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Saturday, Jan. 13 5:30pm ET
Suns force 23 turnovers in victory

RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME FLOW

DALLAS (AP) -- The Dallas Mavericks don't have to look at the stat sheet to know the Phoenix Suns are the most turnover-hungry team in the NBA.

Howard Eisley
Mavericks guard Howard Eisley, bottom, collects a rebound behind Suns guard Jason Kidd.
The Suns forced the Mavericks into 23 turnovers for the second time this season and Cliff Robinson and Shawn Marion came through on offense in a 103-86 victory Saturday.

"If you want to be an elite team, you have to stop people," said Phoenix's Jason Kidd, who had 15 points and 11 assists. "We were able to make some plays on defense, which led to easy baskets."

Dallas' offense sputtered with point guard Steve Nash resting an injured hamstring and leading scorer Dirk Nowitzki playing through a stomach flu. Michael Finley tried taking over and while he had 27 points and six assists, he also had a season-worst nine turnovers.

"It seemed like about 50,000," Finley said. "We were in a funk offensively. We never got in synch."

Phoenix's best defense came in the middle as Marion had a season-high six steals and Rodney Rogers had five, his best this season. Marion also had 23 points and 11 rebounds, while Rogers added 14 points, eight rebounds and six assists.

"In a couple of moments in the first and second half when it appeared they may be gaining the momentum back, Rodney seemed like the guy that was making the big play," Suns coach Scott Skiles said.

Robinson, who had 21 points, scored 11 straight in the third quarter as Phoenix broke the game open with a 20-4 run that began after Dallas got within one late in the second quarter.

The Suns, who won for the fourth time in five games, also forced the Mavericks into 23 turnovers in a 22-point victory in November. Dallas hasn't made more than 20 in any other game this season.

Then again, Phoenix averages 15.7 turnovers, easily the most in the NBA.

"We knew their athleticism would affect us some, but we didn't think it would affect us this much," Mavericks interim coach Donnie Nelson said.

It might not have if Nash had been in the lineup. Dallas has dropped two straight without him after winning four in a row with him. The Mavs are 0-4 in games he's missed this season.

"You could see how much they needed him," Phoenix's Penny Hardaway said.

Dallas also might've shot better than 39 percent had Nowitzki been healthy. He got ill at halftime and missed the start of the third quarter. He still had 15 points and 13 rebounds.

Also among the disappointments for the Mavericks was letting down their third sellout crowd this season.

"We didn't display the kind of team we have," Finley said.

Phoenix might have pulled away earlier had it not struggled from 3-point range, shooting just 2-for-16.

Still, the Suns had more than enough to improve to 22-10, putting them 10 games above .500 for the first time this season.

"We're getting guys back and we're going to be at full strength," Kidd said. "This is going to be a fun team to watch."

Game notes
The Suns evened their road record at 7-7. ... After scoring at least 99 points in 14 straight games, Dallas has averaged 89 the last two. ... The Suns have won 29 of their last 35 games against the Mavs. ... Donnie Nelson said his father's recovery from prostate surgery is going well. His recovery regimen includes walks on the beach, resting on his back and getting telephone updates on Mavs games from the team's public relations director, Gregg Elkin. "He's feeling terrific," the younger Nelson said. "He still foresees a month, month and a half recovery time."
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RECAPS
Phoenix 103
Dallas 86

New York 91
Portland 78

Atlanta 108
LA Clippers 88

Indiana 87
Miami 71

Orlando 111
Golden State 94

Philadelphia 100
San Antonio 83

Sacramento 84
Houston 81

Milwaukee 115
New Jersey 81

Utah 111
LA Lakers 103

Vancouver 119
Cleveland 107


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