Mavericks happy to avoid Lakers

DALLAS – Dirk Nowitzki came right out and said it: The Dallas Mavericks did not want to open the playoffs against the Lakers.

They’d much rather take their chances against the New Orleans Hornets – especially after the way things went Wednesday night.

Jason Kidd and Jason Terry outplayed Hornets star Chris Paul, with Kidd earning his 100th triple-double with 27 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists and Terry scoring 13 of his 30 points during a 32-8 stretch that took Dallas from down by 11 to leading by 13. The Mavericks won, 111-98, to set up a first-round series between these teams.

“This was definitely a win we wanted to get,” Nowitzki said. “The Lakers are probably the hottest team in the West. We definitely didn’t want to face them in the first round… . [New Orleans] had a great year, but I think we match up pretty well.”

The Hornets came in locked into the No. 2 seeding in the Western Conference. With Denver winning its later game, the Hornets could have avoided the Mavericks by also winning.

Hornets Coach Byron Scott decided to go for it, sticking with his starters after taking a 50-48 lead at halftime and even after they’d stretched it to 70-59.

Kidd and Terry, however, began either scoring or setting up easy shots every time on offense. A few minutes into the fourth quarter, the Mavericks were ahead, 91-78.

David West scored 26 points for New Orleans.