Phoenix 106, Dallas 86 (series tied, 2-2)
After dropping Game 1 at home, Dallas did what it needed to do in Game 3 – take back home court advantage. In Game 4, the Suns desperately needed a victory to avoid trailing 3-1 in the series, and with a win last night, they are tied, 2-2, heading back to Dallas. The game was closer than the final score would indcate. The Mavs trailed, 67-65, with 3:49 to play in the third quarter, but the Suns went on a 15-2 run over the next four and a half minutes to blow the game wide open. Raja Bell returned to the Phoenix lineup and gave the team an emotional lift, posting nine points, four rebounds and three assists in 30 minutes of play. More importantly, Bell’s return helped the Suns on the defensive end. Phoenix limited Dirk Nowitzki to just 11 points on 3-13 shooting, while the entire Dallas team shot just 42% from the floor. Bell’s presence in the starting lineup also put Leandro Barbosa back in his sixth man role, where he thrives. Barbosa led all scorers with 24 points on 10-13 shooting from the field. Expect the Suns to defend the same way in Game 5 – it’s up to the Mavs to make the appropriate adjustments offensively.