Kings wrap up series win over Mavericks

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- In one amazing race of a playoff series, the Sacramento Kings were faster, deeper and tougher than Dallas -- and maybe even good enough to beat the Lakers.

Chris Webber and Mike Bibby each scored 23 points to lead six Kings in double figures Monday night as the franchise advanced to the Western Conference finals for the first time since 1981, beating the Dallas Mavericks 114-101 to win the best-of-seven series in five games.

Fill-in starter Hedo Turkoglu had 20 points for the Kings, who averaged more than 114 points in an incredibly entertaining series. At the final buzzer, the Kings had a group hug at center court while team owner Gavin Maloof jumped and danced with the team's cheerleaders on the court.

The Kings will play the winner of the semifinal between Los Angeles and San Antonio which the Lakers lead 3-1 with Game 5 Tuesday in Los Angeles.

While closing out a playoff series at home for the first time since 1964, the Kings backed up their run to the NBA's best regular-season record with a historic and convincing victory over the Mavs, whose offensive firepower made them a favorite of many observers.

But in front of an Arco Arena crowd that seemed louder than the Mavericks' customized team plane, the Kings got the last of three straight victories despite the absence of second-leading scorer Peja Stojakovic, who hasn't played since the third quarter of Game 3 because of a sprained ankle.

What's more, Webber limped to the locker room in the third quarter after spraining his left ankle, missing several minutes. But no distraction in this series seemed to bother the Kings -- not the health of their All-Stars, not the cowbell chorus behind their bench in Dallas, not even the Mavs' high-octane offense.

After all, the Kings have been playing this style for four seasons now during the most exciting time in franchise history -- and the payoff finally has arrived. The fans' chants of "Beat L.A.!" began in the third quarter, when the game's outcome was still in doubt, and picked it up again afterward.

Around the league

LAKERS-SPURS:Poise, stifling fourth-quarter defense and Kobe Bryant have been the key factors as the Los Angeles Lakers have moved within one victory of the Western Conference finals.

The two-time defending NBA champions can send San Antonio home for the summer tonight -- and probably will unless the Spurs can do a better job offensively down the stretch.

That's assuming the Spurs are not thoroughly demoralized by the recent chain of events.

"I don't think we need to change a lot," Spurs center David Robinson said Monday. "We're right there; maybe execute a little better down the stretch. Some of it is making good decisions.

"We've just got to put the ball in the basket."

The Lakers took a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series on Sunday by outscoring the Spurs 13-1 over the last five minutes of an 87-85 victory before a disappointed crowd of 32,342 at the Alamodome.

CELTICS-PISTONS:The Boston Celtics have a stifling defense and a whole lot of history on their side.

The Celtics, who hold a 3-1 series lead over the Detroit Pistons, are one victory away from advancing to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 1988.

Boston, which hadn't made the postseason in seven years, never has lost a playoff series after leading 3-1.

The visiting Celtics will try to knock out the Pistons tonight, using the same defensive game plan that held Detroit to a 73.3 point average the last three games.

-- From wire reports