Mavs build big lead, hold off Thunder

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Dirk Nowitzki scored 18 points during an off night for both of the game's superstars, and the Dallas Mavericks built a huge lead early before hanging on for a 93-87 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder Saturday night to take a 2-1 lead in the Western Conference finals.

The Mavericks, who tied with Miami for the league's best road record during the regular season, won for the fourth straight time outside Dallas in these playoffs and reclaimed home-court advantage just two nights after letting it get away in Game 2.

Nowitzki went 7-for-21 from the field but Dallas still called on him in the clutch to hold off Oklahoma City's late charge.

"He's the best, even if he's not making shots early, he wants the ball to make a play," Dallas guard Jason Kidd said.

NBA scoring champion Kevin Durant also struggled from the field, just 7-for-22 to finish with 24 points and 12 rebounds. Russell Westbrook responded to a fourth-quarter benching with 30 points, helping the Thunder rally from 23 points down to make it interesting in the final minutes.

Dallas had already blown a 23-point lead in the final 13 minutes in the first round at Portland, and led by 22 with 17 minutes to go this time.

Even with Nowitzki struggling, the Mavericks leaned on the big German with the Thunder closing the gap. Nowitzki got the ball on 10 of 11 possessions and scored just three times, but it was enough to keep Oklahoma City at bay.

Westbrook and Daequan Cook each missed three-pointers that could've gotten the Thunder within three, and Westbrook then lost the ball out of bounds before Jason Terry's jumper stretched the advantage to 86-78 with 1:42 remaining.