April 20, 2010

SAN ANTONIO (AP)—The Spurs are moving on, and Dallas is done early again.

Manu Ginobili(notes) scored 26 points and San Antonio survived blowing a 22-point lead to beat the Mavericks 97-87 in Game 6 on Thursday night, handing Dirk Nowitzki(notes) and second-seeded Dallas another first-round exit.

The Spurs got payback after the Mavs eliminated them a year ago, and will play either Phoenix or Portland in the Western Conference semifinals.

Nowitzki nearly carried the Mavs to an unbelievable comeback, getting 25 of his 33 points in a remarkable second half. But the Mavs still stumbled to their third first-round exit in the last four years.

George Hill(notes) had 21 points for the Spurs, who are coming off their worst regular season in the Tim Duncan(notes) era.