Phoenix Returns Favor: Suns 112 Mavericks 106

The Mavs controlled the game, leading for all but a minute until a dunk by Louis Amundson put the Suns up 99-98 with 5:31 to go. Phoenix outscored Dallas 28-16 in the fourth quarter. Despite the Mavs leading by as many as a dozen throughout the game, that’s the 12-point deferential that mattered. Jason Terry and Dirk Nowitzki, who had 21 and 19 points respectively, shot 1 for 5 for 2 points in the final quarter. On December 8, Dallas beat Phoenix 102-101 at home.

Terry and the Mavs started quickly against the big offense of Phoenix, scoring 34 in the first 12 minutes, and on his own Terry bucketed 12. No turnovers and 6 by Phoenix helped Dallas to a nine point lead after one quarter.

“He’s a guy that can get it going,” head coach Rick Carlisle said on the Jet’s early performance. “We got him some good looks early, and he delivered with some shot-making. Defensively, he’s active and got a couple steals, so we want to keep him involved.”

With a 59-55 advantage at halftime, the Mavs scored 16 points off the Suns’ turnovers.

Midway through the third quarter, Jason Kidd had 3 3-pointers. He originally downed 4 from long range, but one was later changed to a 2-pointer. Terry and Beaubois also added 3’s, but the Mavs only went 5 for 16. That hurt them as Phoenix, although controlled to an extent, made 9 of 15 for a 60 percent success rate. That number doubled the Mavs. A late 3 by former Maverick Steve Nash gave the Suns a 5-point lead, as the superstar was perfect in 3 such attempts.

Named an All-Star reserve on Thursday, Nowitzki will join Nash for the All-Star Game on February 14th at Cowboys Stadium.