WESTERN CONFERENCE Webber-led Kings topple Mavericks

The much-maligned forward helped fuel Sacramento's offense.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- Though Chris Webber was resplendent in a black suit with red pinstripes, he still was sweating when he left the arena.
His damp brow was evidence of the exertion necessary to play at the Dallas Mavericks' favored, fevered pace -- and that's just what the Sacramento Kings did in a 116-105 victory Sunday in the opener of the first-round playoff series.
Peja Stojakovic scored 28 points, Webber added 26 points and 12 rebounds, and the Kings shook off the uncertainty of a late-season collapse that cost them the Pacific Division title.
They interrupted their two-month skid by outrunning and outscoring the run-and-gun Mavs -- and making several big defensive stops along the way. Doug Christie and Webber both gave motivational speeches to their teammates a day earlier, and both backed up their words with big defensive plays in the fourth quarter.
"It felt good running up and down the floor," said Webber, who endangered his gimpy knees by diving for a loose ball to set up a key fast-break score. "We just wanted to wear them down, and that's what we were able to do."
Offensive battle
The Kings also shot exceptionally well. They made a franchise-record 11-of-21 3-pointers, including five by Stojakovic to tie Sacramento's individual playoff best.
Not even Dirk Nowitzki's 32 points and 13 rebounds could keep Dallas close in a fitting start for a series between the NBA's two highest-scoring teams.
"Playing them, I can imagine how defensively tough it is to play us," Webber said. "We don't panic as much as I think the outside panics. We just kept it together and played all four quarters the same way."
Nowitzki battled foul trouble for the Mavericks, who have struggled away from Dallas all season, going 16-25, and the Kings were just as inhospitable as their cowbell-ringing fans.
Looking good
"They don't play much better than this," Dallas coach Don Nelson said. "This is one of their best games of the season, or at least since Webber has been back."
The game wasn't decided until the fourth quarter, when Sacramento opened with a 19-7 run. Stojakovic and Anthony Peeler hit key 3-pointers, and the Kings scored 11 points off four consecutive Dallas turnovers.
Christie had 21 points -- tying his career playoff high -- along with eight rebounds and a playoff career-best 11 assists, while Mike Bibby scored 13 of his 14 points in the second half.
Antawn Jamison scored 18 points in his first career playoff game, while starting Dallas guards Marquis Daniels and Steve Nash managed just 13 points apiece on 11-for-29 shooting. Michael Finley and Antoine Walker also struggled, shooting 7-for-24.