Dallas signed John Celestand to a 1 year, non-guaranteed contract. Dallas at Phoenix (October 13) [note: my notes and comments are based purely on listening to the game on the radio - it wasn't on TV and I wasn't there (thus, no scatter shooting or much player analysis)] The game started out closely contested as both teams had their starters (that were available) on the court. Dallas led 16-11 with 6 minutes left and Phoenix then scored the next 13 points to go up 24-16 with 2:40 left. Howard Eisley suffered a sprained right ankle in the quarter and did not return. He is questionable for tonight's game vs San Antonio. The game pace was fairly slow as a half court game was being played. Phoenix led 35-24 after 1. The Mavs' defense was still lacking as Phoenix was shooting a high percentage for most of the 1st half (at 64% at one point). Another sign of the Mavs' poor defense was the high number of fouls they were committing. Both Christian Laettner and Greg Buckner had 3 fouls each early into the 2nd quarter. Phoenix had a number of their rookies on the court in the 2nd and Dallas had Eduardo Najera, Courtney Alexander, and Donnell Harvey on the court at times during the 2nd. Phoenix was able to build their lead up to 47-31 with 5:50 remaining. Steve Nash hit a layup at the buzzer and Phoenix led 56-48 at the half. Phoenix shot 57% FG and Dallas shot 44% FG. Paul McPherson had 10 points including 4-4 FG, Ruben Garces had 10 points, Shawn Bradley had 10 points (all in the 1st), and Dirk Nowitzki had 10 points and 5 rebounds. Shawn Marion left the game during the 3rd quarter with a right thigh bruise and did not return. Phoenix was able to maintain around a 10 point lead for the quarter and led 79-69 after 3. Phoenix led 82-73 early in the 4th. Dallas went on a 21-2 run to go up 92-84 with 4 minutes left as Dallas had Michael Finley, Nash, Bradley, Najera, and Buckner on the court while Phoenix only had vet Rodney Rogers (who fouled out with 4:30 left) to go with rookies Justin Love, Garces, Daniel Santiago, and McPherson on the court. The Mavs were able to hang on to the lead against the rookies and won 104-94. Though the Mavs did get the win, it was more due to Phoenix coach Scott Skiles wanting to play the rookies rather than preserving the win. Phoenix's starting players out-played the Mavs' starting players. The Mavs' starting players were just able to beat up on Phoenix's rookies. Shawn Bradley had a solid game (20 points including 9-13 FG and 10 rebounds) and Eduardo Najera continued to play well when on the court. He was hustling and even dived into the stands to save a loose ball and got 2 steals. Dallas Mavericks 104, Phoenix Suns 94 at Phoenix (October 13) 1st 2nd 3rd 4th - Final 2FG 3FG FG% FT% Dallas 24 24 21 35 - 104 .479 .333 .459 .846 Phoenix 35 21 23 15 - 94 .444 .500 .451 .650 Halftime: Phoenix 56-48 3rd Q: Phoenix 79-69 Technicals: None Refs: Tommy Nunez, Jack Nies, Pat Fraher Attendance: 16,264 (cap 19,023) Did not play due to injury: Gary Trent (strained left hip), Etan Thomas (sprained right big toe), Anfernee Hardaway, Rex Chapman, Tom Gugliotta, Corie Blount, Tony Delk Dallas Mavericks REB Player MIN FGM-FGA 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA PTS O-T AST TO PF STL BLK Michael Finley 38 10-24 1-6 3-4 24 2-4 6 3 3 1 0 Dirk Nowitzki 27 5-9 2-2 0-0 12 1-7 0 2 6 3 0 Shawn Bradley 26 9-13 0-0 2-2 20 4-10 0 2 3 2 1 Hubert Davis 20 1-3 1-2 0-0 3 1-2 2 0 1 0 0 Howard Eisley 8 0-2 0-1 0-0 0 0-0 1 0 2 0 0 Eduardo Najera 22 3-4 0-0 2-3 8 0-2 0 1 0 2 1 Steve Nash 33 3-4 0-0 7-8 13 3-5 12 6 2 2 0 Christian Laettner 16 2-9 0-0 2-2 6 2-3 1 2 5 0 1 Courtney Alexander 12 2-8 0-0 2-2 6 1-1 0 1 2 0 0 Greg Buckner 25 4-6 0-1 3-3 11 1-4 4 0 6 1 0 Donnell Harvey 4 0-1 0-0 1-2 1 0-0 0 0 1 1 0 John Celestand 9 0-2 0-0 0-0 0 0-0 1 0 0 0 0 Totals 48 39-85 4-12 22-26 104 15-38 27 18 31 12 3 Phoenix Suns REB Player MIN FGM-FGA 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA PTS O-T AST TO PF STL BLK Shawn Marion 12 4-6 0-0 1-2 9 1-3 0 0 0 1 1 Clifford Robinson 24 6-11 3-3 3-4 18 2-4 1 0 1 0 0 Chris Dudley 15 3-3 0-0 0-0 6 1-4 1 1 2 0 1 Mario Elie 16 1-1 0-0 0-0 2 0-0 1 0 0 0 0 Jason Kidd 24 2-10 0-1 4-4 8 2-7 10 1 3 3 0 Rodney Rogers 23 1-5 0-0 0-0 2 1-4 2 5 6 0 0 Paul McPherson 26 4-6 0-1 5-8 13 4-4 1 1 4 0 1 Daniel Santiago 22 3-6 0-0 4-6 10 1-4 0 3 2 2 2 Ruben Garces 21 3-6 0-0 6-11 12 3-5 0 2 5 1 2 DeJuan Wheat 18 1-5 0-1 2-2 4 0-2 0 4 1 1 0 Iakovos Tsakalidis 11 1-2 0-0 0-0 2 0-1 0 1 0 0 3 Justin Love 12 1-6 0-1 0-0 2 1-1 2 3 3 1 0 Reed Rawlings 6 1-1 1-1 1-3 4 0-0 0 1 1 2 0 Carlos Daniel 10 1-3 0-0 0-0 2 0-1 0 1 1 0 0 Totals 48 32-71 4-8 26-40 94 16-40 18 23 29 11 10 patricia