Mavericks hit 20 3-pointers, win 122-86 to sweep LA

Playing with passion, the Mavericks stomped the Lakers and sent the two-time defending NBA champions to an early summer with a resounding 122-86 victory before a thunderous crowd of 21,087 at American Airlines Center.

The lopsided win completed a surprising 4-0 sweep of the Lakers and sends the Mavericks to the Western Conference Finals against the Memphis-Oklahoma City survivor. Memphis leads that best-of-seven series 2-1.

Dogged throughout their history for not being able to win big games or big series, the Mavericks put all that aside with an explosive output against the Lakers. The Mavericks shot 60.3 percent from the field, held the Lakers to 37.8 percent shooting, and made an NBA playoff-record 11 three-point field goals - in the first half.

Jason Terry was sizzling as he poured in a game-high 32 points while making 11 of 14 shots, including an NBA playoff-record-tying nine 3-pointers. J.J. Barea followed with a playoff-high 22 points and eight assists, and Peja Stojakovic added 21 points while hitting all seven of his shots, including all six from 3-point territory.

It was open season on the Lakers, for sure, for the Mavericks. Dallas tied an NBA record for the most 3-pointers made in a game - they were 20-of-32 - and make quick work of the Lakers by putting the game away in the second quarter.

Terry, who converted 9 of 10 from 3-point range, outscored the Lakers in the second period 17-16. The Mavericks scored 36 points in the second quarter and went to the locker room with a 63-39 cushion.

The game signaled the end of the career of Lakers coach Phil Jackson, who had already indicated this would be his last season. Jackson finishes with 11 championships and was poised for a 12th if not for the impressive showing by the Mavericks.

"I don't think I've seen a team play to that level in a series in a game like they played this afternoon," Jackson said. "They were terrific. I didn't think we played bad to start the ballgame, but that second quarter it was like the roof fell in on us. I think I told you guys all along that Dallas is a very good team.’’

The Lakers were so frustrated that within a 45-second span of the fourth quarter, Lamar Odom was ejected for leveling Nowitzki with a shoulder blow, and Andrew Bynum was ejected for hitting Barea with an elbow. But the Mavericks weren’t flustered as they advanced to the West Finals for the first time since 2006. And when it was over, they reminded everyone that they’re only halfway to their goal of winning an NBA title.

"OK, we beat the Lakers and got out of the second round, but the job is not finished," Terry said. "From Day One when we started in training camp we set goals for ourselves and we set the bar real high. I don't want to understate the meaning of this victory and getting out of the second round, but we're back in the Western Conference Finals, and it's been a while."

Source: Fort Worth Star-Telegram