 Dirk Nowitzki shoots the jumper over the Suns' Tom Gugliotta. Glenn James/NBAE/Getty Images from Suns-Mavs: 56k | 300k |
Nowitzki had a four-game stretch during which he averaged 13.5 points while shooting just 30.5 percent from the field as he battled a cold. The Mavericks lost the first three of those games before ending their skid.
The German 7-footer snapped out of his funk with 33 points on 11-of-17 shooting Friday in Miami and continued his torrid scoring against Phoenix, making 8-of-20 shots and 14-of-17 free throws.
"It's hard to fully recover (from the cold) when you have back-to-back games all the time," Nowitzki said. "We're probably taking the day off tomorrow and not practicing. Hopefully, I'll feel 100 percent on Tuesday (against Golden State)."
In his last two games, Nowitzki has been more aggressive, making 24-of-27 foul shots.
"I really wouldn't say it's over," Nowitzki said. "I missed a lot of shots out there tonight, but luckily I was able to find a way to get fouled, get to the line and make some free throws. I missed a lot of open looks, but we won the game and that's the major thing."
Steve Nash had a season-high 29 points and nine assists for the Mavericks, who took the lead for good in the second quarter and easily surpassed their previous season high of 110 vs. Charlotte on November 6.
"We got back to playing a lot harder on defense, pushing the ball, and sharing the ball on offense and that's when we play our best basketball," Nowitzki said. "When we get everyone involved, we're a tough team to beat."
Known more for his defense, the 7-6 Bradley contributed on the offensive end with 12 points in just 13 minutes. He scored five points in an 18-8 second-quarter surge that gave Dallas a 49-39 lead.
Mavs coach Don Nelson started Bradley and brought off the bench forward Juwan Howard, who had 10 points and 13 rebounds.
"I have a better rotation with Juwan coming off the bench," said Nelson. "I am not going to do that the whole season, but I like it a lot when I can match Shawn Bradley up with an opposing center and not have some sort of mismatch at the beginning of the game. I am going to continue to do that. I think that makes our team flow better."
Stephon Marbury scored 31 points and Rodney Rogers added 21 off the bench for the Suns, who had a two-game winning streak snapped.
Phoenix allowed a season high in points. It marked the sixth time this season it has surrendered triple digits but the first time in seven games since November 10.
"They pretty much did what they wanted to do to us," Suns coach Scott Skiles said. "We tried to make some adjustments with the way we were guarding things. No matter what they did, they just kept scoring. They really hurt us on the glass, and that's not a great rebounding team. And they hurt us with the three."
Dallas held a 43-38 rebounding edge and made eight 3-pointers.
Finley scored nine points and Nowitzki and Nash added eight each as Dallas raced to a 31-22 lead after one quarter. The Suns began the second period with nine consecutive points before the Mavs responded with their extended run.
Bradley had a dunk and three-point play and Nowitzki and Adrian Griffin scored four points apiece before a jumper by Finley made it 49-39 with 2:26 remaining in the first half.
"Shawn has contributed offensively for the last couple of games," Nowitzki said. "He's been big for us at both ends of the court. He's always there on the defensive end for us. It's a big plus when he scores more, too."
The Suns got no closer than eight points thereafter. Phoenix trailed 56-44 at halftime and pulled within 81-73 entering the final period, but Nowtzki scored nine points in the first 6 1/2 minutes of the fourth quarter and Howard's basket gave Dallas its largest lead at 101-85 with 4:58 left.
The Mavericks shot 48 percent (39-of-82) and committed just 10 turnovers.
"They're better," Skiles admitted. "I don't want to take anything away from them. Right now, they're a better basketball team than we are."
However, the coach's floor leader disagreed.
"I don't think they are a better team than we are, but tonight they were just better than us," Marbury said.
Shawn Marion collected 19 points and nine rebounds and Penny Hardaway scored 18 points for the Suns, who also shot 48 percent (39-of-82).