|
 Williams scored 27 and the Dallas Mavericks did enough late to
subdue the injury-depleted Phoenix Suns 91-78 at American Airlines
Center.
"Everybody knows when Dirk is out we have to step up a little bit
and fill his void scoring the basketball," Williams said after his
second-highest scoring game this season. "I was able to do that a
little bit."
The Mavericks (28-22) went on a 21-3 run in the fourth quarter to
pull away and finish off a three-game sweep of the season series
with Phoenix.
The Suns fell to 14-35 after their fourth consecutive loss and 10th
in their last 11 games. Phoenix, which is 2-19 since Dec. 20, led
going into the fourth and held a 73-68 edge early in the final
period.
The Suns, without their starting backcourt of shooting guard Eric
Bledsoe and point guard Brandon Knight, didn't have enough firepower
to finish the Mavericks off.
"We don't have a lot of great scorers out there," Suns coach Jeff
Hornecek said. "The guys that we have to score the ball need to
score it. I don't know the last time we broke 100. Without Eric and
Brandon there's not a lot of scoring."
The Mavericks continued their mastery over teams at the bottom of
the standings, improving to 20-6 against teams with losing records.
Nowitzki, rested on the front end of a back-to-back, is expected
back Monday night at Atlanta. Williams did his best Nowitzki
impression by making 10 of 19 shots, including 2 of 5 3-pointers.
Williams also recovered from missing the morning shoot-around with
an allergic reaction to suit up against the Suns.
"This is a team that's without a lot of their key guys due to
injury, so we didn't want to come out and lay an egg," said
Williams, whose season-high is 30 points against Portland on Dec. 1.
Mavericks small forward Chandler Parsons scored 15, with 12 coming
in the first half. Point guard Raymond Felton, starting because of
Nowitzki's absence, had 10 points and six assists. Center Zaza
Pachulia grabbed 15 rebounds.
"We just had a lot of guys play big," Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle
said. "Williams played a great game. I thought Felton down the
stretch made great plays. Huge win with Dirk sitting out."
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Rooking shooting guard Devin Booker paced the Suns with 19 points.
Power forward Mirza Teletovic scored 14, but shot just 3 of 11.
Center Tyson Chandler had 12 points and 13 boards.
Phoenix has lost 14 in a row on the road, tied for the
second-longest such streak in franchise history.
"We have some guys hurt," Suns backup center Alex Len said. "We're a
young group trying to learn, develop and get better from game to
game."
Phoenix took a 65-60 lead in the third on a 10-0 run, with the last
eight points coming Booker.
The Mavericks tied it at 65-65 after guard J.J. Barea scored five in
a row, including a 3-pointer after Dallas had missed 10 straight
from beyond the arc.
The Mavericks went into halftime up 51-45 by closing the second
quarter with a 14-6 spurt. Williams had 18 points at the break.
Phoenix opens a season-long seven-game homestand Tuesday against
Toronto.
NOTES: F Dirk Nowitzki sat out Sunday against the Suns in order to
play Monday at Atlanta. "He's not playing back-to-backs right now,"
Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said. ... Asked if the Mavericks are
currently engaged in any trade talks, owner Mark Cuban said:
"There's nothing really tempting us, no conversations." ... Dallas G
Devin Harris (sprained toe) missed his fourth consecutive game due
to a sprained toe. ... Phoenix PG Brandon Knight (groin strain) has
missed his past six games. ... Suns F T.J. Warren was out with a
right ankle impingement. ... The Suns and Mavericks met for the
third and final time this season.
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