PHOENIX (Ticker) -- Before heading to Denver for the
All-Star Game, Steve Nash will get to face his former team
again.
Nash recorded 17 points and 18 assists to lead the Phoenix Suns
to a 107-101 win over the Dallas Mavericks on November 16.
The teams meet for the second time this season on Thursday
night.
Nash signed as a free agent with the Suns in the offseason after
spending six years with the Mavericks.
Tied for the best record in the NBA with the San Antonio Spurs,
the Suns have a 7 1/2-game lead in the Pacific Division while
the second-place Mavericks are five games behind the Spurs.
Phoenix has won five of its last six games and is 10-2 following
a season-high six-game losing streak. The highest scoring team
in the league posted a 136-128 home victory over the Utah Jazz
on Monday.
Nash tied a season-high with 18 assists to stretch his streak of
double-digit assist games to 10. Earlier this season, Nash,
the league leader in assists, had a streak of 11 games with 10
or more assists.
Fellow All-Star Amare Stoudemire collected 42 points and 12
points in the victory. Stoudemire scored 34 points in the first
meeting with the Mavericks.
Dallas has been impressive during its current road swing,
winning the first three games in Sacramento, Seattle and Golden
State.
Dirk Nowitzki, who will also be playing in Sunday's All-Star
Game in Denver, collected 35 points, 11 rebounds and five
assists in Tuesday's win at Golden State. Former All-Star Michel
Finley added 24 points.