Baron Davis has scored 33 points to lead the Golden State Warriors to an upset 97-85 victory over the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the NBA playoffs.

Having defeated the Mavericks in every game during the regular season, the Warriors continued their dominance of the home team with a commanding victory.

With scores tied at half-time, Davis nailed two three-pointers in the last minute of the third quarter to give the Warriors a six-point lead at three-quarter-time.

The Mavericks cut the margin to just two points with seven minutes remaining but the Warriors steadied to claim the win and gain the upper hand in the best-of-seven series.

Davis added 14 rebounds and eight assists for the Warriors, while Stephen Jackson (23 points), Jason Richardson (13 points) and Matt Barnes (10 points) provided ample support.

For the Mavericks, Josh Howard top-scored with 21 points, Devin Harris netted 19, while German superstar Dirk Nowitzki had a poor game with just 14 points on 4-from-16 shooting from the field.

In San Antonio, Allen Iverson (31 points) and Carmelo Anthony (30 points) combined for 61 points as the Denver Nuggets upset the San Antonio Spurs 95-89.

The Spurs led by three points with a little under eight minutes remaining in the match, but Iverson, Anthony and Nene Hilario (13 points) combined to guide the Nuggets home.

Tony Parker top-scored for the Spurs with 19 points, Michael Finley shot 14, while Tim Duncan and Robert Horry netted 14 points apiece.

In Phoenix, Leandro Barbosa scored 26 points as the Phoenix Suns came from behind to defeat the Los Angeles Lakers 95-87.

The Lakers started strongly with Kobe Bryant (39 points) and Lamar Odom (17 points) leading the way, and took a nine-point lead into half-time.

But the Suns cut that margin to just three at the final change and held the Lakers to just 10 points in the final quarter to clinch the win.

Amare Stoudemire (23 points), Steve Nash (20 points) and Shawn Marion (16 points) all had excellent games for the Suns, while defensive specialist Raja Bell did well to slow down the scoring of Bryant in the second half.

In Cleveland, Larry Hughes (27 points) and LeBron James (23 points) starred as the Cleveland Cavaliers thrashed the Washington Wizards 97-82.

Antawn Jamison (28 points) and Jarvis Hayes (18 points) tried hard for the Wizards, but they were no match for the rampant Cavaliers.