Williams helps Mavs win without Nowitzki, 91-78 over Suns
DALLAS (AP) — Deron Williams scored 27 points and the Dallas Mavericks won without Dirk Nowitzki, surging past the lowly Phoenix Suns 91-78 Sunday night.
Dwight Powell had six straight points for all his scoring to give the Mavericks the lead for good in the fourth quarter.
Nowitzki sat out the opener of a back-to-back set and the first of Dallas' five games in seven nights. The Mavericks were hoping they could rest their 37-year-old leading scorer and still beat a team with 13 straight road losses.
Dallas did that thanks to a 23-5 run over the final 9 minutes and gave up its fewest points in the fourth quarter this season, outscoring Phoenix 23-9.
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.
Rookie guard Devin Booker led the Suns in scoring for the third straight game with 19 points.