Spurs 89, Mavericks 87

Sunday, April 7th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

SAN ANTONIO (AP) _ Tim Duncan made a jumper with two seconds left and finished with 33 points, leading the San Antonio Spurs to an 89-87 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday.

The Spurs moved within a half-game of the Midwest Division-leading Mavericks. Dallas (52-23) has seven games remaining, while San Antonio (52-24) has six.

Antonio Daniels scored 13 points for the Spurs. Danny Ferry added 11 and Bruce Bowen 10. David Robinson had nine points and 13 rebounds.

Nick Van Exel led Dallas with 27 points, including 19 in the second half. Dirk Nowitzki finished with 26 points and 21 rebounds, and Michael Finley added 18 points.

Just as in the first three meetings between the teams, the outcome was decided at the foul line down the stretch.

Van Exel made a running jumper and was fouled on the play. He made the free throw, pulling Dallas within three points, 80-77, with approximately two minutes left.

Bowen scored for San Antonio. Van Exel made a 3-pointer that was matched by Ferry, making it 85-80 with 45 seconds left.

The Mavs failed to score on their next possession, and Bowen was fouled while going for a rebound. He missed both free throws with 30 seconds left.

Van Exel then made a runner in the lane, cutting San Antonio's lead to three points. Tony Parker was fouled on the inbounds play and converted one free throw for the Spurs.

On Dallas' next possession, Van Exel was fouled while attempting a 3-pointer. He made all three free throws with 15 seconds left as the Mavericks closed within 86-85.

Duncan made one of two free throws and Dirk Nowitzki hit a jumper that tied the score at 87 with eight seconds remaining.

Duncan hit the game-winner over Nowitzki, sealing San Antonio's third victory of the season over Dallas.

Mavericks point guard Steve Nash, who is averaging 19 points and eight assists, left the game at halftime with a stomach ailment. He was scoreless with two assists in 18 minutes.

The Spurs made their first four shots in jumping out to a 8-0 lead before Nowitzki hit a turnaround jumper at 9:59 for Dallas' first points.

San Antonio's defensive pressure proved troublesome for the Mavs early. But Finley pulled Dallas within one, 23-22, late in the first by scoring 12 points in less than five minutes.

Dallas went ahead 31-29 a runner by Van Exel before Daniels took over. He scored 11 points on 4-for-5 shooting in the quarter and the Spurs used a 16-6 run to build a 10-point advantage by the break.

Duncan secured his league-leading 62nd double-double of the season early with 22 points and 10 rebounds in the first half.

Notes: In the first three San Antonio-Dallas games each team scored more than 100 points, and the games were decided by a total of eight points. ... San Antonio has won 10 straight at the Alamodome. ... Mavs' starting forward Adrian Griffin did not dress due to a right ankle sprain sustained in Thursday's win over the Clippers. ... Saturday's attendance was 34,739, the sixth time this season the Spurs have played in front of a crowd of 30,000 or more.