HoopWatch

If the NBA Western Conference Finals were to start, the Phoenix would surely advance. That is if the top two teams of the league would meet. The Suns have no problem with their confidence if they were to face the Mavericks. They thrashed Dallas with an emphatic 126-104 victory, a whopping 22-point win.

The Suns pulled away in the final quarter after 13 ties and nine lead changes from the first quarter to the third. Brazilian Leandro Barbosa led all scorers with 29 points for the Suns. Shawn Marion had 20 points and 3 blocks. Amare Stoudemire added 24, Boris Diaw contributed 16 points and five assists, including a behind-the-back pass to Stoudemire that highlighted the second period. Two-time MVP Steve Nash had 23 points and 11 assists.

Dirk Nowitzki, meanwhile, struggled for the Mavericks. He had 21 points on just 6-for-18 shooting. It was Josh Howard who topscored for Dallas with 28.

The Suns went 6-for-7 from three-point range in the second half. They hit 12 for the game. With the win, Phoenix tied the season series against Dallas, 2-2, and they have swagger-edge.

Phoenix just needs to get past San Antonio for them to go back to the West Finals for the third straight year. And if they do so, they have a big chance of beating Dallas in a best-of-seven series. They’ve got the Mavericks figured out already.