Dallas ? The description of Tony Parker’s winning basket Thursday night sounds more like a tricky H-O-R-S-E shot than anything a coach would design in a huddle: Drive by the defensive specialist, flip the ball over two onrushing 7-footers and swish it into the net.

Parker pulled it off with 1.2 seconds left in overtime, giving the San Antonio Spurs a 112-110 victory over the Dallas Mavericks in a thrilling, pivotal matchup of the NBA’s top two teams.

“We just happened to make the last shot,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “If there were three more seconds, they probably would’ve went down and scored.”

Tim Duncan had 25 points and 18 rebounds, while Parker and Malik Rose each had 22 as San Antonio moved within 21/2 games of Dallas in the race for the league’s best record and, just as importantly, the Midwest Division.

The Spurs, who have won seven of eight and are 5-0 in overtimes, are guaranteed of no worse than tying the season series, which is important because that’s the first tiebreaker. San Antonio also now has two more conference wins than Dallas, putting it ahead in the next tiebreaker.

The Spurs, who have one more game left than the Mavericks, will be home for the final meeting this season — the April 16 finale.

“The Mavericks control their own destiny,” Duncan said. “What we’re worried about is our end of it. Whatever happens, happens.”

Dallas guard Nick Van Exel helped make up for the absence of injured Michael Finley by scoring a career-high 35 points and providing a lift every time the offense needed it. Dirk Nowitzki had 35 points and 12 rebounds.

Nowitzki, who played with five fouls since 6:24 left in regulation, hit a three-pointer with 2:30 remaining in overtime to put Dallas up 110-108.

The Spurs tied it with 38.9 seconds left when Rose beat Shawn Bradley on a short jumper. Then Nowitzki missed a tough shot with 16.6 seconds and Duncan rebounded. The Spurs called timeout twice to set up their last play.

Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki, left, tries to slip past San Antonio's Malik Rose. The Spurs defeated the Mavericks, 112-110 in overtime, Thursday night in Dallas.

Duncan was the first and second option. But he was covered, so the ball went to Parker, and the 20-year-old never hesitated.

Starting on the right wing, he dribbled past Raja Bell and into the lane, then lofted the ball on a high arc from about five feet as 7-foot-6 Bradley and 7-foot Nowitzki charged at him.

Kings 107, Lakers 99

Sacramento, Calif. — Chris Webber had 26 points and 11 rebounds, and Mike Bibby hit two big jumpers down the stretch as Sacramento beat Los Angeles. In the regular season’s third chapter of the NBA’s most entertaining rivalry, Kobe Bryant scored 26 of his 34 points after halftime — but his virtuoso performance couldn’t beat the Kings’ cool-headed play down the stretch.

With their screaming fans reaching deafening levels, Sacramento shook off three mediocre quarters to make a 16-3 run in the final 41/2 minutes. Peja Stojakovic scored nine of his 23 points in the fourth quarter, while Webber got 10 points in the final period.

Shaquille O’Neal, playing with an upset stomach, became the 28th player in NBA history to score 20,000 points. He finished with 28 points and 13 rebounds.

Pistons 113, 76ers 85

Auburn Hills, Mich. — Detroit beat streaking Philadelphia so badly the Pistons didn’t even need to play their starters the whole game. Chauncey Billups scored 29 points despite playing only three minutes in the fourth quarter. He lead six double-figure scorers as the Pistons beat the 76ers for their sixth win in seven games.

Allen Iverson scored just five points — snapping a 186-game streak of scoring in double figures. It was his lowest output since scoring five points on March 2, 2000.