NBA PLAYOFFS: Hornets beat Mavs, take 3-1 series lead

DALLAS — David West and Chris Paul were on the bench, smiling as they watched thousands of fans headed to their cars. They’d already seen Jason Kidd lose his cool and get tossed, and saw police take away a ref-baiting loudmouth a few seats from Mavericks owner Mark Cuban.

They were soaking it all in because it might be their last glimpse of Dallas for a while.

West bounced back from a miserable Game 3 with a determined effort in Game 4, scoring 10 points in an early second half rally that sent the Hornets surging past the Mavericks 97-84 on Sunday night, giving them a 3-1 lead in the first-round series.

West had 24 points and nine rebounds, Paul had 16 points, eight assists and seven rebounds and the Hornets ended an 0-for-14 drought in Dallas that dated to January 1998. Now they’re headed to New Orleans, hoping to win Game 5 on Tuesday night and avoid coming back to Big D until next season. The Mavericks are on the brink of a second straight first-round exit.

“It’s a great feeling to be up 3-1, but it doesn’t mean too much right now,” Paul said. “It’s tough to close out a team, to get that fourth win. That’s what coach has been preaching to us. We feel pretty confident going back in front of our fans.”

Dirk Nowitzki had 22 points and 13 rebounds and Jason Terry scored 20 points, but they didn’t get much help. Josh Howard was 3-for-16 and Kidd had only three points, three assists and four rebounds before getting ejected with 7:16 left for a flagrant foul on Jannero Pargo. The exodus in the aisles came soon after, even before Hornets coach Byron Scott pulled his starters.

“At that point, we’d done close to what we needed to get the result we wanted,” West said.

The Mavs went from scoring 30 points in the first quarter to 14 in the second quarter, then 40 in the entire second half.

Dallas’ meltdown — in this game, in this series and since being up 2-0 on Miami in the finals two years ago — might end up costing coach Avery Johnson his job. Nowitzki already was using the past tense in his postgame comments, saying they just didn’t have enough offense in the series.

“I don’t really have an answer for it,” said Nowitzki, exhaling loudly and running a hand through his hair in frustration. “All season long, we’ve lost leads way too quick. … Everybody has to be in attack mode. You have to make shots to win in this league.”

New Orleans did, hitting 50 percent. Peja Stojakovic scored 19 points and Julian Wright added 11, including a tremendous dunk off a midcourt steal of Jerry Stackhouse, a play that emphasized the difference in the age and agility of these teams.

“I thought Julian was athletic enough to match up with Josh and Jerry,” Scott said. “He didn’t play like a rookie. He’s active, he runs the floor. He’s a pretty good player.”

Pargo also scored 11 and Morris Peterson had 10.

West was 10-of-21, but the most important part came at the start of the second half, when New Orleans turned a 48-44 halftime lead into a 64-51 advantage.

West made all four shots he took in that spurt and added a pair of free throws. All came against Erick Dampier, including a 1-hander that prompted an immediate timeout by Johnson and a huge chest bump from Paul. West never hit anything like that in Game 3, when he started 3-of-14 and finished 6-of-20.

The big guy was practically silent since then, stewing over his performance. Scott considered that a good thing.

“Everything was stirring up in him,” Scott said. “He wasn’t going to play the way he played in Game 3. We were banking on that. He was in an aggressive mind-set from the start and he came up big.”

Several Hornets said Saturday they thought they’d taken Dallas’ best shot in Game 3 and could handle it from here. It sure didn’t seem like it when the Mavericks came out taking turns going to the basket and getting out in transition. They didn’t take many jumpers, but hit most they did take, and were up 32-23 early in the second quarter. Then Johnson had to dip deeper into his bench and it all fell apart.

Even with Pargo running the offense instead of Paul, the Hornets went on a 15-2 run to regain the lead, with Wright’s big dunk coming in that spurt.

“I thought after the first quarter, everything we talked about worked,” Scott said. “Our running game got going and that’s why we won this game.”

Johnson went back to his starters, but they played the rest of the half as if they’d used up their allotment of time in the paint during the first quarter, settling for jumpers. The best evidence was their free throws — not a single one in the period. They shot just 16 for the game, after averaging 38.3 over the first three games.

“We just got kind of got stuck in the second quarter,” Johnson said. “They were more aggressive and we went to old habits and we paid for it.”

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

AquaSox infielder Charlie Pagliarini starts to swing at a pitch that he would launch for a two-run home run in Everett's 9-2 loss to the Vancouver Canadians at Funko Field on July 4, 2025. (Joe Pohoryles / The Herald)
AquaSox lack spark in Independence Day loss to Vancouver

Everett draws eight walks, but has just two hits in 9-2 loss to the Canadians.

Kimberly Beard, a rising senior at King's, stands next to the results board after winning the girls hammer throw at the Nike Outdoor National Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon on June 22, 2025. (Photo courtesy Donna Beard)
Beard, Tupua shine at Nike Outdoor Nationals

The rising seniors make their mark on a national stage amidst a busy summer schedule.

Everett AquaSox shortstop Colt Emerson catches the ball at second base for the first out in a double play during the Opening Day game against the Hillsboro Hops on Tuesday, April 8, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Emerson’s preparation finally paying off in Everett

The AquaSox shortstop is coming off his best month in High-A. Here’s how it came together:

The Seattle Mariners' Julio Rodríguez, right, claps after stealing second base during the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at T-Mobile Park on Thursday, July 3, 2025, in Seattle. (Alika Jenner / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Witt Jr. and Mariners’ bullpen both slide, KC wins series

The Kansas City Royals found a way against the Seattle Mariners on… Continue reading

Seattle Storm guard Skylar Diggins (4) tries to drive past Dallas Wings guard JJ Quinerly (11) during the first half of a WNBA basketball game at College Park Center on Monday, May 19, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (Photo courtesy of the Seattle Storm)
Storm survive Dream on Diggins game-winner

Nneka Ogwumike and Erica Wheeler combined for 45 points in the 80-79 win.

Julius Miettinen listens to a coach during Kraken Development Camp on-ice session for forwards on Tuesday, July 1, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Pair of Silvertips check status at Kraken Development Camp

Julius Miettinen hopes to take strides back in Everett, while Kaden Hammell turns pro.

Randy Arozarena of the Seattle Mariners celebrates with the team trident after hitting a solo home run during the sixth inning against the Kansas City Royals at T-Mobile Park on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, in Seattle. (Alika Jenner / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Mariners overcome Perez to beat Royals

The Kansas City Royals found themselves in another close encounter against the… Continue reading

Cal Raleigh (29) of the Seattle Mariners bats during the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at T-Mobile Park on Monday, June 30, 2025, in Seattle. (Alika Jenner / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Cal Raleigh named AL Player of the Week

Major League Baseball announced today that catcher Cal Raleigh has… Continue reading

Moore: Ranking the all-time best Seattle sports radio shows

Sports radio shows in Seattle started in the 1970’s, typically at night,… Continue reading

Storm three games over .500 near the halfway point

Star forward Nneka Ogwumike was voted an All-Star starter Monday.

Seattle Storm's Sue Bird waves to the crowd after receiving a bouquet of flowers because she is playing in her last WNBA All-Star Game at Wintrust Arena on July 10, 2022. (Stacey Wescott / Tribune News Services)
Seattle Storm to unveil Sue Bird statue honoringWNBA legend

The Seattle Storm announced on Wednesday that the franchise will honor the… Continue reading

Everett AquaSox infielder Colt Emerson gets a high-five from teammate Lazaro Montes after scoring during the game against the Tri-City Dust Devils on Tuesday, May 6, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Vote for the Frog of the Week

Who is the Frog of the Week? Vote for the Everett AquaSox… Continue reading

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.