The Golden State Warriors have pulled off a stunning upset of the National Basketball Association leading Dallas Mavericks to reach the second round of the playoffs.
The Warriors trounced the top seeded Mavericks 111-86 Thursday to win their Western Conference best-of-seven series four-games-to-two. It is the first time in NBA history an eighth seed has beat the top seed in a seven game playoff series.
It was a sweet victory for former Dallas coach Don Nelson who steered the Warriors into the playoffs for the first time in 13 years, and then eliminated the team he coached for seven years.
Stephen Jackson led Golden State with a career playoff high 33 points, including seven three pointers. The Warriors next face the winner of the series between the Utah Jazz and the Houston Rockets.
That Western series is tied at three games apiece after Utah beat Houston 94-82 Thursday. Game seven is Saturday in Houston.
The NBA playoffs continue Friday with the New Jersey Nets trying to advance in the Eastern Conference when they take on the Toronto Raptors for game six of their best-of-seven series.
