Sacramento, UNITED STATES, March 16 (AP/agencies) - After each of the Dallas Mavericks' seven losses to Sacramento over the past 10 months, Steve Nash insisted his team was good enough to beat the Kings in a big game.
The All-Star point guard hit a game-tying 3-pointer with 2.5 seconds left in regulation, then scored 12 points in overtime as Dallas defeated Sacramento 129-123 Sunday - avoiding a season sweep by another prime contender for the league title.
Nash finished with 27 points and 10 assists as the Mavericks got their league-high 50th victory of the season.
Dirk Nowitzki had 34 points and 18 rebounds, and Finley scored 21 points as the Mavericks displayed all of the poise and execution many doubted they could produce against the veteran Kings.
The Mavericks were ahead all afternoon until midway through the fourth quarter, when Sacramento scored 12 straight points and brought the Arco Arena crowd to a frenzy.
Sacramento Kings forward Predrag Stojakovic, of Serbia and Montenegro, had 30 points (3P FGs: 5-7) and six rebounds, in 42 minutes. Vlade Divac scored 10 points and grabbed seven rebounds.
