News / Sports
NBA Scores: Phoenix Suns Blowout Dallas Mavericks
Steve Nash scored 23 points and had 11 assists while Amare Stoudemire added 24 points and 9 rebounds as the Phoenix Suns (55-18) beat the Dallas Mavericks (61-12) 126-104 to stay 2 ½ games in front of the San Antonio Spurs for the second seed in the Western Conference playoff race.
Phoenix shot 64 percent from the field and hit 22-23 from the foul-line to snap the Mavericks nine-game winning streak.
The Mavericks used back-to-back three-pointers from Josh Howard and Jason Terry to take an early 12-8 lead in the first quarter and bumped their advantage to five when Howard hit another triple with 4:26 on the clock. Phoenix answered with an 8-0 run to go up 22-19 but Dallas closed the quarter on a 10-4 run to head into the second with a 29-26 lead.
Phoenix scored the first seven points of the second quarter and managed to close the half with a four point lead, 60-56.
Stoudemire came out in the third quarter and scored the Suns first seven points and Phoenix was up 67-60. Dallas fought back to tie it at 69-69 but Nash hit a pair of free-throws, Shawn Marion threw down a dunk and Raja Bell drained a three-pointer and Phoenix was back in front by seven. The Mavericks were able to get as close as five but Phoenix ended the quarter with an 89-82 edge.
The Suns opened it up in the fourth, taking advantage of a three minute cold spell from the Mavericks and built their lead to 102-89. Over the last six minutes of the game the Mavericks could hit just three field goals as the Suns closed out on a 24-12 run.
Josh Howard led the Mavs with 28 points and 7 rebounds while Dirk Nowitzki finished with 21 points 6 rebounds and 6 assists.
