The word "warrior" keeps getting thrown around to describe Dirk Nowitzki's performances in the 2008 playoffs.

Ironically, it was his play against the Golden State Warriors in last season's playoffs that brought much criticism to Nowitzki after an MVP performance in the regular season.

Nowitzki is doing a good job of erasing those memories. His 32-point, 19-rebound performance in Friday's Game 3 win over the Hornets was his second postseason double-double.

Add in six assists and a couple of blocks, and Nowitzki turned in one of the top performances of the 2008 playoffs in the 97-87 Mavericks win.

"You've got to give him credit. He's a warrior," Hornets coach Byron Scott said. "He comes to play every night."

No one was saying that about Nowitzki a year ago when he really only had one Dirk-like performance, in Game 5 of the six-game series.

"The Warriors last year were just a tough matchup for us. As a team we weren't as sharp as we needed to be," Nowitzki said, shaking his head as he recalled last year's nightmare of a series for the Mavericks.

"This year was a lot different," Nowitzki said. "I feel like I had a good rhythm over the last couple of weeks, since I got back [from an ankle injury]. I'm just trying to play hard every game and be in attack mode."

Nowitzki has done just that by averaging 30 points and 11 rebounds a game in the series. He's shooting 52 percent from the field compared to 38 percent in 2007.

His 19 rebounds, 18 of them on the defensive end, helped limit the Hornets' scoring opportunities. That helped the Mavericks get their running game going without having to take the ball out after made shots.

"We tried to put him in situations where he's a little bit closer to the basket," Mavs coach Avery Johnson said. "He was mixing it up in there. He was making strong contact."

Nowitzki had been the Mavericks' lone bright spot in the first two games of the series as the Hornets built a 2-0 lead. In Game 3, Nowitzki's high level of play finally rubbed off on his teammates.

It started from the opening possession when Nowitzki drove the lane for a layup. Johnson said the Mavs were determined to start the game by driving to the basket, if only to signify they were ready to play a physical game.

"Dirk played great," the Hornets' Scott said. "That's why he's an All-Star, a former MVP. He was big tonight on both ends. ... You could tell from the start he was really into it."

Now it remains to be seen whether his warrior spirit will carry the Mavericks the rest of the series and not just one game.