Dallas – One game after learning the hard way how much they rely on Dirk Nowitzki, the Dallas Mavericks got a tremendous reminder of why leaning on him is usually a good thing.
Nowitzki shook off his worst game in months by scoring 50 points – including 15 consecutively in the fourth quarter to turn a close game into a rout – to help the Mavs move within a victory of their first NBA Finals with a 117-101 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Thursday night.
The Mavericks lead the Western Conference final 3-2 with Game 6 set for Saturday night in Phoenix.
Nowitzki finished with 22 points in the fourth quarter. He set a club record for points in a playoff game and tied Kobe Bryant for the most by anyone this postseason.
“We can’t relax now, as we did in Game 4,” Nowitzki said.
In that game, Nowitzki made only 3-of-13 shot for 11 points.
