DALLAS — Dirk Nowitzki scored 32 points, Jason Terry had 23 and Peja Stojakovic scored 11 of his 15 in the fourth quarter, rallying the Dallas Mavericks to a 98-92 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night that puts the two-time defending champions on the brink of elimination.

Dallas trailed by seven points with 5:05 left and was getting shredded inside by a new-look Lakers lineup featuring three big men. The Mavs hadn’t led since late in the second quarter and a record crowd was turning silent. Then Nowitzki hit a 3-pointer and Stojakovic followed with another, bringing the team and the crowd to life. An 18-6 rally followed, turning around the game and possibly sealing the series.

The Mavericks lead 3-0, and no team in NBA history has ever lost after taking such a lead. Dallas will go for the sweep at home on Sunday.

It’s hard to count out a group that includes Kobe Bryant and is coached by Phil Jackson, the winner of a record 11 titles, especially with Los Angeles having won the last two championships and with the added incentive of Jackson headed to retirement.

Yet the Lakers have only themselves to blame. They blew a 16-point lead in the opener, got routed at home the next game and now have this flop at the finish.

The meltdown included a play where Bryant threw a pass to Pau Gasol, but Gasol expected him to shoot and was looking at the rim. The ball hit him in the back, creating a turnover plucked by Dallas. On the Lakers’ next possession, Bryant came up short on a long jumper to beat the shot clock, leading to a pair of free throws by Nowitzki that put the Mavericks ahead for the first time since the final minutes of the first half.

Bulls 99, Hawks 82

ATLANTA — Derrick Rose shook off the sore ankle and that shocking loss at home. With his team scuffling through the playoffs, he decided it was time to take matters in his own hands.

The Atlanta Hawks never had a chance.

Looking every bit like the MVP, Rose sliced up Atlanta for a career-high 44 points as the Bulls seized control of the Eastern Conference semifinals with their best performance of the postseason, romping to a 99-82 victory over the Hawks in Game 3 Friday night.

“Derrick was in attack mode, obviously,” coach Tom Thibodeau said. “He was attacking from the start. We needed it to set the tone. When he’s not dancing with the ball and he’s attacking, he’s impossible to stop.”

You’ll get no argument from the Hawks.

“He’s tough to cover anyway,” said Jeff Teague, who had the futile task of trying to guard Rose much of the night.”

The Bulls lead the series 2-1, putting Atlanta in must-win position heading into Game 4 Sunday night.