Spurs 105, Mavericks 102

DALLAS (AP) _ While most basketball fans are monitoring their NCAA brackets, the San Antonio Spurs and Dallas Mavericks are watching the NBA's Western Conference standings even closer. <br><br>That's

Friday, March 22nd 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

DALLAS (AP) _ While most basketball fans are monitoring their NCAA brackets, the San Antonio Spurs and Dallas Mavericks are watching the NBA's Western Conference standings even closer.

That's why their game Thursday night was so important.

With Tim Duncan scoring 32 points, and rookie Tony Parker hitting a big basket in the last half-minute, the Spurs beat the Mavericks 105-102 for their 11th straight victory and tied them for the Midwest Division lead.

The teams have met three times this season and each game has been decided in the final minute. Adding to the intensity of this meeting between Interstate 35 rivals was the fact both were coming off lopsided victories over the Los Angeles Lakers.

``This is real satisfying,'' said David Robinson, who had 22 points and 12 rebounds. ``These last two games really gave us a chance to shoot for our short-term goal, which is to win the division. We've been through our bumps and bruises and now we're starting to play like contenders.''

Winning the Midwest is crucial because it guarantees at least a No. 2 seed in the playoffs, maybe even the top spot if the division champ can catch Sacramento for the conference's best record. The second-place team would have to hold off the Los Angeles Lakers for the third spot or slip to fourth, which could mean a first-round matchup against Minnesota or Portland.

Or, as Dallas coach Don Nelson put it, there are ``ramifications I don't want to envision.''

``Every time we play them it's like a playoff game,'' said Duncan, who also had 14 rebounds and five assists.

The Spurs let a 13-point lead dissolve into a 2-point deficit with 2:34 left, then scored six straight, capped by a 3-pointer by Bruce Bowen. After a layup by Dirk Nowitzki, Parker buried his open jumper to make it 100-96 with 26 seconds left, then screamed with joy.

``I'm just happy I got an opportunity to knock down a big shot,'' said Parker, who scored 12 points. ``This was just a really big game for me.''

Nowitzki, who had 29 points and 14 rebounds, hit two free throws with 20.9 seconds left to get the Mavericks within two. A free throw by Greg Buckner with 19.8 left made it 100-99.

But Buckner missed his second shot and wound up fouling Danny Ferry. His two free throws with 14.5 seconds left put the Spurs up by three.

Nick Van Exel, starting for the first time for Dallas, tried tying the game but badly missed a 3-pointer. He went 1-for-12 in 39 minutes, missing all five 3-point attempts.

A free throw by Malik Rose put San Antonio up 103-99, then Michael Finley nailed a 3-pointer to make it 103-102 with 1.3 seconds left. Finley had 21 points and was 4-of-5 on 3-pointers.

Duncan was fouled before the ball was inbounded and made both his free throws _ even though he was trying to miss the second one in hopes of the clock running out while the teams fought for the rebound. Given one last chance, Dallas was barely able to get off a shot.

Steve Nash, who had 28 points and was the catalyst of a third-quarter rally, caught a pass beyond midcourt but was only able to hurl the ball into the lane because of tight pressure from Rose. Rose stood still, threw up his arms in celebration and smiled toward coach Gregg Popovich while Nash walked away with his hands on his hips.

``We really let them get a big lead on us in the first half and it could have been negated with just a little bit of toughness,'' said Nash, who wore himself out by pushing the offense and helping guard post players on defense.

The Spurs had a 30-15 edge in rebounds at halftime and were seemingly scoring at will. Duncan and Robinson were too strong inside for Dallas' 7-footers, Nowitzki and Raef LaFrentz. San Antonio finished with 11 more rebounds than the Mavs.

The discrepancy in the teams' styles _ inside vs. outside _ was evident by their free-throw totals. Dallas went to the line only 16 times compared to 37 for the Spurs. Robinson alone was 12-of-15. LaFrentz never made it to the line in 32 minutes before fouling out with 3:51 left; Van Exel also didn't shoot a free throw.

The Mavericks have gone 7-4 during the Spurs' winning streak to slip into the division tie. This was San Antonio's fifth straight road win and it ended a five-game home winning streak for Dallas.

Notes: San Antonio's Steve Smith didn't dress for the third straight game because of a sprained right ankle. ... Dallas missed nine of its first 10 shots. ... The Spurs are 16-3 against teams in their division, by far the best in the NBA. ... The Mavericks honored four area high school All-America players, three boys and a girl, at halftime.