Manu Ginobili helps Spurs even playoff series with Mavericks

Manu Ginobili scored 23 points, Boris Diaw hit a go-ahead three-pointer in the final minute and the San Antonio Spurs held off a second-half surge by Dallas to beat the Mavericks, 93-89, Monday night in Dallas to tie the teams’ first-round NBA playoff series at two games apiece.

The Spurs, seeded No. 1 in the Western Conference, regained the home-court advantage by getting a split of two games in Dallas, matching what the eighth-seeded Mavericks did in San Antonio.

The Spurs led by 20 points in the third quarter of Game 4 before the Mavericks pulled even midway through the fourth. The score was still tied when Diaw hit from long range over Dirk Nowitzki at the top of the key for a 90-87 lead.

Monta Ellis led Dallas with 20 points but missed two potential tying shots after Diaw’s basket.

Game 5 is Wednesday night in San Antonio.

Nowitzki, who had 19 points and was held under 20 in a fourth straight playoff game for the first time since his first postseason in 2001, had a put-back on a missed three-point shot by Ellis to get the Mavericks within 90-89. But they let nearly 10 seconds run off before fouling Ginobili with 10 seconds left.

Ginobili missed one of the free throws, giving Ellis a chance to tie it on a driving layup two nights after Vince Carter hit a buzzer-beating three-pointer for a one-point Dallas win in Game 3. Ellis’ shot rimmed out, and Ginobili hit two more free throws to clinch the win.

Tim Duncan and Tiago Splitter had double-doubles for the Spurs, with Duncan getting 14 points and 10 rebounds and Splitter adding 10 points and 12 boards. Diaw finished with 17 points.

Atlanta 107, at Indiana 97: Mike Scott made five three-pointers during a 30-6 second-quarter run and the Hawks fended off a furious fourth-quarter rally to beat the top-seeded Pacers and take a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series.

Atlanta can clinch the first-round series with a victory at home Thursday.

Scott scored all 17 of his points in a 12-minute stretch when Atlanta shot 13 for 16 from the field and outscored Indiana 41-19 for a 61-40 halftime lead. The Hawks and the 1970 Milwaukee Bucks are the only road teams in the shot-clock era to score at least 40 points and give up fewer than 20 in any quarter of a playoff game.

Shelvin Mack led the eighth-seeded Hawks with 20 points. Paul George scored 26 for Indiana, which got as close as eight points in the final minute.

Miami 109, at Charlotte 98: LeBron James scored 31 points, and the Heat completed a first-round sweep of the Bobcats.

James scored 19 points after slightly injuring his thigh in the third quarter. He finished 10 for 19 from the field and had nine assists.

Chris Bosh had 17 points and Dwyane Wade battled through foul trouble and finished with 15 as Miami beat Charlotte for the 20th consecutive time.

The two-time defending champion NBA champions will await the winner of the Brooklyn-Toronto series, which is tied 2-2.

Kemba Walker led Charlotte with 29 points.

The Bobcats played without Al Jefferson, their leading scorer and rebounder, who had been bothered by a foot injury since the first quarter of Game 1.