Dallas Takes Charge

When Dallas’ big three is rolling, not even big nights by Kevin Garnett and Wally Szczerbiak can slow the Mavericks down.

Dirk Nowitzki, Michael Finley and Steve Nash forced the fast tempo they love in leading the Mavericks past the Minnesota Timberwolves, 122-110, Wednesday night at Dallas to take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five first-round series.

Game 3 is Sunday at Minnesota.

Nowitzki had 31 points and 15 rebounds, Finley had 28 points and eight rebounds and Nash had 17 points and 10 assists.

“We’re a confident team right now,” Finley said. “We feel we can go on the court and beat any team in the league.”

Dallas also got a boost from its two late-season additions as Nick Van Exel scored 17 points and Raef LaFrentz had 14 points and 12 rebounds.

It all helped Dallas easily withstand Garnett’s 31 points and 18 rebounds, and 25 points by Szczerbiak. Chauncey Billups also had 25.

Detroit 96, Toronto 91--Jerry Stackhouse showed he can still carry the Pistons with his shooting.

Stackhouse, who displayed more of an overall game this season, scored a playoff career-high 31 points to lead the Pistons to a 2-0 lead in their series against the Raptors at Auburn Hills, Mich.

Game 3 is Saturday at Toronto.

Stackhouse made three three-point baskets in the final 5:17.

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Memphis Grizzly forward Pau Gasol, the third pick in the 2001 draft, was named the NBA’s rookie of the year.

Gasol, the first European player to win the award, received 117 of a 126 votes from a panel of sports writers and broadcasters.

New Jersey’s Richard Jefferson received three votes. Golden State’s Jason Richardson, Indiana’s Jamaal Tinsley and Utah’s Andrei Kirilenko each got two.

A Spaniard, Gasol averaged 17.6 points, 8.9 rebounds and 2.1 blocked shots.

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Philadelphia 76er guard Allen Iverson sat out practice Wednesday because of a sinus infection and received therapy on his once-broken left hand but expected to play in Game 2 tonight at Boston.... San Antonio Spur center David Robinson, who missed Game 2 against the SuperSonics because of a sprained lower back, is doubtful for Saturday’s Game 3 at Seattle, according to Coach Gregg Popovich.