Finley, Nash lead Mavericks: NBA Roundup

DALLAS - Michael Finley scored 29 points, Steve Nash had a career-high 19 assists and the Dallas Mavericks beat the Western Conference-leading - and suddenly struggling - Sacramento Kings, 127-117.

The Kings lost for the fourth time in five games, and fell into atie with the Los Angeles Lakers, who defeated Houston, for the topseed in the West.

Finley made seven straight field goals in one stretch. The firstfour came in a 10-0 run at the end of the first half that pushed theMavericks ahead, 67-50.

Nash had 20 points to go along with his 19 assists, the most inthe NBA this season and a franchise record for a regulation game.Jason Kidd had 25 assists in a double-overtime game in 1996.

Dirk Nowitzki followed a 35-point, 18-rebound effort Tuesdayagainst Cleveland with 27 points and 10 rebounds. Marquis Daniels andAntawn Jamison had 16 points each.

Mike Bibby led six Kings in double figures with 23 points. ChrisWebber had 22 points and Peja Stojakovic 21.

Trail Blazers 88, 76ers 82 - Zach Randolph scored 18 points, andDarius Miles had 18 points and 10 rebounds to lead the surgingPortland Trail Blazers.

The Blazers have won nine of their last 12 games and moved into atie with the Utah Jazz for the eighth and final playoff spot in theWestern Conference.

Miles, acquired in a midseason deal, had his second straightstrong game. He scored eight points in the fourth quarter, includingtwo baskets that both times pushed the lead back to four.

A day after the Trail Blazers hit a season-high 61 percent oftheir shots and Miles scored 31 points in a win over Boston, Portlandshot 49 percent.

The Sixers played again without Allen Iverson, out for the rest ofthe season with a knee injury. Willie Green led Philadelphia with 22points, Kenny Thomas had 14 points and 12 rebounds, and SamuelDalembert had 11 points and 19 boards.

Lakers 93, Rockets 85 - Kobe Bryant scored 26 points, and KarlMalone had 20 points, 14 rebounds and six assists to lead the Lakerspast the Houston Rockets, 93-85, for their 10th straight victory toequal a season high.

Shaquille O'Neal had 18 points and eight rebounds and Gary Paytonadded 12 points and a season-high 13 rebounds for the Lakers, whoshot just 37.7 percent.

but outrebounded the Rockets 58-35.

The Lakers moved into a tie for the Western Conference lead withslumping Sacramento, who lost to Dallas. The Lakers play four oftheir remaining seven games at home. The Kings play four of theirlast seven on the road. The teams meet in Sacramento on April 11.

Cuttino Mobley scored 26 points and Steve Francis had 17 pointsfor the Rockets, who lost for the sixth time in nine games.

AP-ES-04-02-04 0146EST