Diaw's Big Night Sparks Suns
Guard Scores 34 Points, Including Game-Winner, in West Opener

By Jaime Aron
Associated Press
Friday, May 26, 2006

DALLAS -- Steve Nash was done distributing.

Even though he had set up three straight baskets and was nearing his career playoff high in assists, the Phoenix Suns were losing by nine points -- and time was running out in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals.

So the two-time MVP took things into his own hands.

Nash scored 10 straight points, fed Shawn Marion for a go-ahead dunk then wound up being somewhat of a decoy on the deciding play, a turnaround jumper by Boris Diaw with a half-second left that helped give the Suns a 121-118 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night.

"For much of the second half, I was trying to facilitate our other guys and take mismatches into the post," Nash said. "Our guys were playing great down there, so I really wanted to let them go for it.

"But it was important to make some shots and be aggressive. So, I guess, in a way, I tried to be a little more aggressive."

The former Dallas star finished with 27 points and 16 assists, the most by anyone this postseason and one shy of his most ever in the playoffs.

More importantly, the Suns claimed home-court advantage and showed that for all the changes they've made since last year's playoffs, they can still use and inside-outside combination to beat the Mavericks -- even if that inside role is now being filled by Diaw instead of the injured Amare Stoudemire.

Diaw scored a career-high 34 points, capped by his seven-foot turnaround jumper after faking defender Jerry Stackhouse out of position.

"It was a heck of a shot," Stackhouse said.

The Mavericks led 114-105 with 3 minutes 43 seconds left when Nash got rolling, hitting a pair of three-pointers, a layup and two free throws. After a dunk by Marion put the Suns ahead, the Mavericks went up by a point with 4.8 seconds left on a jumper by Devin Harris, who set a career high of his own with 30 points.

As the Suns set up for an inbounds pass, Nash realized Dallas was ready for the play they'd called. Nash was going to call timeout, but instead let Tim Thomas throw the ball to Diaw to see what he could do.

The result was further proof why Diaw was voted the NBA's most improved player and why Phoenix is back in the conference finals for a second straight year despite having had Stoudemire for only three games.

"At one point there was a label on him that he was a soft, noncompetitive player," Suns Coach Mike D'Antoni said. "I'm telling you he's just the opposite. . . . He's one of the most competitive guys we have, just an intelligent basketball player that knows how to play."

Dirk Nowitzki had 25 points and 19 rebounds, but the Mavericks blew their late lead with a spurt of turnovers and a lack of defensive stops when they needed them most.

"We were just bad tonight in a lot of different areas that we have to improve on in a hurry," Coach Avery Johnson said.

Dallas fans might not be able to take more of these heart-stopping finishes. The Mavericks were coming off a second-round series against San Antonio that included six games decided at the end, including Game 7 in overtime.

One consolation for the Mavericks is that they also lost the opener to the Spurs. Another is that Game 2 is in Dallas on Friday night.

For Phoenix, this furious finish stuff is becoming fun.

The Suns lost all seven regular season games decided by three points or less, then dropped another early in the playoffs. But now they've won two nail-biters, having also beaten the Clippers 94-91 in Game 3 of the previous round.

Both teams lost starters to leg injuries -- Josh Howard for Dallas (sprained right ankle) and Raja Bell (strained left calf) for Phoenix. The Suns also are concerned about Marion, who had 24 points and 13 rebounds but appeared to hurt his left ankle in the final minutes.

Asked if he'll be able to play Game 2, Marion said, "Hey, I don't have a choice."

Howard's MRI showed a bone bruise and Johnson said Howard's availability will be a game-time decision. Bell left the locker room on crutches.

"I felt it pop," he said. "It's pretty painful. But I've got to be optimistic. I want to play. We'll see how it feels in the morning."

Johnson said Howard's absence creates "a big void" on both ends of the court. Besides covering Marion, he's one of Dallas's best attackers. He scored six points in his six minutes; Dallas is 21-0 this season when he scores 20 points.

Although both teams were coming off Game 7 wins Monday night, there was no emotional or physical letdown either way. The track meet everyone expected was off and running from the start.