Nowitzki, Mavs hold off Suns in Game 3 to take series lead

Phoenix, AZ (Sports Network) – Dirk Nowitzki scored 28 points and grabbed 17
rebounds as Dallas captured the pivotal third game of the Western Conference
finals with a 95-88 win over Phoenix at US Airways Center.

It was a tale of two halves as Phoenix took a five-point lead, 52-47, into
halftime, but could only manage 36 second-half points on a dismal 34 percent
shooting from the floor en route to a 2-1 deficit in the series.

Game 4 will be played Tuesday in Phoenix.

Josh Howard converted a big steal into a layup with 2:09 to play, scoring two
of his 22 points and giving the Mavericks a six-point lead, 90-84.

The Suns could only muster four points over the final 2:44 of the game, and
Dallas took good care of the ball, going the final 17 minutes of the game
without a turnover. Steve Nash paced Phoenix with 21 points and Boris Diaw
netted 20, but scored just six in the second half, as the Suns’ 88 points were
a playoff-low for this postseason.

DAL PHO