Dallas Mavericks, Nba Playoffs First Round | featured news

Dirk Nowitzki scored 31 points and the Mavericks won a playoff series for the first time since 2006, eliminating the Spurs in five games with a 106-93 victory Tuesday night.

Three years ago the Dallas Mavericks were on the precipice of fulfilling their potential.

They held a two-games-to-none lead over Dwayne Wade's Miami Heat. They had completed a playoff run that included a Game Seven win in San Antonio (in overtime, no less) and a Conference Finals-clinching win in Phoenix over Steve Nash's Suns.

Erick Dampier and the Dallas Mavericks slapped around the San Antonio Spurs with tight defense, the return of Dirk Nowitzki’s shooting touch and the energy of their home crowd, turning it into an 88-67 victory Thursday night and a 2-1 lead in their first-round series.

Erick Dampier, the Dallas Mavericks' 6-11, 265-pound center, had a specific message for San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker after Monday's NBA playoff game.

Tony Parker had 38 points and eight assists to help the San Antonio Spurs beat the Dallas Mavericks 105-84 on Monday night in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series.