?????????????????????????? ?

You knew it had to be the Phoenix Suns’ night; after all, on Tuesday night against the Dallas Mavericks, they shot 56.9% from the floor and held the Mavericks to 40% shooting.? Also factor in the fact that Dallas was undermanned, and the Suns emerged victorious, 109-97, at US Airways Center.

Despite Phoenix’s hot shooting, the first half was very evenly played by both squads as Dallas took a slim 53-52 lead into halftime.? Dallas quickly regressed as they shot a horrible 29% from the floor in the third quarter while the Suns took a 77-73 lead, with Leandro Barbosa scoring on his own rebound with a second left in the quarter.? The Suns’ Amare Stoudemire and Barbosa?scored to begin the fourth quarter to put Phoenix ahead 81-73 with 11:21 left in the game.

Boris Diaw’s four-point play (Diaw scored on a goaltending call, while Dallas’ Eddie Jones was whistled for a foul) put the Suns ahead 91-84 with 7:03 remaining; as a result of that play, Jones was assessed a technical foul, of which Phoenix’s Steve Nash made the technical free throw and Diaw a free throw of his own.? Stoudemire made a 3-point play, then Barbosa made a layup, enlarging Phoenix’s lead to 100-91 with 3:22 to play; after Dallas’ Dirk Nowitski made a basket, the Suns’ Diaw made a jumper and Barbosa made another layup, putting Phoenix ahead to stay, 104-93.

Phoenix’s leading scorer was Stoudemire and Barbosa from off the bench with 26 points each, with Stoudemire grabbing 3 rebounds, with a steal and 2 blocked shots.? Barbosa grabbed 6 boards, dished out an assist and had a steal; Nash scored 24 with 6 rebounds, 13 assists and a blocked shot, while Diaw added 19 with 8 rebounds, 5 assists, a steal and 3 blocked shots.

Dallas was led by Nowitski with 36 points with 12 rebounds and 4 assists, while Jason Terry scored 29 with 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals.? Phoenix (37-16), after the All-Star break, continues their homestand by hosting the Los Angeles Lakers next Wednesday; Dallas’ (35-18) next game is next Wednesday, when they travel to New Orleans to face the Hornets.