Suns edge Mavs in showdown of struggling teams
DALLAS -- Eric Bledsoe and Devin Booker combined for 48 points to lead the Phoenix Suns past the Dallas Mavericks 102-95 Thursday night at American Airlines Center.
The showdown between two of the worst teams in the Western Conference went back and forth until Bledsoe nailed a 3-pointer for a 96-93 lead with 1:14 left. It was the 14th lead change in a game that also featured 11 ties.
The Suns (12-25) won consecutive games for the second time this season and also snapped a four-game losing streak to Dallas.
Bledsoe scored 26 points, with 12 coming in the last 6 1/2 minutes. His two 3-pointers were also made during the finishing kick, and he shot 9 of 16 from the floor for the game.
Booker carried the load in the third quarter with 11 points and finished with 22 on 9-of-17 shooting. He was a perfect on three 3-point attempts.
The Suns also got big contributions from reserves Brandon Knight (17 points) in his first game back from injury and Alex Len (14 points and seven rebounds).
Starting center Tyson Chandler corralled 18 rebounds, as the Suns dominated the glass with a 53-31 edge.
Deron Williams led the Mavs with 20 points and six rebounds. Harrison Barnes scored 19, but only had five points after halftime. Dirk Nowitzki had 13 points and seven boards.
The Mavericks (11-25) were dealing with the fallout of Andrew Bogut's apparent imminent departure. The veteran center expects to be either traded or sign with a new team after the season.
Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said earlier in the day that he hasn't been privy to trade discussions and has talked to president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson about re-signing Bogut.
Bogut, in the last year of his contract, said the team hasn't approached him to discuss an extension. He had no points or rebounds to go along with five fouls in 20 minutes off the bench.
Devin Harris had 12 points, including a 3-pointer at the third-quarter buzzer off a steal to give Dallas a 72-70 lead.
The Suns opened the second quarter with a 7-0 run to briefly surge ahead, but Barnes heated up and Dallas went into the locker room up 45-41. Barnes had 14 points on 7-9 shooting at the break.
Knight and Booker each scored eight for the Suns. Phoenix outrebounded the Mavs 27-19, but the visitors shot only 41.9 percent in the half.
NOTES: Mavs C Andrew Bogut said his time with the club is likely fleeting, acknowledging his departure would come by either a trade before the February deadline or free agency after the season. "The Mavs eventually have to start rebuilding, too," he said. "There's no point in bringing back a 33-year-old center if you're in rebuild mode. It's been a disappointing year for everybody, myself included. But it's one of those things; I very much highly doubt that I'll be back here next season just because I'm an expiring contract, a free agent, and I just don't see it."... Suns G Brandon Knight, the object of trade rumors, was active after missing one game with a sprained right wrist.