The Mavericks hit early and hit hard. They rolled up a double-figure lead in the first quarter and never surrendered it, eventually hammering the Spurs, 88-67, at American Airlines Center.

The victory gives the Mavericks a 2-1 lead in the best-of-7 series, protecting the home-court advantage they stole away in Game 1.

How important was the victory?

Winning Game 3 doesn't guarantee success in the series, but it doesn't hurt.

In best-of-7 situations, the team that wins an NBA Game 3 after the series started 1-1 has gone on to win the match 76 percent of the time (122-39).

The Mavericks have never lost a series after going up 2-1 with a win.

On the flip side, it will be the Spurs who will have to come out Saturday afternoon and prove that they have more manhood than they showed in Game 3. The Mavericks jumped on them quickly, going up 8-0 and never looking back.

Tim Duncan had just four points, one fewer than his previous career playoff low.

Parker, who had dissected the Mavericks' defense through two games, met plenty of resistance this time, almost none of it coming from Erick Dampier, who had said after Game 2 he planned on putting Parker on his back when he came into the lane. That didn't happen. What did happen was 5-of-14 shooting for Parker, who had just 12 points, or the same number he had about halfway through the first quarter in Game 2, when he finished with 38.

It's been said that the Mavericks are a 30-something team because they are getting old. That's also what their lead was most of the second half. Rick Carlisle was able to play his deep reserves for almost the entire fourth quarter. No starter played more than 27 minutes.

That luxury came thanks to a monstrous first half, after which the Mavericks led, 46-30. It was the best defensive first half in Mavericks playoff history. The previous low by an opponent had been 34 points.

The Spurs had just 42 points through three quarters, trailed by 33 and were in danger of establishing an NBA playoff low, although they finally passed the record of 54 points with five minutes remaining.

By then, the Mavericks had knocked the stuffing out of the Spurs. J.J. Barea got the start in the backcourt ahead of Antoine Wright, and he responded with sparkling play, funneling Parker toward help defense that came on the baseline anytime the fluttery point guard entered the paint.

By the end, the Mavericks only had to wonder about how this sort of embarrassment would affect the Spurs for the rest of the series.

Easy does it

The Mavericks' biggest playoff wins - all in Dallas:

Margin Opponent Score Date

40 Houston (Game 7) 116-76 May 5, 2005

30 Utah (Game 4) 107-77 May 1, 2001

25 Sacramento (Game 3) 104-79 April 24, 2004

22 Sacramento (Game 2) 132-110 May 8, 2003

22 Seattle (Game 1) 151-129 April 23, 1987

21 San Antonio (Game 3) 88-67 Thursday