Dirk Nowitzki helps Dallas Mavericks beat Phoenix Suns 112-106
In the final contest before the All-Star break, Dirk Nowitzki tallied 35 points to help the Dallas Mavericks hold on for a 112-106 win over the Phoenix Suns, at the US Airways Centre on Thursday night.
Nowitzki did not play nine games this season due to a right knee sprain. He came back on 14 January and his performance against Phoenix was by far his best since his return.
The German told reporters, "I felt good. I had a good rhythm early and made a couple of shots early, which usually helps. Over the last couple of weeks I haven't really shot the ball well. I hit my first couple of shots and had a good rhythm out there and
kept on attacking."
Tyson Chandler added 12 points and grabbed 12 boards while Jason Terry notched 16 points for the Mavericks, who have won 13 of their last 14 games. Shawn Marion scored 12 points for Dallas, who improved to 9-0 against their Pacific Division rivals.
Peja Stojakovic had 10 points and Jason Kidd dished out 12 assists for Dallas, who reached the 40 win mark at the All-Star break. The Mavericks are the fourth team to achieve that feat entering the All-Star weekend after San Antonio, Miami and Boston.
Channing Frye scored 24 points and collected eight rebounds for Phoenix, who have lost only three of their last 11 games. Vince Carter led the Suns with 16 points while Steve Nash managed his sixth consecutive double-double and 33rd of the 2010-11
season with 15 points and 14 assists.
Phoenix Coach Alvin Gentry expressed disappointment over the loss. He said, "At the end of the day, they made the plays down the stretch and we didn't quite make them. We had shots that could have closed the gap and they didn't quite get in the basket."
Nowitzki led Dallas with eight points as the Mavericks took a 28-25 lead at the end of the first quarter. Terry opened the second quarter with a three-pointer, and another similar shot put Dallas ahead by 46-36 with five minutes to play. By halftime, the
Suns had cut the deficit to just three points at 54-51.
The Suns then tied the game at 59-59 when Lopez hit a dunk early in the third period. After that, Phoenix led through much of the third stanza and got an 80-76 lead with Mickael Pirtrus’s dunk.
Dallas ended the third quarter with a 9-0 run, carrying an 85-80 lead into the fourth quarter. The Mavericks scored the last nine points of the third stanza on Nowitzki’s 22-foot jumper, Marion’s reverse lay-up, Jason Kidd’s three-pointer and a Marion dunk.
The Mavericks opened the scoring in the fourth stanza with another dunk from Shawn Marion. Nash’s driving lay-up made it 94-92 with less than six minutes remaining, but Nowitzki’s two free throws and a five-footer put Dallas up by 98-92. That was as close
as the Suns would get for the rest of the game.
The teams traded baskets into the last minute of game. Frye banked a three-pointer to cut Dallas’ lead to three at 109-106 with less than 18 seconds to play. However, Terry hit a pair of free throws with less than 15 seconds left to give Mavericks a 111-106
lead, which finally put the game out of reach.
Phoenix Head Coach Alvin Gentry said that his team would bounce back after the break. He said, "We have guys that are not quitters. I believe in this team. We will come back after the All-Star break and we will play good basketball and will find a way to
make a run and get in the playoffs."
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