Phoenix Suns (32-22) at Dallas Mavericks (32-21), 9 p.m.
Sports Network | February 17, 2010
(Sports Network) - A pair of Western Conference contenders jockey for playoff position in north Texas Wednesday as the Dallas Mavericks play host to the Phoenix Suns.
The new-look Mavs lost for the sixth time in eight games in Oklahoma City on Tuesday when Kevin Durant extended his streak of scoring 25 or more points to 26 games when he netted 25 in the Thunder's 99-86 win over Dallas.
Dirk Nowitzki scored 24 points to lead the Mavericks, who still lead the Southwest Division by one game over San Antonio despite their poor play recently.
Dallas pulled off a blockbuster deal with Washington right before the All-Star break that brought forward Caron Butler, center Brendan Haywood and guard DeShawn Stevenson to the Mavericks.
Butler, the centerpiece of the deal, played 31 minutes and had 13 points and six rebounds last night, while Haywood played 15 minutes off the bench and had seven points and six boards. The Mavericks shot a putrid 32.3 percent from the field for the game and 7-of-21 from three-point range.
The team also got some bad news on the injury front. Center Erick Dampier suffered an open dislocation of his right middle finger against the Thunder and remained in Oklahoma City to have the injury surgically closed. Dampier is expected back in Dallas sometime today but no timetable has been set for his return.
The Suns, meanwhile, came out of the All-Star break in winning fashion last night when Jason Richardson had the hot hand, going 12-for-17 from the field for 27 points in a 109-95 road win over Memphis.
Amare Stoudemire added 21 points and 10 rebounds, while Robin Lopez also contributed a double-double with 18 points and 10 boards as Phoenix got back to its winning ways after seeing a five-game win streak stopped prior to the All-Star break.
The Suns, who have won five straight as the visitor, are in a virtual tie with Oklahoma City for the fifth spot in the West, just one-half game behind Dallas. Phoenix hasn't won six in a row away from the desert since a 10-game winning streak from Dec. 31, 2006-Jan. 28, 2007.
