Jason Kidd: Top Performances for Dallas Mavericks in the 2011 NBA Playoffs Semi-Finals (Part 2)
Game-3: Dallas Mavericks 98 – Los Angeles Lakers 92
In the third and the most important game of the series, the Dallas Mavericks blew their first quarter advantage, when the Los Angeles Lakers tuned their boosters on in the second period and finished the first half proceedings four
points ahead (51-47) of the Mavs.
The Lakers carried the same momentum in the third frame, but the Mavs made some early possessions in the final 12 minutes of the game that rattled L.A, with Jason Kidd’s two hits from the charity stripe allowed Dallas to close
in the gap. His free throws pushed the score to 86-87 with more than three minutes to go in the game.
From there on wards, the Lakers started fading away and the Mavs finished the game with Kidd’s free throw that put third straight victory in the lap of Dallas.
After stealing the home-court advantage from the Lakers in the first two games, Kidd and company also dominated them at American Airlines Centre, Dallas. With this win, the Mavs went 3-0 up in the best of the seven game series
and were just one win away to clinch the semi-finals from the Lakers.
In spite of the fact that Kidd went just 3 for 12 from the field and 2 for 8 from behind the arc, he still managed to add 11 points along with four rebounds, nine assists and one block during his 35 minutes stay on court. The veteran
guard once again proved his worth with his handy contribution.
Game-4: Dallas Mavericks 122 – Los Angeles Lakers 86
Dallas Mavericks were looking desperate to win the second-round of the playoffs and that too reflected in their game, as they tipped off belligerently, but the Los Angeles Lakers don’t want to go down without giving them a good
fight as they quickly snatched the lead (9-6) from Dallas.
At this stage Jason Kidd appeared on the scene and swatted one to Dirk Nowitzki, who dipped it in and hardly after a minute provided back to back assists to Shawn Marion, who made four points on them and pushed the lead to 14-11,
with more than five minutes left in the first quarter. Kidd didn’t stop at this, a few moments later he launched a missile from the from the three-point range on DeShawn Stevenson assist that hit the bulls eye and extended the Mavs lead to six points (19-13).
The dominated first half allowed the Mavs to glide throughout the second part of the game, as they stretched their lead to 36 in the final quarter and routed the Lakers 122-86 in game-4 at the American Airlines Centre, Dallas on
May 8.
Though Jason made just three points, but his facilitator role really helped the Mavs to get a hold over the Lakers right from the start. Kidd clutched two rebounds, wracked seven assists and made four steals for the Mavs.
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