MINNEAPOLIS, April 28 (UPI) -- Dirk Nowitzki scored 17 of his 39 points in an outstanding first quarter Sunday as the DAllas Mavericks completed a three-game sweep of their NBA Western Conference first-round series, holding on for a 115-102 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The fourth-seeded Mavericks advanced to the conference semifinals for the second straight year and await the winner of the series between top-seeded Sacramento and eighth-seeded Utah.
It was the sixth straight first-round exit for superstar Kevin Garnett and the Timberwolves, tying a record set by Portland from 1993-98. Garnett is 5-18 in the postseason.
While Garnett's problems continue, Nowitzki has become a playoff monster. He had 17 rebounds as he posted his fourth straight 30-15 game. He wasted no time establishing a tone, making 6-of-6 shots in the opening period as Dallas raced to a 40-28 lead.
The Mavericks led by as many as 20 points before the Timberwolves made one final run on their home floor, closing within 104-101 on a free throw by Garnett with 4:04 to play.
But forward Eduardo Najera, often overlooked among the Mavs' many offensive stars, made three straight big plays. He drew a charge, dove to the floor for a steal and put home a follow shot to stop Minnesota's momentum.
Michael Finley scored 30 points and Steve Nash added 25 points and 11 assists for Dallas, which has won playoff series in consecutive seasons for the first time in club history.
