Nowitzki, Mavs hold off Lakers
Dallas Mavericks' Dirk Nowitzki reacts during the first half against the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3 of a second-round NBA playoff basketball series. (May 6, 2011) Credit: AP
Dirk Nowitzki scored 32 points as the host Dallas Mavericksdefeated the two-time defending NBA champion Los Angles Lakers, 98-92, Friday night to take a 3-0 lead in their Western Conferencesemifinal series. Game 4 is Sunday afternoon in Dallas.
The Lakers led for most of the game and shot 50 percent from the field, led by Andrew Bynum (21 points), Lamar Odom (18) and Kobe Bryant (17). Jason Terry had 23 for the Mavs and Peja Stojakovicscored 11 of his 15 in the fourth quarter.
Dallas trailed by seven points with 5:05 left and was getting shredded inside by a new-look Lakers lineup featuring three big men. Then Nowitzki and Stojakovic hit three-pointers, jump-starting an 18-6 rally.
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