Dirk Nowitzki scored 35 points as the Dallas Mavericks continued their hot play with a 112-106 win over the Phoenix Suns. Nowitzki hit 13 of 18 shots including three three-pointers. His counterpart Channing Frye led the Suns with 24 points on 9-15 shooting. Steve Nash, the two-time MVP who is having the best statistical season of his career yet didn't make the All-Star team and is drawing zero popular support on the topic, had 15 points and 14 assists. (For the record, I'm a part of the zero popular support crowd. He's not better than the guards on the team this year. Says something about his MVPs, no?)
Mavericks Vs. Suns: Dirk Nowitzki Lifts Dallas Past Steve Nash, Phoenix
Rodrigue Beaubois, the French firebolt in his second game of the season, scored nine points as Dallas' starting two-guard. Many (including myself) have maintained he's a perfect ballast for Dirk; he was incredible in short minutes last season, and has the right combination of speed and aggression to augment the Mavs' traditional halfcourt Dirk-based attack. A few games after the All-Star break ends, it will be interesting to see how well Beaubois plays with the rust shaken off.
The Mavs will be happy to win on the road against a decent team, though you wonder if the margin and Peja Stojakovic’s continued mediocrity might convince Dallas to become movers at the NBA trade deadline. All-Star Weekend ought to reveal which way the Mavs are leaning.
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