Suns beat Mavs 109-97 in final game before break
(AP Photo/Matt York) Stoudemire and Barbosa scored 26 points each while Steve Nash added 24 points and 13 rebounds as the Suns beat the Mavs, 109-97, in the final game before the All-Star break last night.
The Suns’ gritty performance and good shooting (41-for-72 on FG), especially in the 4th quarter, was the difference as the Mavs were outscored 32-24 in the final period.
The game was contested down to the last 3 minutes when a 4-point play (3-point play from Diaw and FT from Nash on a technical) and a couple of Leandrinho’s Beep-Beep fastbreaks opened the lead for the Suns.
Without Marion, Diaw has been going to the hoop more often, playing more minutes and putting more energy and aggressiveness in the game and I think he’s playing better overall. Boris scored 19 points (9-of-12 shooting), grabbed 8 rebounds and delivered 5 assits.
Playing without josh Howard and Devin Harris the Mavs had to rely entirely on Terry and Nowitzki who combined for 65 points (24-of-54 from the field). The basketball was always in the hands of those two very dangerous players but the Suns were able to do a good job often forcing them to take bad shots.
The Suns finally were able to play a good game, and beat, one of the best teams (despite missing a couple of starters) in the Conference. Don’t forget the Suns are still a 5-11 against Western Conference teams with winning record.
I agree with D’Antoni analysis after the game: “Obviously this is a good win. They have guys hurt and we’re not quite the team we’re going to be next week, but in the standings and everything so close, these games are important, more than normal“.
In other words, a feel-good win before Shaq arrives for real.
Now let’s just enjoy a few days off, have a look at the All-Star weekend as plenty of Suns will be involved in the festivities starting on Saturday when Nash will take part in the 3-point Shootout and ending with the game with Steve and Amaré.
Yours tuly, Steve Fan
Join the discussion at The Locker Room Forum. Arizona Sports 24/7.
Posted by Steve Fan
Blogger and Steve Nash enthusiast. Don't get in his way, he'll MVP your ass.
http://sonsofstevenash.blogspot.com
(1 votes, avg: 5 out of 5)
Loading ...Related Articles:
