The Associated Press

DALLAS - A combination of small ball, guts and resiliency weren't enough to defeat the San Antonio Spurs. Almost, but not quite.

Tony Parker had another impressive offensive performance, Manu Ginobili was stunning at both ends of the court and Tim Duncan recovered from a slow start to lead the Spurs to a 102-95 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday night.

San Antonio took a 3-1 lead in the best-of-7 series, with Game 5 set for Tuesday night.

The Mavericks kept the game interesting and close throughout. But in the end, the absence of Dirk Nowitzki due to a sprained knee ligament was too much to overcome.

Parker scored 25 points, Ginobili had a career playoff-high 21 and Duncan - who had only eight points at halftime - added 21 points, 20 rebounds and seven assists for the Spurs, who overcame an emotional and desperate effort from the Mavs.

Michael Finley and Steve Nash scored 25 apiece and Nick Van Exel added 22 for the Mavs, whose comeback attempts in the fourth quarter fell short.

With Nowitzki and two other centers injured, the Mavs had no choice but to go with a small lineup and try to beat San Antonio the same way Phoenix did twice in the first round - collapsing on Duncan on defense, and using dribble penetration plays and 3-point shooting on offense.

It almost worked.

And if the Spurs' duo of foreign-born youngsters - Parker and Ginobili - hadn't carried the offense for long stretches, it might have worked.

After San Antonio went ahead 89-80 with a 7-0 run, Dallas came back and pulled within two on a 3-pointer by Raef LaFrentz with 3:12 left. Malik Rose answered with a dunk, and LaFrentz airballed 3-pointer on his final shot attempt. He fouled out less than a minute later.

Duncan hit one of two from the line, Ginobili stole the ball from Walt Williams and Rose scored inside with 2 seconds left on the shot clock for a 96-89 lead with 1:40 left.

Two misses by Van Exel were followed by an offensive foul on Duncan, sending the game into the final minute with San Antonio holding a 96-89 lead. The Mavs got no closer than five the rest of the way.

At a glance

Saturday's game

• New Jersey 102, Detroit 82;

Nets win series 4-0

Sunday's game

• San Antonio 102, Dallas 95;

Spurs lead series 31

Tuesday's game

• Dallas at San Antonio, 9 p.m.