December 18th, 2010 
Stephen Rhodes 
Posted in 
As Steve Nash goes, so do the Phoenix Suns.
The Suns would realize on Friday night during Friday night’s game against the Dallas Mavericks just how valuable he is. During the first quarter, Nash collided with Mavericks center Tyson Chandler while going for a loose ball. Nash would land awkwardly on his neck and for a short time, lose the feeling in his extremities. He would not return.
Dallas capitalized on Nash’s absence as they took over in the second quarter, easily dismantling Phoenix 106-91 at American Airlines Center.
Even with Nash’s absence, the Suns managed to take a three-point lead going into the second quarter. But Caron Butler’s seven points sparked a 22-6 Mavericks outburst sandwiching the end of the second and beginning of the third quarter, allowing Dallas to take a 70-48 lead with 5:58 left in the period.
They would expand their lead to 80-59 advantage entering the fourth quarter and would never look back.
Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry shared high scoring honors for the Mavericks with 18 points apiece – with Nowitzki grabbing 5 rebounds and dishing out 2 assists while Terry grabbed 3 boards, dished out 6 assists along with 2 steals. Butler added 17 with 7 rebounds, an assist, a steal and a block.
The Suns were led by Hakim Warrick from off the bench, scoring 15 with 14 rebounds and a block while Goran Dragic added 14 with 3 rebounds, 10 assists and a steal.
Dallas (21-5) now makes a tour of Florida when they visit the Miami Heat on Monday night while Phoenix (12-13) goes to Oklahoma City to face the Thunder for a Sunday night tilt.
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