Spurs Beat Mavericks and Move Past Them

Michael Finley scored 11 of his 15 points in the fourth quarter against his former team, and the San Antonio Spurs beat the Dallas Mavericks, 98-89, Thursday night at San Antonio in a matchup of the top teams in the Western Conference.

With the victory, the Spurs supplanted the Mavericks in the top spot in the West. The teams are both 45-12, but San Antonio holds a 2-1 advantage in head-to-head play. They play once more.

The win was also the 500th for Spur Coach Gregg Popovich.

San Antonio led by four after three quarters, but extended that lead by making 11 of 19 shots in the fourth.

Tony Parker led San Antonio with 23 points. Jason Terry and Dirk Nowitzki scored 23 apiece for the Mavericks, who had won six in a row.

Cleveland 92, Chicago 91 -- Flip Murray made a three-pointer with 3.9 seconds left at Chicago to help the Cavaliers end a five-game losing streak despite blowing a 25-point lead.

Murray scored 11 of his 13 points in the fourth quarter. His game-winner came after Kirk Hinrich’s free throw had given the Bulls a 91-89 lead with 11.6 seconds left. The Bulls had one final shot to win it, but Andres Nocioni missed a jumper at the buzzer.

LeBron James scored 33 for Cleveland but had none in the final 7:40.

Hinrich had 25 points and nine rebounds for Chicago, which trailed, 55-30, with 1:07 left in the second quarter.

Bull forward Malik Allen (four points in 16 minutes) started after being taken to a hospital because of a sprained neck after falling Tuesday against Minnesota. Chris Duhon, who suffered a bruised jaw in the same game, also played and had six points and four assists in 17 minutes.