Carter beats buzzer, sends Mavs past Spurs, 109-108

Vince Carter hit a double-pump three-pointer at the buzzer to give the Mavericks a 109-108 victory in Game 3 Saturday in Dallas and a first-round series lead over the top-seeded Spurs.

Carter took an inbound pass from Jose Calderon with 1.7 seconds left in the left corner. After a quick pump fake in front of Manu Ginobili, Carter released the ball just before the buzzer. The winning shot was held up on review.

Monta Ellis kept the eighth-seeded Mavericks close in the fourth quarter and finished with 29 points. Tim Duncan led the Spurs with 22 points.

Pacers 91, Hawks 88 - Paul George and David West hit key three-pointers down the stretch, and the top-seeded Indiana Pacers held off the Hawks, 91-88, in Atlanta to even the opening-round series at two wins apiece.

In a game they had to have, the Pacers finally showed some grit. George put the Pacers ahead, 86-85, with a jumper beyond the arc, and West hit another trey with 1:33 remaining. Atlanta had a chance after Kyle Korver was fouled in the corner and knocked down three free throws. But George pulled down an offensive rebound to set up George Hill's driving shot with 56 seconds left.

Heat 98, Bobcats 85 - LeBron James had 30 points and 10 rebounds in Miami's win over host Charlotte. With the win, the Heat took 3-0 lead in the first-round Eastern Conference series.

The Wizards, locked in a rough-and-tumble series against the Bulls, will have to play Sunday's Game 4 without Nene.

The NBA on Saturday said the center had been suspended one game for head-butting and grabbing Bulls guard Jimmy Butler "around the neck with both hands and attempting to throw him down."

Washington leads the Eastern Conference first-round series, 2-1.

- Associated Press