DALLAS, April 24 (UPI) -- Kevin Garnett's playoff frustration continued Wednesday night as the Dallas Mavericks got big games from Dirk Nowitzki, Michael Finley and Steve Nash in a 122-110 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Mavericks opened a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five Western Conference first-round series. The best road team in the NBA can send Garnett and the Timberwolves to their sixth straight opening-round exit with a win Sunday in Minnesota.
One of the NBA's best all-around players, Garnett has been the target criticism that he was too unselfish and had to take charge with the game on the line, which he did not do at the end of Game 1.
Garnett appeared to take the critique to heart and had a huge game with 31 points, 18 rebounds and four assists, all team highs. He even got some help from teammates Wally Szczerbiak and Chauncey Billups, who scored 25 points apiece. And it still was not enough to beat Dallas.
Nowitzki nearly matched Garnett with 31 points and 15 boards. Finley scored 28 points and contributed eight boards. Nash added 17 points and 10 assists. And it did not stop there.
The high-powered Mavericks had six players in double figures. Nick Van Exel came off the bench to score 17 points, Raef LaFrentz added 14 and 12 rebounds and defensive demon Eduardo Najera had 13 points.
It was easily the highest scoring playoff game this year.
