The Mavs would finish the first period up 37-24, their highest scoring quarter of the playoffs. Nash fell a point shy of his series average of 11 in the first quarter.
It was just the kind of start needed in the one of the NBA's most hostile environments. Trouble was the Kings and their fans didn't fold. The arena never lost an ounce of energy, and the Kings closed the gap in the second period. Sacramento, trailing by as much as 16 in the second quarter, took a brief lead before going into the half down 66-63.
Timberwolves 102, nuggets 91
Kevin Garnett had 28 points, seven rebounds and eight assists to lead the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 102-91 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Friday, ending an NBA record streak of seven straight first-round losses.
The Timberwolves, who took the best-of-seven series 4-1, will host Sacramento in Game 1 in the Western Conference semifinals on Tuesday.
"We had 10 new players -- half those guys don't even know who we lost to last year," Timberwolves coach Flip Saunders said. "Our goals were higher than winning a first-round playoff series. We think we have a legitimate chance to win a championship."
Marcus Camby and Andre Miller each scored 21 points for the eighth-seeded Nuggets, who played without injured rookie Carmelo Anthony.
"You lose your leading scorer, obviously it's a big factor," Nuggets coach Jeff Bzdelik said. "But it happens and you deal with it. I'm very proud of our basketball team."
Sam Cassell had 26 points and Latrell Sprewell scored 15 of his 19 in the first half for the Wolves.
Garnett scored Minnesota's first six points of the fourth quarter to bump the lead to 80-68 with 10 minutes left. Denver came within nine twice after that, but no closer.
Heat 87, Hornets 83
In Miami, Dwyane Wade's 3-pointer with 54 seconds left put Miami ahead for good as the Heat took a 3-2 lead over New Orleans in the first-round playoff series.
The home team has won all five games, and the Heat have won 15 consecutive games in Miami.
They can close out the series with a victory today while playing away in New Orleans.
The Hornets, who fell to 0-5 in Miami this season, led by 11 points in the first half, were up 58-49 midway through the third quarter and squandered a 33-point performance by Davis.
Eddie Jones scored 25 points and Wade had 21 for the Heat.
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