Gritty Mavs top Suns

PHOENIX – The first two games of the Western Conference finals between Dallas and Phoenix were all about grace and style.

Game 3 was about toughness. And when emotions flared Sunday night, the Mavericks proved grittier than the Suns.

Sparked by a first-half shoving match between Dallas guard Jason Terry and Phoenix forward Tim Thomas, the Mavericks defeated Phoenix 95-88 to take a 2-1 series lead.

Flexing their defensive muscle, the Mavericks limited the NBA’s most potent attack to a playoff-low in points. The Mavs overcame an 11-point first-half deficit and regained the home-court advantage they lost in the series opener.

“We just battled for 48 minutes,” Dallas coach Avery Johnson said. “Teams are so evenly matched at this time of year. It comes down to will. This team is very resilient.”

The Mavericks are two victories away from the first NBA Finals appearance in franchise history.

Dirk Nowitzki had 28 points and 17 rebounds for the Mavs, and Josh Howard added 22 points and 12 rebounds.

Game 4 is Tuesday night in Phoenix.

The Suns hadn’t lost consecutive games since they dropped three in a row to the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round. They lost their second straight game without Raja Bell, who is out with a strained left calf, and fell to 1-5 without Bell in the regular season and playoffs.

Throughout the playoffs, the Suns have performed best when they play with emotion and energy. They lacked both in Game 3, and Suns point guard Steve Nash took his teammates to task for it.

“We’re out there with our shoulders slumped, and we’re not smiling,” said Nash, who led the Suns with 21 points and seven assists. “We’re not fighting. We’re not, you know, playing with the necessary fire it takes to win. I think that’s the most disappointing thing is just the way we’re going out there and playing.”

Tempers flared late in the first half when Howard was called for a flagrant foul for hitting Thomas in the face as the Phoenix forward drove to the basket. As Thomas walked to the foul line, he and Terry exchanged shoves, and both players were assessed technicals.

Terry had been suspended for one game for throwing a punch in the second round against San Antonio.

“My plan tonight was to come out extremely aggressive,” Terry said.

Thomas made both free throws to give Phoenix a 52-42 lead with 2:05 left in the half. But that would be the high point for the Suns. After the scuffle, the Mavericks scored the last five points of the quarter to cut it to 52-47 at halftime.

Dallas kept rolling after intermission, outscoring the Suns 10-2 to take a 57-54 lead. The Mavs cited their defense as the turning point.

“We came out in the second half and really put together some stops, which helped us get a lead and take momentum,” Terry said.

The Mavs consistently forced the Suns into a half-court game.

“I know it’s a cliche, but our defense really did beat our offense,” Nowitzki said.