• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Suns, Mavericks set for desert clash

Jan 17, 2014 - 3:27 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Phoenix Suns halted a three-game losing streak last time out and will try for consecutive wins for the first time in 2014 when they welcome the Dallas Mavericks to US Airways Center Friday night.

The Suns had lost three in a row, all on the road, when they broke out of their slump with a 121-114 home win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night.

Gerald Green poured in 28 points with seven rebounds to lead the Suns. He only attempted five 3-pointers, which is pretty low for the Phoenix starting shooting guard.

"I just tried not to take as many 3-pointers as I normally do," Green said of his performance. "We just tried to limit all the mistakes."

Markieff Morris scored 24 points, Channing Frye had 20, and Goran Dragic recorded a double-double of 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Suns. P.J. Tucker netted 15 points in the win.

The game featured a little skirmish between LA's Nick Young and Alex Len of Phoenix midway through the second quarter. Young drove to the cup and Len fouled him, with the former falling hard to the floor.

A fracas ensued with Young shoving Len before the Morris twins coming to their teammates aid, standing in between the two players to keep the situation at bay. Young then swiped at Dragic and was immediately ejected along with Len, whose foul was ruled a flagrant-2.

Young was suspended for the Lakers, but no one was suspended for Phoenix. Fines were issued to Len and Marcus Morris.

Dallas had a three-game winning streak come to an end in heart-breaking fashion Wednesday night when they lost to the Los Angeles Clippers, 129-127, at Staples Center.

The Clippers trailed 123-106 with 4:49 remaining. The Mavs fell apart defensively and the Clips made some open looks and did damage at the free- throw line.

After Jamal Crawford made two free throws with 11.2 seconds left, the Mavs got the ball to Dirk Nowitzki, but he was double-teamed. He kicked to Jose Calderon, who missed an open 3-pointer and the Clips hung on for the victory.

"We made some really bad mental mistakes and they took advantage of them. We couldn't get stops down the stretch or play defense and that is the reason we lost," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said.

Nowitzki led Dallas with 27 points, Samuel Dalembert scored 20 and Calderon finished with 16. Shawn Marion returned from a injury absence and scored 14, followed by 13 apiece from Monta Ellis and Brandan Wright. Ellis also handed out 13 assists.

Phoenix beat the Mavs by 15 in Phoenix on Dec. 21, but Dallas has won 14 of the last 18 meetings. The Mavs have won five of the last seven as the visitor in this series.