PHOENIX (AP) -Steve Nash had 24 points and 13 assists and the Phoenix Suns pulled away in the final quarter to beat the weary and short-handed Dallas Mavericks 109-97 on Friday night.
Amare Stoudemire and Leandro Barbosa scored 26 apiece and Boris Diaw 19 Leandro Barbosa for the Suns, who shot 57 percent and improved to 3-2 since Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks were sent to Miami for Shaquille O’Neal.
O’Neal, sidelined with a hip injury, is scheduled to make his Phoenix debut next Wednesday against his old team, the Los Angeles Lakers.
Dirk Nowitzki scored 36 points and Jason Terry 29 for the Mavericks, who were without Josh Howard, Jerry Stackhouse and Devin Harris because of injuries.
The Mavericks were playing their fourth game in five nights – a day after they were close to acquiring All-Star guard Jason Kidd from New Jersey – but stayed close until the Suns put it away with an 11-2 run late in the final quarter.
Bulls 99, Heat 92
CHICAGO (AP) – Kirk Hinrich scored 24 points to lead Chicago and send Miami to its 24th loss in 25 games, despite solid outings by Dwyane Wade and Shawn Marion.
Wade scored 30 points and Marion had 23 in his third game with Miami since the deal that sent Shaquille O’Neal to Phoenix. But it wasn’t enough to prevent the Heat from dropping their ninth straight.
Joe Smith had 19 points and 11 rebounds for Chicago and Andres Nocioni scored 18. Sefolosho added 17 points and 12 rebounds. The Bulls also got 10 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks from Thomas, who started in Ben Wallace’s place. Wallace missed the game because of a death in his family.
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