NBA WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS Fourth quarter run powers Spurs past Mavericks

Dallas not only lost the game, but Dirk Nowitzki with a sprained knee
DALLAS (AP) -- There are moments that can define not only a game, but an entire playoff series.
Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks can only hope that one of them didn't happen early in the fourth quarter Friday night.
Nowitzki went down with a sprained knee as Tim Duncan was leading San Antonio on a 12-0 run to open the fourth quarter, and the Spurs controlled the game the rest of the way to beat Dallas 96-83 and take a 2-1 lead in the Western Conference finals.
Duncan scored 14 of his 34 points in a lopsided fourth quarter that sent the fans streaming to the exits with more than 3 minutes left. Duncan had 24 rebounds, and Tony Parker scored 29 points for the Spurs.
It was a stunningly quick turn of events in a game that began with lead referee Dan Crawford joking to the opposing team captains that he would let them call their own fouls, playground style.
Dallas had a few good moments -- mostly in the second quarter -- before having an extremely bad one midway through the fourth when Nowitzki banged his left knee against Manu Ginobili of the Spurs while going for a rebound. Nowitzki stayed down for about two minutes before being helped off the floor, unable to put any weight on his leg.
The last time there was such a scene, it was Chris Webber of Sacramento being carried off the American Airlines Center court during Game 2 of the second round. He never returned to that series, and the Mavs can only hope the same does not happen to Nowitzki.
Diagnosis
The initial diagnosis was a sprain, and a team spokesman said Nowitzki would likely be given an X-ray Friday night. Game 4 is Sunday.
Duncan surpassed 30 points for the fourth consecutive game, and San Antonio outrebounded Dallas 59-36.
Nick Van Exel led Dallas with 16 points, Nowitzki had 15 and Raja Bell added 14. Steve Nash was outplayed by the 21-year-old Parker, who scored 19 in the third quarter and finished 13-for-23 from the field.
Duncan scored the first five points of the fourth quarter on a three-point play and a dunk, then fed Parker with a pretty give-and-go pass for a layup that gave the Spurs a 76-66 lead and caused Mavs coach Don Nelson to call timeout.
But the first possession for Dallas after that resulted in a 3-second violation, and Parker banked in a straightway jump shot moments later. Nowitzki was hurt two plays later, and Duncan completed a three-point play after Nowitzki was carried off with the arena suddenly silent.
Different atmosphere
There was a much different atmosphere earlier in the night, especially right before tipoff when Crawford told the captains in comments that were picked up by Turner Sports microphones: "Hey guys, you remember the playground days? Call your own fouls? Call your own fouls tonight, we're gonna trust you guys, OK?"
Crawford quickly told the players he was only joking.
But it immediately became clear that the refs were going to let them play, as only six fouls were whistled in a first quarter that ended in an 18-18 tie. It was the first time in the series that Dallas did not face a deficit after the opening 12 minutes.
Van Exel was the catalyst as the Mavericks made the game's first big push, dropping in three 3-pointers and scoring 13 points in the second quarter as Dallas opened a 46-38 halftime lead. San Antonio went almost 12 minutes bridging the first two quarters without getting a point from anyone other than Jackson.
San Antonio came back in the third behind Parker, scoring 19 of the first 29 in the quarter to retake the lead. Parker was phenomenal in the period, using his speed to create openings and finding his outside touch. The last two of his 19 points came from the line and gave San Antonio a 69-66 lead entering the fourth.