The games seem to be much more dramatic these days in the NBA, as the playoff approaches. Dirk Nowitzki had a 32 point game against the Suns, Sunday in Phoenix, snatching the victory with 105 – 98.

Shaquille O’Neal, Amare Stoudemire and Steve Nash were not able to stop the Mavs, who seemed to be a team on a mission. Amare had 31 points, Nash14 points and 10 assists and Shaq also had a good game with 13 points and 13 rebounds. Alongside Nowitzki, who played his third game after a week of recovery involving a sprained knee and ankle, Josh Howard contributed with 24 points and Brandon Bass with 19 for the win.

The Suns were not able to find a solution for the smothering defense which made them sink in a 0-16 points run, over a period of almost 8 minutes, in which 12 shots were missed. 

"Everything was good and for whatever reason, the lights went out, and we couldn't get back in it," Suns coach Mike D'Antoni said according to the Associated Press.

The Mavericks proved that they will definitely be a fierce competitor in the playoffs, especially now with their newest addition to the team, Hall of Famer Jason Kidd, who has returned to Dallas, with big plans, after 10 seasons.

The only concern is whether the team will manage to continue the great display of basketball without significant rhythm changes.

At this point the Dallas team finds itself just above the eighth-placed Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference.