NBA: Dallas 122, Los Angeles Lakers 86DALLAS, 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.
The Mavericks finished off the two-time defending NBA champions in embarrassing fashion and set up a meeting for the Western Conference title against either Memphis or Oklahoma City.
The game was almost certainly the last for Los Angeles Coach Phil Jackson, who has won 11 NBA crowns in a Hall-of-Fame career. He dodged a direct question after the game as to whether it was his final contest, but he said "it is my hope and aspiration that it is."
If it was the end of his coaching career, he leaves the NBA having been swept in a seven-game playoff series for the first time.
Twice in the series Dallas rallied in the fourth quarter, leaving the Lakers in need of an historic effort to keep their hopes for another championship alive. No team has ever won an NBA playoff series after losing the first three games.
The Mavericks did not require a comeback in Game 4 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 and finished with 32 points. He made an NBA playoff record nine 3-pointers overall in 10 attempts and Dallas hit 20 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 entire Los Angeles team managed. Backup point guard J.J. Barea had 22 points and 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.
Frustration for the Lakers bubbled over the final minutes when Lamar Odom threw a shoulder into Nowitzki, knocking him to the ground, and Bynum floored Barea with an elbow to the ribs.
A flagrant foul was called in both instances and Jackson said he "was not happy with the way our players exited the game."
Dallas will now have a chance to rest while Memphis and Oklahoma City battle in what could be a long series. Memphis has a 2-1 advantage in the series and will host Game 4 Monday.
Read more: http://www.upi.com/Sports_News/2011/05/08/NBA-Dallas-122-Los-Angeles-Lakers-86/UPI-20691304893525/#ixzz0InoOnSLJ
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