DALLAS, May 7 (UPI) -- Chris Webber got off to a flying start Tuesday night, scoring 13 of his 24 points in the first quarter as Sacramento raced past Dallas, 124-113.
It was Game One of their Western Conference semifinal series.
Second-seeded Sacramento has dominated in Dallas over the last two seasons, and this was no exception. The Kings have won five straight games at American Airlines Center, virtually all of them in demoralizing fashion.
"I really don't know what to expect out of Dallas," said Webber, who made 9-of-15 shots and handed out nine assists. "They are a great team, but I am just so worried about us. I am more worried about us than any other team."
Having not played since dispatching Utah in the first round six days ago, Sacramento wasted no time taking home-court advantage from the third-seeded Mavericks, who were pushed to seven games by Portland before finally closing out the first round Sunday.
"(Fatigue) could have been a lot to it, but at this point in the season you've got to dig deep," said Mavericks guard Nick Van Exel.
"Because if you go to the finals that's the end of June. This is early right now. We're still early into the playoffs. Fatigue shouldn't come into factor right now."
The Kings shot 55 percent (44-of-80) from the field and had six players in double figures. They displayed their usual sharp and creative passing, and turned the second half into a fast-break drill.
"We had time to prepare ourselves for working our game," said Sacramento forward Peja Stojakovic. "We had time to plan for how they were going to play. We did a lot of good things today."
Stojakovic scored 10 of his 26 points in the third quarter for the Kings, who are 5-1 in the postseason, and appear ready to bounce the Mavericks in the conference semifinals for the second straight year.
Nowitzki, who had 31 points and 12 rebounds in Sunday's Game Seven clincher, was limited to 18 and 11, and was not anywhere the factor he has been throughout the postseason. Without a big game from their leader, Dallas never really got untracked and trailed by as many as 28 points.
"They scored 130 on us. That's embarrassing," Nowitzki said. "We've just got to guard them a little better."
Sixth Man Award winner Bobby Jackson scored 23 points for the Kings. Vlade Divac added 14, Doug Christie 13, and Keon Clark 10.
Van Exel, Steve Nash, and Michael Finley scored 20 points apiece for the Mavericks, who shot 47 percent (46-of-98).
