Second-round Results: Phoenix | Dallas
First-round Results: Phoenix | Dallas

WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS RESULTS (HOME team in CAPS)

Dallas wins 4-2 SU (3-3 ATS)
UNDER 4-2

6/3/06 - Game 6: Dallas 102, PHOENIX 93 (ATS winner: Dallas +1.5 | UNDER 211.5)
Recap | Boxscore
SUMMARY: Phoenix led by 16 points after the first quarter and by as many as 18 in the second quarter before Dallas charged back to take control of the game after halftime.  The Mavs outscored the Suns 63-42 in the second half, using a 17-2 run in the third quarter to take their first lead since 2-0 at 68-66.  From there, Dallas simply rolled in advancing to the NBA Finals for the very first time.  The team's poor offensive performance in the first half (39 points) and strong defensive effort in the second half helped push the total UNDER.

6/1/06 - Game 5: DALLAS 117, Phoenix 101 (ATS winner: Dallas -6.5 | OVER 208.5)
Recap | Boxscore
SUMMARY: The Mavs went on a 10-0 run after leading by just one point heading into the fourth quarter and rolled to an easy victory behind 50 points from star Dirk Nowtizki.  Dallas outscored Phoenix 35-20 in the fourth behind 22 points by Nowitzki alone to help the total go OVER.

5/30/06 - Game 4: PHOENIX 106, Dallas 86 (ATS winner: Phoenix +1 | UNDER 212.5)
Recap | Boxscore
SUMMARY: Phoenix ended the third quarter on a 12-2 run, increasing a 67-65 lead to 79-67 entering the fourth.  Dallas never recovered and trailed by as many as 25 points down the stretch.  The Mavs tied their second-lowest scoring output of the playoffs in helping the total go UNDER for the third straight game.

5/28/06 - Game 3: Dallas 95, PHOENIX 88 (ATS winner: Dallas -1 | UNDER 221.5)
Recap | Boxscore
SUMMARY: A defensive gem by Dallas held the Suns to their lowest-scoring total in the playoffs for an easy UNDER.  The Mavs overcame an 11-point first-half deficit and took control in the third quarter with a 10-2 run after the break.  Phoenix scored a series-low 16 points in the third but tied the game at 72 in the fourth before Dallas fought back with an 11-2 run to finish off the Suns off.

5/26/06 - Game 2: DALLAS 105, Phoenix 98 (ATS winner: Phoenix +8.5 | UNDER 222.5)
Recap | Boxscore
SUMMARY: The Mavs held the Suns to a season-low 17 points in the first quarter and forced them to miss 13 of their last 19 shots to earn the victory and force the game UNDER.  However, Phoenix point guard Steve Nash scored what seemed like a meaningless driving layup to most people with six seconds left after Dallas led 105-96.  That basket covered the spread for those bettors who had the Suns at +7.5 or more, as the game closed at +8.5.

5/24/06 - Game 1: Phoenix 121, DALLAS 118 (ATS winner: Phoenix +6.5 | OVER 220)
Recap | Boxscore
SUMMARY: Dallas blew a 114-105 lead with 3:43 remaining, as two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash scored the next 10 points for the Suns to help them tie the game.  Devin Harris then hit the go-ahead shot for the Mavs with 4.8 seconds left, giving his team a brief 118-117 lead but leaving a little too much time on the clock.  Boris Diaw answered Harris with what turned out to be the game-winner for Phoenix from seven feet out with 0.5 seconds on the clock.  Dallas then called time-out to set up one final play and proceeded to throw the ball away before being forced to foul Tim Thomas, who scored the game's final points from the free-throw line.  The Suns had led the entire game until midway through the third quarter, forcing the pace in their favor throughout for an easy OVER.

REGULAR-SEASON RESULTS

Series tied 2-2 (2-2 ATS)
OVER 3-1

4/13/06 - PHOENIX 117, Dallas 104 (ATS winner: Phoenix -2.5 | OVER 217)
3/5/06 - Phoenix 115, DALLAS 107 (ATS winner: Phoenix +3 | OVER 214)
12/14/05 - DALLAS 102, Phoenix 96 (ATS winner: Dallas -4 | UNDER 205)
11/1/05 - Dallas 111, PHOENIX 108 2OT (ATS winner: Dallas -2 | OVER 212)

REGULAR-SEASON SERIES RECAP: The season series was split, with each team winning once on the other's home court.  Dirk Nowitzki averaged 29.5 points and 12 rebounds in the four meetings to lead the Mavs while NBA MVP Steve Nash averaged 20 points and nine assists for the Suns.  These teams also met in last year's second round, with Phoenix winning the series, 4-2.  The big difference between this year and last obviously is the absence of Amare Stoudemire, who dominated inside for the Suns.  Dallas won't have to worry about Stoudemire, but Nash still knows the Mavs well after playing with many of the them - including his good friend Nowitzki - just two years ago.  Phoenix only had Tim Thomas for the last meeting during the regular season as he was a late signee, and Leandro Barbosa missed the second meeting (a 102-96 Dallas victory) along with James Jones.