Warriors Oust Top Seed Dallas Mavericks

Friday, May 4th 2007, 7:11 am

By: News On 6

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) _ For the first time since the NBA went to a seven-game first-round playoff format, an eighth seed has eliminated a top seed. The Golden State Warriors, who finished the regular season 44-40, trounced Dallas 111-86 to win that Western Conference playoff in six games. The Mavericks won 67 games in the regular season.

Stephen Jackson led the Warriors with 33 points, including seven three-pointers. Baron Davis shrugged off a hamstring injury that sidelined him briefly. He finished with 20 points, ten rebounds and six assists in guiding the Warriors to their first playoff series win since 2001.

The victory was sweet revenge for Warriors coach Don Nelson, who formerly coached Dallas and is not on speaking terms with Mavericks owner Mark Cuban.

Both teams in last year's NBA Finals have been eliminated in the first round. Earlier the NBA champion Miami Heat were swept by the Chicago Bulls.

In other playoff action, the Utah Jazz stayed alive for another night. The Jazz staved off elimination by beating the Houston Rockets 94-82 to even that first-round NBA playoff series at three games apiece.

Carlos Boozer had 22 and Mehmet Okur added 19 points. Andrei Kirilenko had his best game of the series with 14 points and five blocks.

Game Seven will be Saturday night in Houston.