DALLAS • The second time proved the charm for Deron Williams.
Instead of giving the Dallas Mavericks a victory at the end of regulation on Tuesday, the veteran point guard did so at the end of the second overtime.
His three-pointer from the corner at the buzzer finished off an improbable 8-0 run that lifted the Mavs past the Sacramento Kings 117-116 in the National Basketball Association.
"We needed this one in a bad way," Williams said at the American Airlines Center.
The Mavericks (20-15) snapped their two-game losing streak, and Sacramento's (14-21) two-game winning streak, which included the Kings' first-ever road win against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday.
"This road trip I think we'll remember that we're coming together in a good way, but just disappointed not to have two wins instead of one," Kings coach George Karl said. "The only thing I can complain about is the outcome of the game."
Despite being down by as many as 10 points in the second half, the Kings were in position to pull off another surprise win when they led 116-109 with 1min 20sec left in the second overtime.
However the Mavericks' evergreen star Dirk Nowitzki, who finished with 23 points, nailed a three-pointer to pull Dallas within two points with 26 seconds left.
Kings guard Darren Collison then shot an air ball, setting up a final possession for the Mavs with 2.3sec left.
Williams took the sideline inbounds pass in the corner, pump-faked on Kings small forward Rudy Gay before draining the game-winner at the buzzer.
"I found myself open, Gay flying at me, just pump faked and I let it go," said Williams, who had 25 points back in the starting line-up, after coming off the bench for two games to nurse a hamstring injury.
The point guard also hit a finger roll with 2.1sec left in regulation that gave Dallas a 98-96 edge.
The Kings were carried by centre DeMarcus Cousins and Gay, as point guard Rajon Rando and small forward Omri Casspi sat out with injuries.
Cousins scored Sacramento's first nine points in the second extra session, and finished with 35 points and 17 rebounds. He added six steals and four assists, and sent the game into the first overtime with a driving lay-up.
"It was an incredible game," he said. "Both teams left it on the floor. Big shots from them, big shots from us, it was just whoever made the biggest shot."
Gay scored 31 points on 13-of-20 shooting. His three-pointer gave Sacramento a 116-109 lead late in the second OT.
"When you're down seven with 1:20 to go, you have to pitch a perfect game," Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said.
"The odds are one-in-100 that you can actually do it, but you've got to have belief."
REUTERS
