2011 NBA Playoffs: Dallas Mavericks Rally, Shock L.A. Lakers in Game 3 Victory
The Los Angeles Lakers haven't dominated the league like they normally do this year, taking out the New Orleans Hornets in six games, instead of four or five, like everyone expected. Once they fell behind 2-0 to Dallas, though, everyone knew the Lakers would have to stage some kind of improbable comeback. They couldn't give up Game 3 and 4!
They gave up Game 3.
Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry were instrumental in Dallas's eight-point fourth quarter rally as Dallas somehow beat the Lakers 98-92. Terry scored seven points in the final two minutes, and Nowitzki had the go-ahead basket with 1:23 left.
Dirk scored 32 in this game, Terry scored 23 and Peja Stojakovic scored 15. Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom led a Lakers squad that was beat up from their two losses at the Staples Center, and it showed. Well, it showed in Kobe.
The Lakers star finished with 17 points, and in a game that the Lakers just barely lost? They need more contributions from Bryant, who has averaged 25.3 PPG in this series. He has only averaged 20 points per game in Games 2 and 3, scoring 23 in Game 2 and 17 in Game 3.
Dallas trailed 81-73 midway through the fourth quarter, and 72-66 at the start of the quarter. Stojakovic got going for the Mavericks, though, by knocking down a triple from the top of the key early in the fourth, another midway through the quarter and another late in the quarter. Peja scored 11 of his 15 in the fourth quarter.
It looked like Kobe's contribution wouldn't matter, as he had 15 when L.A. went up 85-78. Bryant scored another bucket to give the Lake Show an 87-81 lead, but that was all Kobe could give the team that pays him almost $25 million a year.
With the Mavericks down 85-78, Dirk stepped up from the left wing and knocked down a triple. Kobe answered with a jumper of his own, giving L.A. the 87-81 lead, but like I said, that was all from Kobe. Still, when Pau Gasol drew a charge on Dirk with just over four minutes left, it looked like the win L.A. so desperately needed would be given to them.
Kobe is known for being clutch, right? Even though the Lake Show had blown a 16-point lead in Game 1, it still looked like the Lakers had learned from that and would hold on. But when Kobe is off, even a million rebounds won't help. It seemed like the Lakers got a million rebounds, and they got them when they wanted (they were out-rebounded by two boards).
On the next Maverick possession, Nowitzki drove in and made a pass to Stojakovic in traffic. Stojakovic shot from the right wing, and it went right through the hoop. A pair of free throws from Jason Kidd and Nowitzki and the Mavericks were on top 88-87.
Derek Fisher made sure that lead didn't last long, however, by making a short two-pointer to give L.A. an 89-88 lead. The next possession brought much more drama than Fisher's play, though. Nowitzki had the ball, and he passed to Kidd on the left wing. A defender was coming over to the 34.8 percent three-point shooting Kidd, so he gave it up to Terry, a 38 percent career three-point shooter.
Terry drained it from the left corner! Dallas was back on top, and only two minutes remained. Although Odom got back at the Mavericks with a short bucket, Nowitzki put Dallas ahead for good on the Mavericks' next possession. He went hard to the hole, hesitated, and put in a shot from the left hand. Dallas led 93-91, and after Terry was fouled by Fisher and made both foul shots, Dallas took a four-point lead.
The ensuing inbounds went to Odom, but he couldn't hang on to the pass, which grazed off his fingertips. Terry was intentionally fouled and made two more foul shots, giving Dallas the 98-92 win.
Game 4 is Sunday at 12:30 PM PT, 3:30 PM ET
