Kings Are No Longer Alone at Top

Coach Don Nelson’s emphasis on smaller lineups is working out nicely for the Dallas Mavericks. Nothing seems to be working for the Sacramento Kings.

Michael Finley scored 29 points, Steve Nash had a career-high 19 assists and the Mavericks won their third straight game since going back to a smallball lineup, 127-117 over the suddenly struggling Kings on Thursday night at Dallas.

Sacramento lost for the fourth time in five games and fell into a tie atop the Western Conference standings with the Lakers.

“We’ve won 52 games. We’ve got to find out how we did that,” King Coach Rick Adelman said. “We have to find ourselves again.”

The Mavericks matched a season-high for points with their fourth consecutive game of at least 118 points, a mark they had reached only once in 26 games before that.

“We get more open looks, more opportunities in the open court, and it’s working for us,” Finley said of the smaller approach.

After trailing by as many as 27 points, the Kings cut it to 120-111 with just under three minutes left. But they never got closer after Peja Stojakovic missed two jumpers.

Finley made seven consecutive field goals in one stretch. The first four came in a 10-0 run at the end of the first half that pushed the Mavericks ahead, 67-50.

Coming off a season-low two points in 10 minutes Tuesday against Cleveland after missing three games because of a strained right calf, Finley made 13 of 22 shots.

Dirk Nowitzki followed a 35-point, 18-rebound effort Tuesday with 27 points and 10 rebounds for Dallas, which won the season series, 3-1. Mike Bibby led six Kings in double figures with 23 points.Chris Webber had 22 points and Stojakovic finished with 21.

Sacramento ends its Texas trip Sunday at Houston.

Portland 88, Philadelphia 82 -- Zach Randolph scored 18 points and Darius Miles had 18 points and 10 rebounds at Philadelphia to help the Trail Blazers move into a tie with idle Utah for the final Western Conference playoff spot.

The Trail Blazers have won nine of their last 12 games.

Miles, acquired in a midseason trade, had his second straight strong game. He scored eight points in the fourth quarter, including two baskets that both times pushed the lead back to four.

Willie Green had 22 points for the 76ers, whose already slim playoff hopes took another hit as they fell 2 1/2 games behind Boston for the final Eastern Conference spot.