Spurs Pull Even With Mavericks

While most basketball fans are monitoring their NCAA brackets, the San Antonio Spurs and Dallas Mavericks are watching the NBA’s Western Conference standings even closer.

That’s why their game Thursday night was so important.

With Tim Duncan scoring 32 points, and rookie Tony Parker making a big basket in the last half-minute, the Spurs beat the Mavericks, 105-102, at Dallas for their 11th consecutive victory and tied them for the Midwest Division lead.

The teams have met three times this season and each game has been decided in the final minute. Adding to the intensity of this meeting between the rivals was the fact that both were coming off lopsided victories over the Lakers.

“This is real satisfying,” said David Robinson, who had 22 points and 12 rebounds. “These last two games really gave us a chance to shoot for our short-term goal, which is to win the division. We’ve been through our bumps and bruises and now we’re starting to play like contenders.”

The Spurs let a 13-point lead dissolve into a two-point deficit with 2:34 left, then scored six points in a row, capped by a three-point basket by Bruce Bowen. After a layup by Dirk Nowitzki, Parker made his jumper to make it 100-96 with 26 seconds left.

Nowitzki, who had 29 points and 14 rebounds, made two free throws with 20.9 seconds left to get the Mavericks within two. A free throw by Greg Buckner with 19.8 left made it 100-99.

But Buckner missed his second shot and wound up fouling Danny Ferry. His two free throws with 14.5 seconds left put the Spurs up by three.

Sacramento 118, Denver 82--Hedo Turkoglu scored a career-high 31 points at Sacramento as the Kings sent the Nuggets to their seventh consecutive loss.

With Peja Stojakovic sitting out because of an injured hamstring, Turkoglu was 12 of 15 from the field in a rare start. The Kings are 25-5 when he scores in double figures.

In a warmup to Sunday’s home game against the Lakers, Sacramento appeared ready for the showdown. The Kings have the NBA’s best record at 49-19 and are 32-3 at home, also a league best.

With the Kings ahead, 94-66, after three quarters, Sacramento fans began chanting “Beat L.A.” before the fourth quarter began.

Detroit 95, Phoenix 82--Clifford Robinson scored 28 points in his return to Phoenix, leading the Pistons to their fourth consecutive victory.

Jerry Stackhouse had 23 points and seven assists for Detroit, which moved 31/2 games ahead of Milwaukee for the Central Division lead. Detroit also moved within two games of New Jersey for the best record in the Eastern Conference.

Utah 94, Washington 79--Karl Malone scored 23 points and John Stockton had 19 as the Jazz won in Michael Jordan’s first game at the Delta Center since his winning shot in Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals.

Jordan had 11 points in his second game after missing 12 because of surgery on his right knee.

Atlanta 118, New York 89--Nazr Mohammed scored 24 points and Shareef Abdur-Rahim had 20 as the Hawks routed the Knicks at Atlanta.

Minnesota 95, Memphis 93--Kevin Garnett scored four of his 25 points in the final 1:15 as the Timberwolves held off the Grizzlies at Memphis, Tenn.

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Denver Nugget forward Antonio McDyess was put on the injured list because of knee inflammation. McDyess, who missed the first 54 games of the season after surgery on his left knee, had returned to the lineup March 1.