In brief: Dallas holds off Thunder for 2-1 series advantage

NBA playoffs: Dirk Nowitzki scored 18 points during an off night for both of the game’s superstars and the Dallas Mavericks built a huge lead early before hanging on for a 93-87 victory over the host Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday night in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals.

The Mavericks won for the fourth straight time outside of Dallas in these playoffs and reclaimed home-court advantage with a 2-1 series lead.

NBA scoring champion Kevin Durant struggled from the field, hitting just 7 of 22 shots to finish with 24 points and 12 rebounds.

Lightning use big rally to even series

NHL playoffs: Mike Smith was perfect in relief of goalie Dwayne Roloson and Simon Gagne snapped a tie in the third period for the Tampa Bay Lightning, who erased a three- goal deficit and evened the Eastern Conference finals (2-2) with a 5-3 win over the Boston Bruins at Tampa, Fla.

Roloson was pulled in the first period after he allowed three goals on nine shots.

Smith made 21 saves.

Carter diagnosed with brain tumors

Baseball: Hall of Fame catcher Gary Carter says doctors discovered four brain tumors after he had an MRI in Florida.

The 57-year-old Carter said the tumors were “very small” and he expects to learn more about his diagnosis when he is examined again on Thursday at Duke (N.C.) Medical Center.

• Marlins’ Johnson on DL with shoulder inflammation: Florida Marlins ace Josh Johnson has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with right shoulder inflammation.

Right-hander Jay Buente was recalled from Triple-A New Orleans and will start today for Johnson against Tampa Bay.

Johnson’s injury had not been previously disclosed.

Anton wins stage 14, Contador places 2nd

Cycling: Igor Anton broke away with three miles left and held on to win the 14th stage of the Giro d’Italia, while Alberto Contador was second to extend his overall lead.

Anton finished the 130-mile stage from Lienz, Austria, to Monte Zoncolan, Italy, in 5 hours, 4 minutes, 26 seconds. Contador finished 33 seconds behind, with Vincenzo Nibali another 7 seconds back.

Contador is 3:20 ahead of Nibali and 3:21 ahead of Anton.

• Leipheimer wins 7th stage in California: Levi Leipheimer slipped ahead in the final yards to claim the mountainous seventh stage of the Tour of California, while RadioShack teammate Chris Horner finished second and solidified his overall lead of 39 seconds over fellow American Leipheimer.

Leipheimer completed the 76-mile stage from Claremont to Mount Baldy in 3 hours, 33 minutes and 3 seconds. Horner finished in the same time.

Almagro defeats Hanescu to win Nice

Tennis: At Nice, France, Nicolas Almagro of Spain rallied past Victor Hanescu of Romania 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-3 in the Open de Nice final to earn his 10th career singles title.

Almagro improved to 4-0 against Hanescu in completing his preparation for the French Open, which begins today in Paris. Of his 31 wins this season, 24 have been on clay.

• Wozniacki tops Peng in Brussels final: Top-ranked Caroline Wozniacki overcame a thigh injury to defeat Peng Shuai 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 and win the inaugural Brussels Open.

Wozniacki won her fourth tournament this year, despite needing medical treatment on her left thigh in the third set.

She played the rest of the match with tape on her leg but said it wouldn’t affect her opener at the French Open.

Donald, Kaymer set for match play semis

Golf: Luke Donald will meet Martin Kaymer in the semifinals of the World Match Play Championship today in Casares, Spain, with the No. 1 spot firmly in their sights after the elimination of top-ranked Lee Westwood, who lost to England’s Ian Poulter.

Donald (No. 2) beat Johan Edfors and Charl Schwartzel, while Kaymer (No. 3) ousted Alvaro Quiros and Soren Kjeldsen. Belgium’s Nicolas Colsaerts, ranked 108th, will play Poulter in the other semifinal.

• Toms blows 7-shot lead; Wi now tops: Charlie Wi made a 32-foot birdie putt on the par-3 16th hole at Colonial, taking the lead after playing partner David Toms blew a seven-stroke advantage in the third round at Fort Worth, Texas.

Wi finished with a 4-under-par 66 to get to 13-under 203, a stroke better than Toms (74) and four ahead of John Senden (70).

• Americans roll at Sybase Match Play: Angela Stanford birdied four of the final five holes to beat Paula Creamer 2-up and set up an all-America semifinal with Cristie Kerr in the Sybase Match Play Championship in Gladstone, N.J. Top-seeded Na Yeon Choi will face No. 3 Suzann Pettersen in the other semifinal this morning at Hamilton Farm Golf Club, with the final to follow.

Cleverly defends title against Kuziemski

Miscellany: Nathan Cleverly easily defended his WBO light heavyweight title in London when his fight against Aleksy Kuziemski was stopped in the fourth round because of a cut on his opponent’s face.

Cleverly had already bloodied Kuziemski’s (7-7-1) nose when a cut opened up above the challenger’s left eye from what seemed to be a right hand. Cleverly improved to 21-0 with 10 knockouts.

• Attack blank Ice at Memorial Cup: Robby Mignardi scored twice, Jordan Binnington stopped 29 shots and the Owen Sound Attack (CHL) shut out the Kootenay Ice (WHL) 5-0 in the first game for both teams at the Memorial Cup in Mississauga, Ontario.

Kootenay faces the host St. Michael’s Majors today.

• Germany’s Heidler sets hammer mark: Betty Heidler of Germany set a world record in the hammer throw with an effort of 79.42 meters at a small meet for throwing events in Halle, Germany, improving on the mark of Anita Wlodarczyk of Poland by 1.12 meters.