DALLAS, May 20 (Ticker) -- Steve Nash stuck the dagger in the Dallas Mavericks.
|
Suns-Mavericks: 300k   News conference: 300k |
The top-seeded Suns closed out the fourth-seeded Mavericks in six games to move into the conference finals for the first time since 1993, when they were led by NBA MVP Charles Barkley. This time, they were led by Nash, who has removed all doubt about his MVP award.
"Before the series I wasn't sure he was the MVP, but I definitely believe he's the MVP of the league now," Mavericks swingman Jerry Stackhouse admitted.
Over the last four games of the series, Nash averaged 37.0 points, 11.5 assists and 7.0 rebounds. Three of those were in the American Airlines Center, where he had spent the previous six seasons and provided repeated reminders of what the Mavericks let go last summer.
"I just have had such a great time with my teammates this year," Nash said. "We've really done some special things. Not many players get to experience 60 wins and get to have as much fun as we had this year.
"When the playoffs come, the older you get, you realize you don't get that many opportunities at this. You kind of see the end of your career at some point. Although it's a long way off, you realize the urgency in that."
Although Nash's recent run has included a career-high 48 points and his first career postseason triple-double, this one may have been the best of all. With the Suns seconds away from heading back home for the unknown of a Game 7, Nash quickly dribbled upcourt and drilled a 3-pointer that made it 111-111 with 5.7 seconds left.
"I'm not sure exactly what the time was, but going at that speed you know you can get some separation," Nash said. "I figured I'd get a pretty good look at it."
Stackhouse missed a 3-pointer and Nash and Shawn Marion took charge in overtime, combining for all but one of Phoenix's 19 points. They worked a beautiful pick-and-roll that led to Marion's teardrop shot, giving the Suns a 123-118 lead with 1:46 remaining.
Marion scored 11 of his 38 points in overtime and grabbed 16 rebounds - both playoff career highs -- as he picked up the slack for foul-plagued All-Star center Amare Stoudemire. The Suns made a pair of charges in the fourth quarter, both with Stoudemire off the floor.
"Obviously it's not what we wanted. We couldn't get any breaks," Nash said. "(Stoudemire) kept getting kind of some ticky-tack fouls and fouled out."
"It was a feel for the game at the time," Marion said. "Amare was in foul trouble most of the game so I was getting more involved and he (Nash) was finding me. I had it going."
While the Suns rallied around their star in Nash, the Mavericks unraveled around All-Star forward Dirk Nowitzki, who was barking at teammates but missed all five of his shots in overtime. Nowitzki and Nash were best friends as Dallas teammates.
The run-and-gun Suns erased a 16-point third-quarter deficit, squandered a five-point fourth-quarter lead and trailed, 104-99, with less than three minutes to play. But they kept coming behind Nash, who scored eight points in the final minute of regulation.
"Steve Nash had an incredible series," Mavericks coach Avery Johnson said. "He is playing as good basketball as I have seen him play in his career."
Stoudemire scored 18 points and Jim Jackson added 16 for the Suns, who have less than 40 hours before hosting second-seeded San Antonio in Sunday's conference finals opener.
"It was a great series and the good news is that we passed, but the bad news is that we have a quick turnaround and San Antonio is waiting for us," Suns coach Mike D'Antoni said.
Jason Terry scored a postseason career-high 36 points but made a crucial mental error and Nowitzki added 28 and 13 rebounds for Dallas, which was just 3-4 at home in the postseason.
Stoudemire committed his fifth foul late in the third quarter and took a seat. With Nash at the controls, the Suns opened the fourth period with a 14-2 run and took a 91-86 lead on a dunk by the otherwise quiet Quentin Richardson at the 8:08 mark.
Stoudemire came back, but so did Dallas. Nowitzki sank two free throws and a 3-pointer before a free throw by Stackhouse gave the Mavericks a 104-99 bulge with 2:40 to go.
After Stoudemire fouled out, Nash drilled a 3-pointer for a 106-105 lead with a minute left, but Howard made a layup and Nowitzki hit two foul shots for a 109-106 advantage with 27 seconds to play.
Nash drove for a layup and -- after Stackhouse made a pair from the line -- did not call timeout, dribbled upcourt and buried the tying 3-pointer over Terry, who had a chance to foul but did not, earning an on-court tongue-lashing from Nowitzki.
"It's a tough play to defend," Nash said. "We had run a bunch of pick-and-rolls and we pushed the ball down the court. It's really difficult to defend someone who's pushing the ball full speed down the court. You don't know if he's going to come off the pick-and-roll, you don't know if he's going to go in for a quick two."
"You just can't give up a three at that point," Stackhouse said. "We've got to do everything we can to make a guy drive and get two points. We backed off of him, he was in a groove and feeling good, he just stepped right into it and knocked down a three."
Nash and Marion sank consecutive 3-pointers early in overtime, giving Phoenix the lead for good at 119-114. In the final seconds, Dallas had a chance to tie, but Nowitzki missed badly on a 3-pointer and Nash made two free throws to seal it at 128-123 with 8.3 seconds to go.
Richardson had 11 points and 13 boards for the Suns, who shot 49.5 percent (48-of-97) from the field and held a 55-47 advantage on the glass. Josh Howard had 21 points and 14 boards and Stackhouse scored 19 points for the Mavericks, who shot 43 percent (42-of-97) and made 35-of-43 free throws.
With Stoudemire struggling and Nowitzki, Terry and Howard providing a triple threat, Dallas opened an 80-64 lead in the third quarter before 3-pointers by Nash and Jackson capped a 13-0 surge that made it a game again.
"I think when we get down, we get a sense of urgency to come back," Marion said. "We can score 16 points in just a couple minutes, so it's just a matter of us staying focused and getting some stops to help ourselves to get back in it."
