Los Angeles — Dirk Nowitzki scored 28 points and hit two go-ahead free throws with 19.5 seconds left as Dallas rallied for a 96-94 victory over Los Angeles on Monday night in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series.
Nowitzki had 14 rebounds for the Mavericks, who rallied from a 16-point deficit in the second half of the teams’ first postseason meeting in 23 years.
Bryant scored 21 of his 36 points in the second half for the Lakers, but he fell down while trying to get the ball from Pau Gasol with 5 seconds to play. After one free throw by Jason Kidd, Bryant missed a 3-pointer just before the buzzer.
Game 2 is set tomorrow night at Staples Center.
Gasol had 15 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists for the second-seeded Lakers, who lost their second straight series opener.
The Mavericks trailed 92-87 with 3:32 to play, but finished on a 9-2 run.
Hawks 103, Bulls 95
At Chicago, Joe Johnson scored 34 points as Atlanta beat top-seeded Chicago in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.
The Bulls got a scare when Derrick Rose came up limping at the end of the game. He stepped on Jamal Crawford’s foot as he dribbled out the final seconds and was helped off by teammates and a trainer.
The Hawks went on a 15-2 run that bridged the third and fourth quarters to take an 80-71 lead with 10:27 remaining. Johnson scored eight points during that stretch.
Game 2 is Wednesday night at the United Center.
Johnson hit 12 of 18 shots and all five 3-point attempts. Crawford scored 22 points for the Hawks, who shot 51.3 percent. Rose scored 24 points on 11-of-27 shooting. Luol Deng scored 21 points for Chicago. /ap