Nowitzki, Terry lead Mavericks past Suns 106-91

[December 18, 2010]  DALLAS (AP) -- Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry scored 18 points apiece and the surging Dallas Mavericks took advantage of an injury to Phoenix guard Steve Nash, beating the Suns 106-91 on Friday night.

Caron Butler added 17 points, Shawn Marion had 15 and Tyson Chandler pulled down 12 rebounds for the Mavericks, who have won 14 of 15.

The Suns played without their star point guard for the final three quarters after Nash left because of what the team called a "stinger."

With 7:17 left in the first quarter, Nash and Chandler collided while going for a loose ball in the Phoenix backcourt. Nash's neck appeared to drive into Chandler's hip, and Nash was down for several minutes before walking slowly to the bench.

Nash, who started the night averaging 18.1 points and 10.6 assists per game, finished with four points and one assist.

Hakim Warrick had 15 points and 14 rebounds and Goran Dragic contributed 14 points and 10 assists for the Suns, who have lost four of five.

Phoenix started the night averaging a league-high 109 points per game. Dallas was holding opponents to 93.2 per game. Only five NBA teams were better defensively.

Butler's seven points paced a 22-6 run from the end of the second quarter through the early part of the third as the Mavs expanded their advantage to 70-48 with 5:58 left in the third.

Dallas took an 80-59 lead into the fourth quarter, with Phoenix going 7 for 24 from the floor in the third.

The Mavericks wasted first-half leads of 17 or more points in their previous three games, winning twice.

Not this time. Dallas led by as many as 24 in the third and never let its advantage slip to fewer than 12 points in the final quarter.

The Mavs built a 54-42 halftime lead behind Terry's 16 points and Marion's 15. Nowitzki committed three first-half fouls and had only four points at the break.

NOTES: The Mavs have won the last six at home against the Suns and seven of nine overall. ... The game was held up for about five minutes following a timeout in the second quarter when plastic debris from a holiday promotion littered midcourt. Several arena workers had problems sweeping up the clingy material. ... Phoenix C Robin Lopez had six points in his second game back since missing 14 with a sprained left knee. ... Suns F Channing Frye fouled out with 3:50 left, finishing with eight points and 14 rebounds. ... The Suns fouled Mavericks C Brendan Haywood intentionally three times in the fourth quarter. Haywood missed five of six free throws before he was replaced by C Ian Mahinmi. The Suns tried fouling Mahinmi, who made four straight from the line.

[Associated Press]

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