NBA Playoffs : Aguirre’s 3-Point Shot Helps Mavericks Win

Benched in the closing seconds of Game 3 of the playoffs, Mark Aguirre sulked and later demanded a meeting with the Dallas coaching staff to clarify his playing status.

Inserted into the lineup with 38 seconds left Tuesday night, Aguirre responded with a clinching three-point basket, lifting the Mavericks past the Denver Nuggets, 110-106.

The victory gave Dallas a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven Western Conference semifinal series. The Mavericks can wrap up the series in Game 6 Thursday night at Dallas.

Aguirre finished with 25 points, and teammate Rolando Blackman scored 24, including 18 in the second half.

“I wasn’t conscious of where I was when I shot the three,” Aguirre said. “I didn’t even look down at the floor. Brad (Davis) dished it off, and I felt a good rhythm. It was the kind of shot you’re obligated to take.”

Of Aguirre’s clutch basket from the right side with 19 seconds remaining, Maverick Coach John MacLeod said: “It tickled me. It was a shot in the arm for him. I put him in, and fortunately, he stroked it. I’m happy for him.”

Denver Coach Doug Moe said seven missed free throws in the final seven minutes “ended up killing us. We’re a good free-throw shooting team. It was a fluke.

“Dallas hit some difficult shots when they had to. Our guys gave it their best shot, that’s all you can ask.”

Dallas ran off seven straight points early in the final quarter to take an 87-80 advantage, but Denver countered with a six-point run.

The Nuggets pulled into a 95-95 tie on Michael Adams’ layup with 4:05 remaining. Blackman then hit two free throws and a basket in the lane to give the Mavericks the lead for good.

Blackman’s 18-foot jumper gave Dallas a 106-102 lead with 40 seconds left. After a pair of free throws by Denver’s Danny Schayes, Aguirre’s long-range basket made it 109-104.

Roy Tarpley had 21 points and 16 rebounds for the Mavericks, while Sam Perkins scored 17 points.

Schayes had a career-high 33 points, and Alex English got 30 for Denver, which was without two key players. Lafayette Lever and Jay Vincent, the team’s second- and third-leading scorers in the playoffs, missed their second straight games with injuries.

Lever will not play in Thursday night’s game, but Vincent’s status was undetermined.

Dallas’ bench outscored Denver’s, 40-14.