Dallas Hustles Past Phoenix in 95-88 Victory

PHOENIX —  It was so convincing, so thorough, that it was worth a second glance, if not third, for fact-checking purposes.

The Dallas Mavericks did what few before had done, holding the Phoenix Suns to four meager fastbreak points, a feat worthy of a victory that eventually came, 95-88, in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals Sunday at US Airways Center.

The Mavericks stuffed Steve Nash -- seven assists? -- and frustrated Shawn Marion to move to two victories from their first NBA Finals appearance in a mostly mediocre 26 seasons of existence.

Born in 1980, the Mavericks could never get past the Lakers or Portland in the playoffs that decade and were apparently so horrified by their failures that they decided to skip 11 consecutive postseasons until 2001. But here they are, in their sixth consecutive season of playoffs, back in control of a series that initially slipped their grip.

Dirk Nowitzki had another well-rounded game with 28 points, 17 rebounds and five assists, and Josh Howard continued to do better than the “up-and-coming forward” description that usually precedes his name. He had 22 points and 12 rebounds.

The Suns looked nothing like the team that had 32 fastbreak points in a Game 1 victory, or even 21 fastbreak points in a Game 2 loss.

“I think we don’t get enough credit for being the team that hustles,” Mavericks Coach Avery Johnson said. “And if you don’t out-hustle the Suns with the way they play ... you’re going to be in trouble.”

Johnson had such distaste for the Mavericks’ sloppy Game 1 defense that he was still ripping it 90 minutes before Game 3, appealing to a team official for a little help, perhaps even a synonym or two.

“We were just really embarrassed by our defense in Game 1. It was just -- I think I’ve used atrocious. Have I used that word, Sarah?” he said.

It can be stricken from Johnson’s vocabulary, for now.

The Suns haven’t looked quite the same since Raja Bell went down because of a strained calf near the end of Game 1. They hadn’t dipped below 90 points in their other 16 playoff games. They hadn’t fallen this far offensively since a loss in March to New Jersey.

They also had no steals, tying a franchise playoff low. They also had none against Seattle in April 1976.

Maybe their tired legs have returned. Their fastbreak was definitely broken.

“We got it wrong,” Suns Coach Mike D’Antoni said. “Didn’t do it, didn’t have the necessary energy. If we don’t spread the floor, hit them quick, then we’ll end up with about 88 points and that’s more or less what happened.”

This is the place where the Suns have faded in recent playoff history. They lost to San Antonio in five games in last season’s Western finals, as Marion averaged only 7.8 points.

Marion had 18 rebounds Sunday but only 10 points on four-for-12 shooting.

“I don’t know if fatigue is a factor for us, but we’re not running like we need to,” Nash said. “And, you know, it was a little frustrating not to see us really give that extra effort.”

The game didn’t end without controversy.

The Mavericks held a 90-84 lead when Nowitzki missed a three-point heave with 1:20 to play to beat the 24-second clock. The ball appeared to miss everything, but a violation was not called. Jerry Stackhouse took the rebound and Jason Terry eventually hit a nine-foot floater on the possession for an eight-point lead.

Suns fans booed, many as they headed for the exits.

“If [referees] missed it, that’s a big play,” D’Antoni said.