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Notebook Kings. Mavs savor afterglow of double-OT Game 3 classicPosted: Sunday May 11, 2003 11:22 PMSACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- More than half the country was probably asleep when the Dallas Mavericks finally put away the Sacramento Kings in double overtime late Saturday evening. Too bad, they missed one entertaining game. Most of the participants agree the Mavericks 141-137 victory was indeed a classic. In an up-and-down style reminiscent of NBA games in decades past, Dallas took 110 shots and Sacramento put up 108. Both teams shot 48 percent and amazingly only committed a combined 24 turnovers. "Well, ladies and gentleman, it was a terrific basketball game, one which the NBA can be proud of," Dallas Coach Don Nelson said. "Whether we would have won or lost it would have been a great game. You will probably see that over the years as an (ESPN) classic." In a game full of huge scoring efforts, Nick Van Exel made the biggest impact, scoring a playoff-high 40 points. He made six 3-pointers and had seven rebounds and seven assists. Despite getting his fifth foul in the fourth quarter, Steve Nash remained on the court and was instrumental in helping rally Dallas from a 12-point deficit. In 51 minutes, Nash scored 31 points and had 11 assists. Dirk Nowitzki cooled off after a 15-point opening half, but finished with 25 points, 20 rebounds and played the entire 58 minutes. "It was an unbelievable game, it was the best game I've been a part of," Nowitzki said. "It went back and forth until the end, either team could have won." It was a bitter loss to digest for the Kings, who had seven players in doubles figures and outrebounded the Mavericks 60-47. They wasted a career-tying 39-point effort by Peja Stojakovic. "Whats done is done, now we have to redeem ourselves," Kings guard Bobby Jackson said. "It was nothing like losing Game 7 (against the Lakers last year), but it ranks very high."
The Wizard shows some magicThis looked like one of those nights reserve Walt Williams would not be leaving the Dallas bench. Yet with just over nine minutes left in the game when Nelson realized Adrian Griffin had a sprained ankle, the call went to Williams with the Mavericks trailing by 10 points. It was Williams playing a huge role in the victory, finishing with 10 points in 16 minutes, including five in the second overtime. His 3-pointer put the Mavericks ahead 138-133 with 58 seconds remaining. "Walt is a great shooter, we all have confidence in him," Nash said. "He made some huge plays for us." Williams entered the NBA 11 years ago, the top draft pick of the Sacramento Kings. The former Maryland standout never developed into the player the Kings envisioned. Nicknamed "The Wizard," Williams spent four years in Sacramento. He has drifted around the league ever since, playing for six teams. In his first season in Dallas, Williams averaged 5.5 points, playing an average of 17 minutes in 66 games. Despite not playing the first three quarters of Game 3, Williams was prepared. "It was a disadvantage not playing all game, but they told me ahead of time, so I got loose and got ready," said Williams, who had four points in the previous two playoff games. "Im always confident in my shot. I was surprised I was getting that many open looks."
No sleep for either ownerIt was late Saturday evening when Game 3 finally concluded. And neither Kings co-owner Joe Maloof or his Dallas counterpart Mark Cuban felt like sleeping much afterward. It was a huge disappointment for Maloof, who looked disconsolate in his courtside seat late in the second overtime. "I didnt sleep all night," Maloof said. "I got up about 6 a.m. and worked out. I never yelled so hard in my life at a game." Cuban was naturally all smiles afterward in the Dallas locker room, congratulating anyone associated with the victory. But he couldnt sleep for another reason. "I was really amped after that game," Cuban said. "I watched an ESPN replay and didnt sleep much. I worked out this morning, then ate a bunch of chocolate." |
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