Mavs back in series
Chris Paul raced down the court, beating most of the Dallas Mavericks. He put on the brakes with a jump stop in the lane and floated up a jumper that was supposed to get the New Orleans Hornets within a few baskets of the lead.
The ball went in all right, and then it came out.
Things sure were different now that he and the Hornets were on the road – and the Mavs were at home.
Dirk Nowitzki and the Mavericks finally made the Hornets look like playoff novices, pestering Paul and David West to go a combined 6 for 30 well into the fourth quarter on the way to a 97-87 Game 3 victory at Dallas that puts the Mavericks right back in this series.
Nowitzki had 32 points, 19 rebounds and six assists to pull the Mavericks within 2-1. Game 4 is Sunday night in Dallas, where the Hornets haven’t won since January 1998.
Paul was supposed to change that, the way he’s changed everything else this series, becoming the first player to have at least 30 points and 10 assists in his first two playoff games. But he never came close to making it three straight, finishing with 16 points on 4-of-18 shooting. He still had 10 assists.
Spurs 115, Suns 99: At Phoenix, Tony Parker had a career-high 41 points along with 12 assists and San Antonio routed the Suns to take a 3-0 lead in their first-round series.
The defending NBA champion Spurs never trailed in winning their ninth consecutive playoff game and 13th of 14, dating to last season. They can complete the sweep on Sunday in Phoenix. No NBA team has come back from 0-3 to win a series.
76ers 95, Pistons 75: At Philadelphia, Andre Miller scored 21 points and the Sixers dominated Detroit to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round series.
Samuel Dalembert had 22 points and 16 rebounds, and Philadelphia led by as many as 24 points in its first home playoff game since 2005.
Around the league
NBA commissioner David Stern knows a court order can only keep the SuperSonics in Seattle for the short term. “Subject to all lawful orders of the court, the Sonics are moving to Oklahoma City, whether it’s the end of this season, next season or the season after that,” Stern said. … Boston swingman Paul Pierce is ready for Game 3 of the playoffs series against Atlanta, despite being body-slammed to the floor in their last win. … Washington guard Gilbert Arenas is optimistic he will play in Sunday’s Game 4 against the Cleveland Cavaliers, despite aggravating a knee injury. … Grant Hill of the Phoenix Suns has won the Joe Dumars trophy for outstanding sportsmanship in the NBA. … Philadelphia coach Maurice Cheeks was fined $25,000 by the NBA for verbal abuse of the officials in Philadelphia’s 105-88 loss to Detroit in Game 2 of their playoff series.