Facing an elimination game in the first round wasn’t exactly how the Dallas Mavericks planned out their playoff run this spring; but the only thing they can do now is take it one game at a time.

With their backs to the wall, the Mavs were led by Caron Butler; who set an aggressive, energetic tone early and kept it up throughout a 103-81 victory over  the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday night in Game 5 of their first-round series.

The Mavs resembled the team that marched its way to the #2 seed after its trade for Butler and Brendan Haywood in the regular season; rather than the one that has been struggling since Game 2 of this series.

Butler scored a career playoff-best 35 points and had 11 rebounds, while Haywood provided a strong inside presence at both ends in his first start of this postseason. He had 8 points, 8 rebounds and 4 blocks, and was a big reason Tim Duncan scored just 11 points.

The Spurs still lead the series 3-2, giving the veteran club two more chances to get into the second round. Only 8 teams have ever blown a 3-1 lead, and Game 6 is in San Antonio on Thursday night where there has been questionable officiating both of the previous 2 games that were played there.

In other NBA playoff action:

• LeBron James had a near triple-double as the Cleveland Cavaliers advanced to a playoff date with the Boston Celtics by beating Chicago 96-94 in Game 5 on Tuesday night
• Pau Gasol had 25 points and 11 rebounds, Andrew Bynum added 21 points and the Lakers rebounded from back-to-back losses with a 111-87 victory over Oklahoma City; taking a 3-2 lead in their first-round playoff series.
• Ray Allen scored 24 points, making five 3-pointers in the second half to help Boston beat Miami 96-86 on Tuesday night and eliminate the Heat in Game 5 of their first-round playoff series.
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