The Mavericks completed off the two-time defending NBA champions in embarrassing fashion & set up a gathering for the Western Conference title against either Memphis or Oklahoma City.
DALLAS, May 8 (UPI) -- A record 3-point barrage led by Jason Terry Sunday sent Dallas storming past Los Angeles 122-86 to finish an unlikely four-game playoff sweep of the Lakers.
Once in the series Dallas rallied in the fourth quarter, leaving the Lakers in require of an historic work to keep their hopes for another championship alive. No team has ever won an NBA playoff series after losing the first games.
The game was definitely the last for Los Angeles Coach Phil Jackson, who has won 11 NBA crowns in a Hall-of-Fame career. They has indicated this would be his final season.
The Mavericks did not need a comeback in Game three thanks to a dominating second quarter that gave them a 63-39 halftime lead.
Terry, in his 11th season, made 6-of-7 shots from 3-point range in the first half & completed with 32 points. They made an NBA playoff record nine 3-pointers overall in ten attempts & Dallas hit twenty shots from beyond the arc to equal the league's high playoff mark.
The Mavericks shot a staggering 61 percent from the field while winning their sixth straight playoff game.
With Los Angeles unable to make any kind of second-half charge, it was left to the Dallas bench to finish off the sweep.
The reserve players scored 86 points for Dallas, the same number as the whole Los Angeles team managed. Backup point guard J.J. Barea had 22 points & Peja Stojakovic added 21.
Dirk Nowitzki was the only Dallas starter in double figures with 17.
Kobe Bryant, who paced the Lakers to their most recent league titles, scored 17 points in his final game of the season while making 7-of-18 shots.
Dallas will now have a chance to rest while Memphis & Oklahoma City battle in what could be a long series. Memphis has a 2-1 advantage in the series & will host Game three Monday.
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