NBA - Mavs sweep Lakers, Hawks even series with Bulls [video]

DALLAS (NBA) - The Los Angeles Lakers' quest for a three-peat came to an embarrassing end as they were unceremoniously dumped out of this year's playoffs.

The Dallas Mavericks completed a 4-0 sweep of their Western Conference semi-finals with a resounding 122-86 win on Sunday to reach the Conference Finals for the first time since 2006.

They now await the winner of the series between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Memphis Grizzlies.

Lakers head coach Phil Jackson, the most successful coach in NBA history with a record 11 championships, walked off the court for the last time.

"This is the final game I coach. It's been a wonderful run," Jackson said afterward, shutting down any rumours that he might reconsider his decision to retire.

"I came back this last year with a bit of trepidation. The thrill of chasing a three-peat is always an exciting thing but I knew it was a big challenge for this team to do it.

"After losing in the finals in 2008 and winning the past two years, that put a lot of strain on the ball club from all sides."

This was the first time Jackson was on the receiving end of a sweep in his 20-year coaching career.

But there was little the Lakers could do on the day to stop a Mavericks team firing on all cylinders.

Mavs sixth man Jason Terry tied an NBA playoff record with nine made three-pointers and the Mavs shot an impressive 60 percent from the floor.

With Terry having the hot hand - he shot nine of 10 from distance - and sharp shooter Peja Stojakovic a perfect six of six from beyond the arc, Dallas tied an NBA record for most three-pointers in a playoff game with 20.

The home side led 27-23 at the end of the first quarter before blowing the game wide open with a near-perfect second quarter.

Terry, who finished with a game-high 32 points, connected on five of six long bombs in the second period alone as the Mavs outscored LA 36-16 for a commanding 63-39 lead at halftime.

The Lakers tried to get back into the game in the third quarter but when Ron Artest missed a wide open lay-up on a fastbreak and Lamar Odom, it was a sure sign of this being Dallas' day.

With the game out of reach, things turned ugly in the fourth quarter as Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum both got ejected for flagrant fouls.

Odom shoved Dirk Nowitzki out of frustration and minutes later Bynum clothes lined diminutive Puerto Rico guard JJ Barea.

"I wasn't happy with the way our players exited the game, on Lamar and Andrew's part. It was unnecessary, but I know they were frustrated," Jackson observed.

Barea set a new career playoff best with 22 points and sharp shooter Stojakovic added 21.

Kobe Bryant had 17 points for the Lakers.

Meanwhile, the Atlanta Hawks tied their series against the Chicago Bulls at 2-2 after winning Game 4 100-88.

Josh Smith displayed his full array of skills with 23 points, 16 rebounds and eight assists.

The Bulls struggled from the field, shooting just 41 percent and hit only three of their 16 three-point attempts.

MVP Derrick Rose symbolised those struggles as it took him 32 field goal attempts to register a game-high 34 points.

Atlanta shared the scoring load with Joe Johnson leading the way with 24 and Dominican Republic big man Al Horford broke out of a slump to add 20.

Game 5 is in Chicago on Tuesday.

On Monday, the Boston Celtics look to even their series with the Miami Heat at two games apiece, while the Memphis Grizzlies aim to take a commanding 3-1 lead over the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder.

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