Nowitzki swished a go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:14 left and Shawn Marion followed with a three-point play off a steal, the pivotal plays in another fourth-quarter comeback, this one sending Dallas to a 100-96 victory over the Thunder on Wednesday night that closed out the Western Conference final in five games.
After clawing back from down 15 points with 5:04 left in Game 4, the Mavericks were down by six with 4:37 left Wednesday and rallied again, closing with a 14-4 run.
Dallas has never won a championship, and neither has any of its players. Nowitzki and Jason Terry were part of the only Mavericks team to make the Finals, in 2006. They were up 2-0 and leading late in Game 3 but lost the series to the Heat in six games.
Dallas could get another crack at Miami, which leads the Bulls 3-1 in the Eastern Conference final. If the Heat wins tonight, the NBA Finals will begin Tuesday in Miami. If the Bulls win, the series will begin next Thursday in the East winner's city.
"All I can tell everybody is, we ain't done yet," Mavs owner Mark Cuban said during the on-court trophy presentation ceremony. Seconds later, fans began chanting, "Beat the Heat," drowning out coach Rick Carlisle's on-court interview.
Nowitzki and Marion scored 26 each. Nowitzki had nine points and Marion 15 in the fourth quarter.
Mavericks 100, Thunder 96
OKLAHOMA CITY (96): Durant 8-20 4-6 23, Ibaka 1-6 0-0 2, Perkins 0-2 0-0 0, Westbrook 11-28 9-9 31, Sefolosha 0-0 0-0 0, Collison 6-9 0-0 12, Harden 7-11 8-10 23, Maynor 2-6 0-0 5, Cook 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 35-82 21-25 96.
DALLAS (100): Marion 10-17 6-7 26, Nowitzki 8-15 9-9 26, Chandler 3-7 3-3 9, Kidd 1-7 0-0 2, Stevenson 0-7 1-2 1, Stojakovic 1-4 0-0 3, Terry 3-9 4-5 12, Haywood 1-1 5-6 7, Barea 5-11 3-4 14. Totals 32-78 31-36 100.
Oklahoma City 27 28 21 20— 96
Dallas 26 26 20 28— 100
3-Point Goals—Oklahoma City 5-16 (Durant 3-5, Maynor 1-3, Harden 1-5, Westbrook 0-3), Dallas 5-20 (Terry 2-3, Nowitzki 1-2, Barea 1-2, Stojakovic 1-4, Marion 0-1, Kidd 0-3, Stevenson 0-5). Fouled Out—Chandler. Rebounds—Oklahoma City 52 (Collison 12), Dallas 50 (Nowitzki, Chandler 9). Assists—Oklahoma City 16 (Harden 6), Dallas 19 (Kidd 10). Total Fouls—Oklahoma City 24, Dallas 17. Technicals—Westbrook, Oklahoma City defensive three second. A—21,092 (19,200).
Lakers pick coach
LOS ANGELES — The Lakers have reached an agreement in principle with former Cavaliers coach Mike Brown to succeed Phil Jackson, the team said.
Brown will get a four-year deal worth roughly $18 million, the Associated Press reported.
"We've met with Mike and are very impressed with him," a statement issued by the Lakers read. "In addition, we have an outline for an agreement in place and hope to sign a contract within the next few days."
BULLS LOSE BACKUP: Chicago reserve enter Omer Asik will miss the rest of the season because of a broken left fibula.
JALEN ROSE GUILTY OF DUI: Former Michigan and NBA player Jalen Rose pleaded guilty in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., to drunken driving, admitting to a judge that he got behind the wheel after drinking six martinis and wound up crashing his SUV. The ESPN analyst faces up to 93 days in a jail and a $500 fine when he's sentenced July 27.
Conference finals
East
Heat 3, Bulls 1
Game 1: Bulls 103, Heat 82
Game 2: Heat 85, Bulls 75
Game 3: Heat 96, Bulls 85
Game 4: Heat 101, Bulls 93 OT
Tonight: at Chicago, 8:30, TNT
Saturday: at Miami, 8:30, TNT *
Monday: at Chicago, 8:30, TNT *
West
Mavericks 4, Thunder 1
Game 1: Mavericks 121, Thunder 112
Game 2: Thunder 106, Mavericks 100
Game 3: Mavericks 93, Thunder 87
Game 4: Mavericks 112, Thunder 105 OT
Wednesday: Mavericks 100, Thunder 96
* If necessary