Mavericks Look to Even Series in Game 2

The Dallas Mavericks already knew the Phoenix Suns were fast.

After watching Steve Nash, Shawn Marion and their running mates whizz past them in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals, the Mavs have a much better understanding of how quickly and relentlessly those guys race down the court.

''They got whatever they wanted,'' Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki said Thursday.

''They got like 100 points in transition,'' he added.

Actually, it was only 32, but it was still the most Dallas has allowed all season. And it was a major reason why Phoenix pulled out a 121-118 victory Wednesday night.

Any hopes the Mavericks had about the Suns' legs feeling heavy after having gone the distance in each of the first two rounds faded quickly.

Running as often on shots that went in as those that didn't, Phoenix scored 14 of its 35 first-quarter points on fast breaks.

By halftime, the Suns had 20 of their 62 points that way - and the Mavericks had a jarring reminder that they were no longer facing the San Antonio Spurs.

''You can talk about it all you want in a meeting or on the court, but it's difficult adjusting your game,'' Nowitzki said.

''We've just got to get it in our heads that you can never relax no matter what happens. If it's a foul, a made basket, a miss - wherever you are on the court, you have to get back,'' he added.

Dallas slowed Phoenix enough in the second half to take a nine-point lead with 3:43 left. Had the Mavs not committed four turnovers in the last 77 seconds or if Boris Diaw had missed a turnaround jumper with 0.5 seconds left, they would've withstood the Suns' open-court blitz.

The Mavericks look to tie the series in Game 2. Can these Texans do it against a Phoenix Suns team led by reigning MVP, Steve Nash? Bet on Bodog now.