• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Mavericks look to move closer to clinching West's top seed

Apr 1, 2007 - 1:48 PM Dallas (61-11) at Phoenix (54-18) 3:30 pm EDT

PHOENIX (Ticker) -- The Phoenix Suns thought they were closing in on the Dallas Mavericks. But since their double-overtime victory at Dallas a little more than two weeks ago, it has been the Mavericks who have gotten separation.

The Suns have split their eight games since that win at Dallas and look to keep their slim hopes of securing the top spot in the Western Conference alive when the teams meet on Sunday.

Dallas holds a seven-game lead over Phoenix for the West's No. 1 seed with 10 games to play.

On March 14, the Suns posted a 129-127 double-overtime victory over the Mavericks. Steve Nash had 32 points, 16 assists and eight rebounds and Amare Stoudemire collected 41 points and 10 rebounds for the Suns.

After Mavericks' MVP candidate Dirk Nowitzki made just 1-of-2 free throws, Nash hit the game-tying 3-pointer in the final seconds of the fourth quarter.

Nowitzki also missed a possible game-winning jumper at the end of regulation and a potential game-tying shot at the end of the second overtime.

With the win, the Suns had posted an 11-1 record since the All-Star break to pull within 2 1/2 games of the Mavericks for first place in the West and the NBA's best record.

But since then, Dallas has taken control of the race, winning nine straight games. The Mavericks are coming off a 105-103 victory over New York on Friday as Nowitzki scored 17 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter.

Phoenix is looking to hold off surging San Antonio for the second spot. The Suns, who posted a 125-108 victory over Denver on Friday, are two games ahead of the Spurs.