DALLAS (AP) -- After completing his second career triple-double,

Phoenix Suns center Boris Diaw credited his defense for his strong

play.

Diaw had 24 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, and helped limit

Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki to three points in the fourth quarter as the

Suns extended their winning streak to a season-high 10 games with a

115-107 victory over the Mavericks on Sunday.

"Right now the best part of my game is my defense," said the

6-foot-8 Diaw, who had his hands full guarding the 7-0 Nowitzki.

"I'm always guarding players who are bigger and stronger so I try

to use my quickness."

Steve Nash had 25 points and 11 assists, Shawn Marion had 22

points and 10 rebounds and Leandro Barbosa scored 20 points to help

the Suns end the Mavericks' club-record 16-game home winning

streak.

Nowitzki had 25 points and nine rebounds, but went 1-for-5 from

the field in the final quarter.

"They adjusted and double-teamed me," Nowitzki said. "I've

got to do a better job finding the open man. More than anything, we

know now we need a little more consistency for longer stretches."

Marquis Daniels added 22 points and Jason Terry had 21 points

for the Mavericks, who have lost two of three after winning 19 of

20. The two recent losses have come against Western Conference

powers San Antonio and Phoenix.

"We can't panic," Daniels said. "We still feel confident of

where we are. All good things must come to an end. We've got to

start a new (home winning streak)."

Five consecutive points from Diaw put the Suns ahead for good at

102-100 with 4:07 left. Barbosa's layup with 2:57 left and Nash's

3-pointer with 2:25 remaining extended the lead to 107-100.

Dallas got within 109-107 on Terry's 3-pointer with 1:01 left.

However, Marion converted a layup, Raja Bell and Nash hit two

free throws each and the Suns finished the game with a 27-12 spurt

over the final 8:31.

Barbosa, Tim Thomas and Eddie House came off the bench to

outscore Dallas' reserves 16-2 in the fourth quarter, helping the

Suns rally from a 13-point third-quarter deficit.

"Our energy was great in the fourth quarter," Nash said. "The

second unit ... came in and gave us a big lift. We had greater

activity, primarily defensively. We made a lot of plays and played

a lot stickier, scrapped a little more."

Dallas was without Josh Howard (hamstring), Keith Van Horn

(sprained knee) and Devin Harris (thigh). Van Horn will be out for

at least two weeks while Howard and Harris are listed as

day-to-day.

Mavericks coach Avery Johnson had to go deeper into his bench,

starting Daniels and giving seldom-used Darrell Armstrong 11

minutes.

"Guys get hurt and other guys have got to pull their weight and

pick up the slack," Dallas' Adrian Griffin said. "We don't make

excuses. Obviously we are better when everyone is healthy."

Phoenix remains without injured inside players Amare Stoudemire

(knee), Kurt Thomas (foot stress fracture) and Brian Grant (knee).

Dallas closed the first half with a 13-4 run for a 62-51 lead at

the break.

The Mavericks held a 42-20 edge in points in the paint in the

first half, but the Suns had a 28-26 inside scoring advantage in

the second half. Dallas finished with a season-high 68 points in

the paint.Game notes
Diaw's other triple-double came on Jan. 31 against

Philadelphia. Diaw finished one assist shy of another triple-double

in his previous game against Orlando. ... Mavericks owner Mark

Cuban watched the first quarter in a tuxedo rather than in his

customary jeans and T-shirt before leaving via private jet for the

Academy Awards in Hollywood. A movie produced by Cuban, "Good

Night and Good Luck," was up for six nominations. ... Nowitzki has

12,605 career points, moving past Derek Harper for third most in

franchise history.