Williams Helps Mavs Win Without Nowitzki, 91-78 Over Suns

Suns: Coach Jeff Hornacek suggested that guards Brandon Knight (left groin strain) and Ronnie Price (right big toe surgery) might sit out until the All-Star break to take advantage of the extra time off. Knight missed his sixth straight game against Dallas, and Price has been out since January 8.

Dallas plays at Atlanta on Monday night. In having split its last six games, Dallas owns victories over the Nets, Minnesota and the Los Angeles Lakers – teams that are a combined 35-110 – while losing to contenders Oklahoma City, Houston and Golden State.

“D-Will got up this morning and had some kind of allergic reaction, and he didn’t come to shootaround”, coach Rick Carlisle said. Nowitzki has been fortunate enough to play with some real team players that loved the two-man game and had passing skills that few others possessed. “Everybody knows when Dirk is out we have to step up a little bit and fill his void scoring the basketball”, Williams told reporters.

The Mavericks (28-22) went on a 21-3 run in the fourth quarter to pull away and finish off a three-game sweep of the season series with Phoenix.

With the Mavs buckling down on defense, they were able to outscore the Suns 23-9 in the fourth quarter.

The lead was still five after Markieff Morris hit a fadeaway jumper early in the fourth quarter. “How many many superstars would you tell and make fun of?” The forward is averaging 24.3 points over a six-game span and gone 26 of 44 from 3-point range in his last eight.

Powell’s points turned a 75-74 deficit into an 80-75 lead, with Raymond Felton assisting on a pair of baskets before Powell made two free throws. He’s got the mentality of a perimeter player in many ways. The veteran center put up 16 points and 12 rebounds on Friday after missing the previous three games with a leg injury and impresses his teammates with his all-around game.

But nothing is a given in professional sports, and the Mavericks have had issues playing down to their competition at times this season.