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Suns-Mavericks Preview

Feb 17, 2010 - 6:25 AM By BRETT HUSTON STATS Writer

Phoenix (31-22) at Dallas (32-20), 9:00 p.m. EDT

Trade rumors are surrounding the Phoenix Suns leading up to Thursday's deadline, but those didn't seem to have any negative impact during their first game following the All-Star break.

After trotting out their revamped roster for the first time, the Dallas Mavericks still appear to have some work to do.

Phoenix can win a sixth straight road game and pass stumbling Dallas in the Western Conference standings when they wrap up their season series Wednesday night at American Airlines Center.

The Mavericks (32-21) and Suns (32-22) were active in trade talks during the NBA's All-Star weekend in Dallas, but it was the Mavs who made the big move, acquiring Caron Butler, Brendan Haywood and DeShawn Stevenson from Washington in a seven-player deal.

While Dallas' trade was made with contending this season in mind, rumors have swirled that Phoenix is considering a trade of Amare Stoudemire. That potential move that would almost certainly bring the money-conscious Suns under the luxury-tax threshold, but would be unlikely to yield a similar return for the five-time All-Star.

"I don't know if it is a distraction, but obviously, I think anybody would be kidding themselves if they said it didn't have some effect on an individual," coach Alvin Gentry said, later adding: "As long as he's here and on our team, we'll continue to play him."

Whether Stoudemire remains with the Suns after Thursday remains to be seen, but they're looking tough to beat with him. Stoudemire had 21 points and 10 boards and Steve Nash totaled 16 assists Tuesday in a 109-95 win in Memphis.

Since a 112-106 home win over the Mavericks on Jan. 28, the Suns are 6-1.

"We came out very focused," Stoudemire said. "We've been playing well the last seven games, except for some little snippets against Portland (a 108-101 loss last Wednesday). We came out with the intensity we showed in that five-game winning streak."

It looked like Dallas' trade would pay early dividends Tuesday in Oklahoma City. Butler had 10 first-half points and the Mavericks built a 12-point lead, but the Thunder held Dallas to 32 after halftime in a 99-86 win.

"We knew it was going to take some time, so you've got to have a short memory on this one," said Dirk Nowitzki, who was 2 for 12 in the second half. "I think you can see the potential, especially there in the first quarter."

Nowitzki has averaged 32.8 points during Dallas' four-game home winning streak against Phoenix, one it would love to extend considering Wednesday's winner will earn the head-to-head tiebreaker.

It might be easier to do with Haywood in the fold. Starting center Erick Dampier dislocated the middle finger on his right hand late in the fourth quarter Tuesday and is expected to have surgery, leaving him out indefinitely.

Haywood could have his hands full inside with Robin Lopez, who's averaged 12.8 points since being named a starter Jan. 18, but in the win over Dallas last month, backup Louis Amundson (12 points) provided a spark in leading a fourth-quarter comeback while Stoudemire sat on the bench.

The Mavericks will also want to do a better job on Richardson, who's averaged 21.0 points in the first two meetings.

Richardson had a team-high 27 points Tuesday as Phoenix improved to 18-2 when he scores 17 or more. One of those losses came in Dallas on Dec. 8, 102-101 as Richardson tallied 25.

"When (Richardson) plays good for us, we're really, really hard to beat," Gentry said. "He's a key, key guy for us."

The Suns haven't won six straight on the road since a 10-game run from Dec. 31, 2006-Jan. 28, 2007.