Mavs ready for play-offs as Spurs crush Lakers

Dallas: Defending NBA champions Dallas prepared for another play-off run with a 104-94 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Friday while red-hot San Antonio crushed the Los Angeles Lakers despite Kobe Bryant's return to the court.

Vince Carter scored 19 points, all in the second half, and four of his team mates scored in double figures for the Mavericks.

"I'm just getting ready for the play-offs and being another threat for the team," Carter said.

"We need to prepare ourselves for the play-offs. So regardless of if we're playing for something or not, everybody else will be ready to go."

Dallas gained their 12th consecutive play-off berth when Houston lost to New Orleans on Thursday.

Klay Thompson scored 26 points for Golden State, who lost their seventh successive game.

Sixth in a row

In San Antonio, the Western Conference leading Spurs rolled to their sixth win in a row as Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili each scored at least 20 points in their 121-97 victory over the Lakers.

Duncan led the way with 21, with Parker getting 20 and ten assists.

The victory kept the Spurs half a game ahead of the Oklahoma City Thunder in the race for the West's number one seed. The Thunder beat Sacramento 103-92.

Bryant, who had missed seven games with a bruised left shin, scored 18 for the Lakers.

"I feel great," Bryant said. "It took me a half, but in the second half I felt like I was back in the rhythm."

The Lakers could have clinched home court advantage in the first round of the play-offs with a win.

Instead, they now lead the Clippers by only half a game in the chase for the West's third seed with two regular season games remaining.

The New York Knicks, who have also qualified for the play-offs, were beaten 98-90 by Cleveland despite the return of Amare Stoudemire after missing 13 games with a back injury.

Stoudemire scored 15 points for the Knicks, who qualified for the play-offs on Thursday when Milwaukee lost.