DALLAS – Raja Bell was the unlikely hero for the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday night.

Bell provided a big boost for the suddenly re-energized Mavericks, outshooting the Sacramento Kings in the game-turning third quarter of a 112-93 victory. Bell had just 13 points, but nine in the decisive period as Dallas took a 3-2 lead in the Western Conference semifinal series.

Bell, making his second straight start for the injured Adrian Griffin (sprained right ankle) had four baskets in the third quarter. That was one more than Sacramento managed while being outscored 29-10 in the period.

Steve Nash, held to just six points in the Game 4 loss, scored 25 points. He was just 5-of-12 from the field, but hit 15 of 16 free throws. All five starters, plus Nick Van Exel, scored in double figures for Dallas.

Dirk Nowitzki has 16 points, 15 rebounds and a career-high nine assists, falling just short of the first triple-double in Dallas postseason history.

Bell’s 3-pointer with 8:20 left in the third period broke a 65-65 tie and put the Mavericks ahead to stay. That also started a 15-4 run he ended with a putback layup that made it 80-69 with 1:59 left.

The Kings were just 3-for-25 in the third quarter, when their 10 points were the fewest ever by a Dallas opponent in a postseason quarter. Bell was 4-of-5 in the period.

After trailing by as many as 15 points in a lethargic first half, the Mavericks opened the second half with an 11-2 run, tying the score on Bell’s 21-foot jumper.

Raef LaFrentz’s basket gave the Mavericks their first lead at 65-63. Peja Stojakovic hit two free throws to tie the game for the second – and last – time.

Doug Christie led the Kings with 21 points, and Stojakovic had 19. Sacramento is without star forward Chris Webber (knee injury).

The Mavericks are one win away from reaching the Western Conference finals for only the second time. Last year, Dallas was eliminated in five games by Sacramento in the second round.

Sacramento never got closer than 11 points in the fourth quarter, after Bobby Jackson hit a 3-pointer early to make it 85-74.

Both teams showed signs of being tired, but the Mavericks also have the lingering effects of getting pushed to seven games in the first round by Portland.

Spurs 96, Lakers 94

SAN ANTONIO – The San Antonio Spurs have pushed the Los Angeles Lakers to the brink of elimination.

But the three-time champions are proving they won’t go away easily – if at all.

One game after overcoming a 16-point deficit, the Lakers nearly erased a 25-point hole before falling 96-94 when Robert Horry’s 3-pointer with 3 seconds left went in and out Tuesday night.

David Robinson got the final rebound, letting the Spurs, who never trailed, take a 3-2 lead in the second-round series. San Antonio ruined the return of Lakers coach Phil Jackson three days after undergoing a heart procedure.

The Lakers will have to win the next two games to advance to the Western Conference finals. Otherwise, their postseason will end the same way it did the last time they failed to win it all – going down to San Antonio in the conference semifinals. That was in 1999, when the Spurs won the title.

Game 6 is Thursday night in Los Angeles, with a possible Game 7 in San Antonio.

on Saturday. The Lakers are 0-5 this season at the Spurs’ new home, the SBC Center.

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AP-ES-05-14-03 0019EDT