NBA WEST Mavericks take 3-2 series lead after rolling past Kings

Raja Bell led Dallas to a 112-93 victory.
DALLAS (AP) -- The Dallas Mavericks got even early in their series against the Sacramento Kings with a record-setting offensive performance in Game 2.
They're now just one win away from the Western Conference finals after a dominant defensive effort in the second half of Game 5.
Raja Bell scored nine of his 13 points in the third quarter Tuesday night, and outshot the Kings in the game-turning period of Dallas' 112-93 win.
It was Sacramento's lowest-scoring game this postseason. The Mavericks have a 3-2 series lead, and Game 6 is Thursday night in Sacramento.
Third quarter difference
Sacramento shot just 3-of-25 while being outscored 29-10 in the third -- the lowest-scoring quarter ever for a Dallas postseason opponent. Bell made 4-of-5 shots, including tying and go-ahead baskets.
"It was one of our best defensive games in the second half," Mavericks coach Don Nelson said. "We really knuckled down."
The Kings' 32-point second half was also a playoff record for the Mavs' defense, as were 11 blocked shots. Sacramento shot just 36 percent (33-for-92), the first time it's been under 42 percent this postseason.
Steve Nash, held to just six points two nights earlier, scored 25 points. He was just 5-of-12 from the field, but hit 15 of 16 free throws. All five Dallas starters, plus Nick Van Exel (18 points), scored in double figures.
"They have so many guys who can attack you," Kings coach Rick Adelman said. "It's like a wind tunnel when they come at you. They were coming at us in waves."
Dirk Nowitzki has 16 points, 15 rebounds and a career-high nine assists, falling just short of the first triple-double in Dallas postseason history. Michael Finley also had 16 points.
"Tonight was an absolute perfect picture of a team performance," Nash said. "It's a lot of fun when we play like that."
Divac in foul trouble
The Mavericks' job was made much easier with Sacramento center Vlade Divac on the bench most of the night because of fouls. He had three in the first half, and just 54 seconds into the second half was out again after his fourth.
Divac didn't play any more in that decisive third, and that hurt the Kings on both defense and offense. He played just 13 minutes, finishing with five points, two rebounds and five fouls.
"It's tough. Our strategy is to push the ball, but when we don't have it, we go inside to Vlade," said Doug Christie, who led the Kings with 21 points. "Not having him on the floor takes away a lot of our options."
The Mavericks, eliminated by Sacramento in five games of the second round last season, rebounded nicely from their 99-83 loss in Game 4.
In Sunday night's loss, Dallas matched its record first-half scoring output in the 132-110 win in Game 2 that tied the series. The Mavericks first went up in the series with a 141-137 double-overtime win Saturday.
After trailing by as many as 15 in a lethargic first half, the Mavericks opened the second half with an 11-2 run to tie it at 63 on Bell's 21-foot jumper.
Third-quarter run
The game was then tied at 65 before Bell's 3-pointer with 8:20 left put Dallas ahead to stay. That also started a 15-4 run he ended with a putback layup that made it 80-69 with 1:59 left.
"Bell was being active and rebounding," Nelson said. "He is physically able to do some things that our players can't do."
Plus, Bell is much more rested than the Mavericks' better-known players. He made only his second start this postseason, filling in again for the injured Adrian Griffin after 16 points Sunday.
"It's fun to contribute," Bell said. "Other guys on our team command double-teams. They're so unselfish. It's a credit to them. Early, I passed up on a few open looks. I made a concerted effort in the second half to let it fly."
Peja Stojakovic had 19 points for Sacramento, which was in its third game without leading scorer Chris Webber, who injured his knee in Game 2. Bobby Jackson, playing with a fractured cheek bone, had 14 points.