NBA playoffs: Vince Carter hits 3-pointer at buzzer to lift Mavs over Spurs

Dallas • Vince Carter knew right away the exact date of the last time he had a buzzer-beating try in a playoff game — 13 years ago.

It's seared in the memory of the 16-year veteran because he missed that one. He was on target Saturday.

Carter hit a double-pump 3-pointer at the buzzer to give the Dallas Mavericks a 109-108 victory in Game 3 and a first-round series lead over the top-seeded San Antonio Spurs.

With 1.7 seconds left, Carter took an inbound pass from Jose Calderon in the left corner. After a quick pump fake got Manu Ginobili in the air — moments after the Argentine guard had given the Spurs the lead — Carter released the ball just in time.

He strutted stone-faced toward Dirk Nowitzki, who was waving his arms wildly as he jumped on Carter. Mavericks owner Mark Cuban joined the celebration on the court before the automatic review confirmed the obvious: The shot was good.

And it's one Carter said he practiced.

"May 20th, Game 7," said Carter, referring to an 88-87 loss to Philadelphia in the 2001 Eastern Conference finals when he was he was the dunking sensation known as "Vinsanity" with Toronto. Carter had graduated from North Carolina earlier that day before flying on a private plane to Philadelphia.

"I don't mind taking the game-winning shot," said Carter, who otherwise had a rough day before finishing with 11 points. "I don't mind missing them, and dealing with it. So I think having that mentality helps me."

Monta Ellis kept the eighth-seeded Mavericks close in the fourth quarter and finished with 29 points.

Tim Duncan led the Spurs with 22 points. Game 4 is Monday night in Dallas.

Ginobili, who scored 12 points, dribbled out most of the last 24 seconds before going around Duncan and scoring over Samuel Dalembert for a 108-106 lead. His go-ahead shot spun around the rim and almost came out before falling in.

"You never think it's over, especially in here," Ginobili said. "We've got experience on that. As long as you don't see 'zero zero' over there, it's not over."

The Mavericks kept the home-court advantage they earned by taking Game 2 in San Antonio to snap a 10-game losing streak against the Spurs. —

Mavs 109, Spurs 108

S. Antonio 34 20 20 34 — 108

Dallas 27 32 18 32 — 109

SAN ANTONIO (108)

Leonard 7-8 1-3 17, Duncan 8-14 6-6 22, Splitter 6-8 2-2 14, Parker 9-18 0-0 19, Green 1-5 0-0 3, Ginobili 4-14 4-4 12, Diaw 3-5 0-0 7, Belinelli 3-3 0-0 7, Mills 2-5 1-2 5, Bonner 1-1 0-0 2, Joseph 0-0 0-0 0.

Totals 44-81 14-17 108.

DALLAS (109)

Marion 3-11 1-2 9, Nowitzki 7-13 4-6 18, Dalembert 4-8 5-5 13, Calderon 7-10 0-0 16, Ellis 12-22 2-2 29, Carter 3-8 4-4 11, Blair 1-1 0-0 2, Harris 1-5 0-0 3, Wright 2-2 0-0 4, Crowder 2-2 0-0 4.

Totals 42-82 16-19 109

3-Point Goals—San Antonio 6-18 (Leonard 2-2, Belinelli 1-1, Parker 1-2, Diaw 1-2, Green 1-4, Mills 0-3, Ginobili 0-4), Dallas 9-23 (Ellis 3-7, Calderon 2-3, Marion 2-6, Carter 1-3, Harris 1-4). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—San Antonio 39 (Splitter 13), Dallas 44 (Dalembert 10). Assists—San Antonio 26 (Parker 6), Dallas 25 (Calderon 9). Total Fouls—San Antonio 20, Dallas 19. A—20,636 (19,200). —

NBA playoffs

O Saturday

• Indiana 91, Atlanta 88

Series tied 2-2

• Dallas 109,San Antonio 108

Mavs lead series 2-1

• Miami 98, Charlotte 85, Heat lead series 3-0

• Oklahoma City XX,Memphis XX

XXX lead series X-X

Sunday

• Chicago at Washington, 11 a.m., Ch. 4

Wizards lead series 2-1

• L.A. Clippers at Golden State, 1:30 p.m.

Clippers lead series 2-1

• Toronto at Brooklyn, 7 p.m., TNT

Nets lead series 2-1

• Houston at Portland, 7:30 p.m., TNT

Blazers lead series 2-1