Nowitzki, Mavs rally past Suns

Posted April 06, 2008 11:00 pm

Associated Press

Dirk Nowitzki scored 32 points and the Dallas Mavericks rallied from a 13-point fourth quarter deficit for a crucial 105-98 victory over the host Phoenix Suns on Sunday.

Josh Howard added 24 and Brandon Bass 19 for the Mavericks, who used a smothering defense in a 16-0 run that put them ahead for good in a game the Suns had led nearly throughout. Phoenix went scoreless for just under 8 minutes, missing 12 shots in the process.

Nowitzki, in his third game back since missing four with a sprained left knee and ankle, scored 12 in the fourth quarter, when Dallas outscored Phoenix 27-9.

Amare Stoudemire had 31 points for the Suns, who were 3-for-19 from the field in the fourth. Steve Nash had 14 points and 10 assists.

Hornets 108, Warriors 96: Chris Paul had 16 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds, and host New Orleans tied a franchise record for single-season victories with its 54th by beating Golden State.

It was the fourth career triple double for Paul, who inspired boisterous chants of M-V-P from a sellout crowd that watched the Hornets win their 11th straight home game and fourth straight overall.

Monta Ellis scored 35 points for the Warriors.

Pistons 91, Heat 75: Rodney Stuckey scored 19 points, Tayshaun Prince added 14 and Detroit wrapped up the No. 2 seed for the Eastern Conference playoffs by beating host Miami.

Spurs 72, Trail Blazers 65: Tim Duncan had 27 points and 11 rebounds, and visiting San Antonio won its 12th straight against Portland.

Pacers 105, Bucks 97: Travis Diener scored 15 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter, and host Indiana beat Milwaukee to remain in the Eastern Conference playoff hunt. The Pacers trail the Atlanta Hawks by three games for the eighth playoff spot in the East with five games to play. Indiana hosts Atlanta Tuesday.

Grizzlies 113, T'wolves 101: Mike Miller scored 34 points and hit a season-high eight 3-pointers to help Memphis hand host Minnesota its fourth straight loss and sixth in the last seven.

Knicks 100, Magic 90: Rookie Wilson Chandler scored a season-high 23 points, Zach Randolph added 20 points and 11 rebounds, and host New York snapped a five-game losing streak by beating Orlando.