Spurs even up series vs. Mavs

DALLAS -- Richard Jefferson rebounded from a miserable performance in the opener to score 19 points, helping the San Antonio Spurs beat the Dallas Mavericks 102-88 on Wednesday night and tie their first-round series at one game apiece.

Jefferson responded just how coach Gregg Popovich was hoping when he said "we had a lot of guys that played like dogs" in the opener. Jefferson matched his Game 1 points in the opening minutes and had 17 by halftime, several coming during a 12-1 surge that broke it open for good.

Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki went from hardly missing in Game 1 to hardly making. He missed six of his first seven shots, and even missed a free throw after having made 88 in a row. He finished with 24 points, down from 36 in the opener.