A chance, however, was also all that Dallas needed. In a wildly thrilling game that seemed destined to end with the final shot ? and almost did ? Steve Nash hit a 3-pointer with six-tenths of a second left as the Mavericks overcame a career-best 53 points from Duncan to beat the Spurs 126-123 in overtime in front of a dazed crowd of 20,667.

"If I had missed all my shots and we had won," Duncan said, sitting dejected in front of his locker, "I would be happier than I am now."