PHOENIX -- There's been a lot of discussions about Rodrigue Beaubois picking up the slack at point guard in the absence of the injured Jason Kidd.
Delonte West showed why no one should forget about him, either.West poured in a season-high 25 points Monday night at US Airways Arena as the Dallas Mavericks rolled over the Phoenix Suns 122-99. In his second game back after sitting out Friday's game against Utah with a strained right calf, West made 9 of 12 shots, including 5 of 6 baskets from beyond the 3-point arc.West provided some excitement when he scored underneath the basket at the halftime buzzer, then drilled an 18-footer with 0.4 seconds left on the third-quarter clock to give the Mavs a 96-70 lead. Then, when Robin Lopez tried to rough up West in the fourth period, he responded with a jumper and a 3-point basket for a 108-81 Mavs' lead with 6:12 remaining in the game.Other than West, this was homecoming of sorts for Shawn Marion and Vince Carter. The two former Phoenix Suns combined for 41 points.It was the 13th victory in the last 17 games for the Mavs (14-8).Carter, who started at shooting guard and played last season for the Suns, tallied a season-high 21 points on 8 of 13 baskets including 5 of 7 from 3-point range."Vince has been a longtime starter at the [shooting guard] position," coach Rick Carlisle said. "He's bumped over and played some [small forward] certainly in his career."But he's another guy that can make plays, that can get shots for other people, that can create looks for himself. The good thing right now is he's gotten back healthy, and that's the biggest key."Marion tossed in 20 points on 9 of 15 shots.The 122 points were a season high for the Mavs. They also shot 55.2 percent from the floor and were 14 of 27 from 3-point range.The Suns, who played without point guard Steve Nash -- he has a right thigh contusion -- shot 43.8 percent from the field.The Mavs had beaten the Suns twice this month in Dallas and have defeated them three times in 27 days."It's kind of unique," Carlisle said. "There's the familiarity aspect of it. In this season there's a lot of quirky things going on, so we've all got to accept the challenges that are before us and approach them with enthusiasm. That's where we're at."A 22-7 Mavs run padded the Mavs' lead to 77-54 with 8:17 left in the third period.Others who contributed for Dallas include Jason Terry (11 points) and Dirk Nowitzki, who had 10 points on 4-of-10 shooting in his second game back from a sore right knee.Dwain Price, 817-390-7760Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
