Dallas ? While most basketball fans are monitoring their NCAA brackets, the San Antonio Spurs and Dallas Mavericks are watching the NBA’s Western Conference standings even closer.

That’s why their game Thursday night was so important.

San Antonio guard Antonio Daniels, left, is fouled by Dallas' Greg Buckner. The Spurs defeated the Mavericks, 105-102, Thursday night in Dallas.

With Tim Duncan scoring 32 points, and rookie Tony Parker hitting a big basket in the last half-minute, the Spurs beat the Mavericks, 105-102, for their 11th straight victory and tied them for the Midwest Division lead.

The teams have met three times this season and each game has been decided in the final minute. Adding to the intensity of this meeting between Interstate 35 rivals was the fact both were coming off lopsided victories over the Los Angeles Lakers.

“This is real satisfying,” said David Robinson, who had 22 points and 12 rebounds. “These last two games really gave us a chance to shoot for our short-term goal, which is to win the division. We’ve been through our bumps and bruises and now we’re starting to play like contenders.”

Winning the Midwest is crucial because it guarantees at least a No. 2 seed in the playoffs, maybe even the top spot if the division champ can catch Sacramento for the conference’s best record. The second-place team would have to hold off the Los Angeles Lakers for the third spot or slip to fourth, which could mean a first-round matchup against Minnesota or Portland.

Or, as Dallas coach Don Nelson put it, there are “ramifications I don’t want to envision.”

“Every time we play them it’s like a playoff game,” said Duncan, who also had 14 rebounds and five assists.

The Spurs let a 13-point lead dissolve into a two-point deficit with 2:34 left, then scored six straight, capped by a three-pointer by Bruce Bowen. After a layup by Dirk Nowitzki, Parker buried his open jumper to make it 100-96 with 26 seconds left, then screamed with joy.

“I’m just happy I got an opportunity to knock down a big shot,” said Parker.

Nowitzki, who had 29 points and 14 rebounds, hit two free throws with 20.9 seconds left to get the Mavericks within two. A free throw by Greg Buckner with 19.8 left made it 100-99.

But Buckner missed his second shot and wound up fouling Danny Ferry. His two free throws with 14.5 seconds left put the Spurs up by three.

Clippers 116, Warriors 96

Oakland, Calif. Elton Brand had 30 points and 16 rebounds as Los Angeles handed Golden State its eighth straight loss. Quentin Richardson scored 19 points, and Jeff McInnis and Eric Piatkowski added 18 each as the Clippers moved within a half-game of Utah for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. McInnis added 13 assists, and Miles had 11 rebounds.

Kings 118, Nuggets 82

Sacramento, Calif. Hedo Turkoglu scored a career-high 31 points as Sacramento beat Denver, sending the Nuggets to their seventh straight loss. With Peja Stojakovic sitting out because of an injured hamstring, Turkoglu was 12-of-15 from the field in a rare start.

Hawks 118, Knicks 89

Atlanta Nazr Mohammed scored 24 points, and Shareef Abdur-Rahim added 20 as Atlanta routed New York. Jason Terry matched his season-high with 11 assists for the Hawks, who have won six of seven at home and five of six overall. New York, which had won three of four, dropped to 8-24 on the road. Kurt Thomas led the Knicks with 19 points and 11 rebounds.

Timberwolves 95, Grizzlies 93

Memphis, Tenn. Kevin Garnett scored four of his 25 points in the final 1:15 as Minnesota held off Memphis. The Grizzlies got within two points with just over 30 seconds to play on a five-footer by Pau Gasol. Garnett’s final points came on a layup and two free throws. After a 10-point run, capped by two free throws by Joe Smith, the Timberwolves held an 89-80 lead with 4:41 left.

Pistons 95, Suns 82

Phoenix Clifford Robinson scored 28 points in his return to Phoenix, leading Detroit to its fourth straight victory. Jerry Stackhouse added 23 points and seven assists for the Pistons, who moved 21/2 games ahead of Milwaukee for the Central Division lead. Detroit also moved within 21/2 games of New Jersey for the best record in the Eastern Conference.

Jazz 94, Wizards 79

Salt Lake City Michael Jordan was back in the building. It was a different outcome this time, though. Karl Malone scored 23 points, and John Stockton had 19 as Utah beat Washington in Jordan’s first game at the Delta Center since his winning shot in Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals.