DALLAS, Feb. 28 (UPI) -- Keon Clark sank a short jumper with four-tenths of a second left in overtime Thursday night to give Sacramento a thrilling 126-124 win over Dallas.
The Mavericks (44-14) have the best record in the NBA, but the Kings (41-18) have their number. After dispatching them in five games in last year's Western Conference semifinals, they have won all three meetings this season, including both in Dallas.
Clark has had the game-winning basket in each of those games. On Feb. 4, he had a thunderous follow dunk with 16 seconds left that gave Sacramento a 110-109 win.
In this one, the Kings pulled into a 124-124 tie on a lefthanded layup by Doug Christie with 1:16 remaining. Dallas did not score on its next two possessions, giving Sacramento another chance.
Mike Bibby dribbled to the left baseline and launched a fadeaway jumper that sailed over the rim. Clark, alone on the weak side, grabbed the rebound and calmly put in an eight-footer to stun the sellout crowd of 20,059 at the American Airlines Center.
As Dallas called timeout, Clark ran back to the Kings' bench, shouting, "That's two times! That's twice!" while holding up two fingers.
"The game was on the line and I did it last time and this game, too," Clark said. "As long as I'm in these games for the last two seconds, I'm happy with that. I just try to make shots and play basketball. That's all you try to do."
Peja Stojakovic had 36 points and 10 rebounds to lead four players with double-doubles for the Kings, who have won five straight games. Clark had 12 points and 11 rebounds off the bench.
Sacramento lost superstar forward Chris Webber to fouls in the fourth quarter, but erased a seven-point deficit in the final 90 seconds. It lost center Vlade Divac to fouls in overtime, but held Dallas without a basket in the extra session.
"Our team just has that ability to do that," said Kings Coach Rick Adelman. "People go out (of the game) and we really still believe we can still win. That's what we talked about during the time outs. You know this game's up for grabs, it's not over yet, and we need to get guys to step up, and they did."
"We're a team that has always tried to keep team chemistry," Webber said. "I just kept on telling the guys, 'We all believe in each other.' We've got five other guys on that bench that are ready to play."
Dirk Nowitzki had 36 points and 13 rebounds and Michael Finley scored 31 points for Dallas, which was outrebounded, 60-40, and had one basket in the final 12 minutes. The Mavs have lost two in a row following a six-game winning streak.
"I don't feel as though they have a psychological edge on us at all," said Dallas guard Steve Nash. "This is a team that we've all but beaten twice. Luck hasn't been on our side. What more could we do? Sometimes, it doesn't go your way."
"It was a big game for us and we didn't come through again," Nowitzki said. "All we can do is keep our heads up. As far as we are concerned they have a great team, probably the best team in the league."
