Spurs beat Mavericks 98-89 to go top in the West
(AP)
Updated: 2006-03-03 14:49

SAN ANTONIO - Michael Finley scored 11 of his 15 points in the fourth quarter against his former team, and the San Antonio Spurs beat the Dallas Mavericks 98-89 Thursday night in a matchup of the top teams in the Western Conference.

San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker (C) goes to the hoop against Dallas Mavericks center DeSagana Diop (L) and forward Keith Van Horn in the first half during their NBA game in San Antonio, Texas, March 2, 2006. [Reuters]

With the victory, the Spurs leapfrogged over the Mavs to the top spot in the West. The teams have identical 45-12 records, but San Antonio holds a 2-1 advantage in head-to-head play.

The win was also the 500th for Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, who took over the team during the 1996-97 season.

San Antonio led by four after three quarters, but extended that lead by shooting 11-for-19 in the fourth.

Dallas got it down to 94-89 with 46 seconds to play when Dirk Nowitzki was fouled behind the 3-point line and made all three free throws.

The Mavericks then started intentionally fouling the Spurs, who made most of them to maintain their lead.

Tony Parker led San Antonio with 23 points and Tim Duncan scored 15. Robert Horry, back after missing six games with an abdominal strain, made two 3-pointers and finished with 12.

Jason Terry and Nowitzki each had 23 for the Mavs, who had won six straight. Josh Howard added 15.

Manu Ginobili made a runner off the opening tip, but the Mavericks ran off the next eight points and their defense did a good job denying close-in shots to the Spurs.

Parker, one of the NBA's top inside scorers, started settling for jumpers after Nowitzki pinned his driving layup against the backboard early in the game.

A jumper by Keith Van Horn extended the Dallas lead to 22-11 late in the first, but the Spurs cut it to 30-29 with about 4 minutes left in the half when an emboldened Parker squeezed a layup past Nowitzki's outstretched arm.

The Mavs hit the next three baskets to make it 36-31 before Parker made a floater and then a fast-break layup to pull San Antonio within a point with 1:14 remaining.

Dallas went up 46-40 early in the third on a follow by Nowitzki, but the Spurs took the lead with a 13-3 run capped by a breakaway dunk and a runner by Nazr Mohammed.

Nowitzki, defended by Ginobili, put the Mavs back ahead with a three-point play and two free throws. San Antonio answered with a 3-pointer by Bruce Bowen and two foul shots by Parker to go up 68-64 after three quarters.