NBA Game Summary - Dallas at Phoenix

Phoenix, AZ (Basketball News) - Amare Stoudemire posted 40 points and 16 rebounds and Joe Johnson scored 25, as the Phoenix Suns pounded the Dallas Mavericks, 127-102, in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals at America West Arena.

The Suns will try to take a 2-0 lead when the teams meet in Phoenix again on Wednesday.

Shawn Marion collected 23 points and 11 boards for the top-seeded Suns, who swept the Memphis Grizzlies in the opening round to earn a trip to the conference semis for the first time since 2000. That year Phoenix was eliminated in five games by the Los Angeles Lakers.

Phoenix guard Steve Nash was playing in his first game since being named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player on Sunday. Nash, who was traded from Dallas to the Suns in the offseason, finished with 11 points and 13 assists in Monday’s win.

Dirk Nowitzki ended with 28 points and 13 rebounds for the Mavericks, who needed seven games to defeat the Houston Rockets in the opening round. Dallas dropped the first two games at home in that series and became just the third team in NBA history to win a best-of-seven series after losing Games 1 and 2 on its homecourt.

Jerry Stackhouse added 14 points in the loss, while Michael Finley, Jason Terry and Marquis Daniels chipped in 13 apiece.

Dallas head coach Avery Johnson showed his frustration late in the third quarter when he was tossed from the game for arguing with an official.