SACRAMENTO, Calif. ? Steve Nash and Don Nelson prefer to send their messages on the court, with actions that relay their intentions and objectives. Nick Van Exel likes to snarl his in words so clear they cannot be misunderstood.

Both means of communication were effective Monday in the Mavericks' 110-102 Game 2 triumph over Sacramento at Arco Arena.

Nelson was subtle but forceful when he made clear exactly how he preferred to battle the Kings, and how he would even this best-of-7 series at 1-1. He would outrun them and outquick them. He would not fret about the Kings' interior advantage. He started Van Exel alongside Nash in the third quarter, and played them together for nearly the entire second half.

"Basically he said, "We're going to go with the two little guys," Van Exel said.