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Peja, Kings hold off Mavs

DALLAS - Peja Stojakovic came out of his shooting slump just in time to send the Sacramento Kings home on the verge of closing out their first-round playoff series.

And on the game's final play, his defense helped, too.

Stojakovic, who felt so out of whack the previous game that he took only one shot in the second half, missed 10 straight in the first half Monday night, then came back with five straight baskets to get Sacramento rolling to a 94-92 victory against Dallas.

The Kings lead 3-1 with Game 5 of the best-of-seven series Thursday night.

Sacramento nearly blew it, though, letting a 91-83 lead with 3:23 left come down to a final play. Steve Nash took an inbound pass with 8.4 seconds left. Stojakovic wound up on him because of a pick-and-roll with Dirk Nowitzki, and he was able to contain Nash behind the free-throw line. A fading 18-footer jumper at the buzzer bounced off the rim.

PISTONS 109, BUCKS 92: If Detroit always was this good on offense, it wouldn't have to rely so heavily on its throttling defense.

The visiting Pistons shot 56.9 percent and got 27 points from Richard Hamilton and 20 from Rasheed Wallace in taking a 3-1 series lead.

Neither team had shot better than 45 percent in the series that shifts to Auburn Hills, Mich., for Game 5 on Thursday. Milwaukee never has recovered from a 3-1 deficit to win a series.

Detroit scored 28 off 16 turnovers, many on easy baskets late in the game.

WALTHAM, Mass. - Celtics interim coach John Carroll was dismissed after taking over a team in turmoil and guiding it to a brief playoff appearance.

"This is a time that we need to make a change," Celtics director of operations Danny Ainge said.

Asked whether Carroll would be with the team next season, Ainge said: "Not unless the new coach would like to have John Carroll on his staff."

NEW YORK - Pacers forward Ron Artest made the all-defensive first team for the first time. Lakers guard Kobe Bryant and Spurs guard Bruce Bowen, Pistons center Ben Wallace and Timberwolves forward Kevin Garnett also were chosen. The second team was comprised of Spurs forward Tim Duncan, Nets guard Jason Kidd, Jazz forward Andrei Kirilenko, Trail Blazers center Theo Ratliff and Kings guard Doug Christie.

MURPHY UPDATE: Former Rocket Calvin Murphy's arraignment on charges he molested five of his daughters was rescheduled for May 12.

TIMBERWOLVES: Forward Wally Szczerbiak is expected to be out for at least the rest of the playoff series against Denver after cracking three vertebrae in his back.