Suns 102, Mavericks 91: Goran Dragic recorded 21 points and 13 assists as visiting Phoenix ended its 10-game losing streak and delivered a major blow to Dallas' slim playoff hopes.
Jared Dudley scored 18 points, P.J. Tucker had 17 and 10 rebounds and Wesley Johnson added 17 points for the Suns, who also snapped a 10-game skid against the Mavericks and avoided being swept in the four-game season series.
Shawn Marion had 22 points and nine boards while Dirk Nowitzki scored 21 points for Dallas, which fell 3 1/2 games behind the Los Angeles Lakers for eighth place in the Western Conference with four games remaining. The Lakers face Portland on Wednesday.
Phoenix used a 14-2 run to take a 28-14 lead with 1:25 remaining in the first quarter. Johnson helped the Suns carry a 61-51 advantage into the break by scoring 15 points on 6-of-7 shooting - including 3-of-4 from beyond the arc - in the second period.
The teams played even in the third as Phoenix held a 10-point lead heading into the fourth quarter. Dallas got as close as 93-89 on Nowitzki's jump shot with 2:03 left, but Tucker hit a layup and a 3-pointer while Dudley added a pair of free throws to cap a 7-0 burst that sealed the win.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Dallas (38-40) failed to get to the .500 mark for the first time since Dec. 12, when it was 11-11. ... Suns F Luis Scola led all players with 15 rebounds. ... Phoenix's previous win was a 99-76 home triumph over the Lakers on March 18.
Phoenix | Dallas | |
Goran Dragic 21 | Scoring | Shawn Marion 22 |
Goran Dragic 13 | Assists | O.J. Mayo 6 |
Luis Scola 15 | Rebounds | Shawn Marion 9 |
Jared Dudley 6 | Free Throws Made | Dirk Nowitzki 7 |
Luis Scola 3 | Steals | Shawn Marion 3 |
Jermaine O'Neal 7 | Blocks | Brandan Wright 5 |
Team | Points | FG% | 3PM-3PA | FTM-FTA | Assists | Rebounds | Blocks | Steals | Turnovers |
Phoenix | 102 | 41.6 | 12-27 | 16-17 | 25 | 48 | 11 | 7 | 11 |
Dallas | 91 | 40.0 | 6-17 | 17-21 | 21 | 49 | 7 | 7 | 13 |