Texas, May 29: The Dallas Mavericks battled back from a 19-point deficit for a 103-91 win over the heavily favoured San Antonio Spurs to extend their NBA West Conference final series to a sixth game. The result of Tuesday's (May 27) match means that the teams head back to Dallas for Game Six of the best-of-seven series on Thursday, with a possible decider set for San Antonio on Saturday. The Spurs still lead the series 3-2, but have to be concerned after yet another late-game collapse including a lopsided 29-10 fourth quarter in favour of the visitors. The Mavericks started slowly and looked to be about to go quietly after a season that began with 14 straight wins. With scoring leader and top rebounder Dirk Nowitzki again watching from the bench with a knee injury, Dallas fell 30-23 behind after the first quarter in which San Antonio hit 65 percent of their shots from the floor. The Spurs stretched their lead to 19 points midway through the second quarter before the Mavericks made it respectable with a 13-6 run to make it 58-47 at the break.


It would get better for the Mavericks, but not before the Spurs went on a run to open the third period. But the Mavericks again battled back, the quarter finishing with San Antonio up by seven, 81-74.


Dallas cut the lead to five points early in the final quarter, then to three and then just one on a Nick Van Exel basket with just under 10 minutes remaining.


With 7:30 left in the game the Mavericks took the lead for the first time, a Steve Nash feed to a wide open Raef LaFrentz making it 85-84.


Dallas stretched the lead to three, then to six with 4:00 to play. The Mavericks took it to 13 in the next two minutes as the Spurs unravelled and began to miss shots.


Michael Finley and Nick Van Exel led Dallas to victory, scoring 31 and 21 points respectively, Steve Nash chipping in with 14. Dallas was also a perfect 23-of-23 from the line. Tim Duncan notched 23 points and 15 boards for the Spurs, who got 20 more from Stephen Jackson.


Bureau Report