Defense does it as Mavs tie series

TIED UP - Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki (above) scored 30 points in the Mavericks' 105-98 Game 2 victory. DALLAS (AP) - When Steve Nash was running the offense in Dallas, the Mavericks didn't pay much attention to defense.

Game 2 of the Western Conference finals showed just how much things have changed.

Dirk Nowitzki had 30 points, 14 rebounds and six assists, and Josh Howard scored 29 points, but the main reason the Mavericks beat the Suns 105-98 was their defense - yes, defense.

Dallas limited Phoenix to a season-low 17 points in the first quarter, then made stops on six of seven possessions during a 12-2 run early in the fourth quarter that put the Mavs ahead for good.

Game 3 will be Sunday night in Phoenix at 7:30 p.m. Central time.

With Friday's game still within reach, the Suns missed 13 of 18 shots until Nash scored a meaningless basket in the closing

seconds. It was his only points and his only attempt of the second half, which perhaps best sums up the way Dallas turned things around after allowing 121 points in the opener.

"We were just trying to contain him," said Mavericks coach Avery Johnson, who used to back up Nash in Dallas. "I think the guys who were on him took a little bit more of a one-on-one challenge."

Nash had 27 points and 16 assists in the opener. He had 16 and 11 this time, with only three assists in the second half.

"In hindsight, I would've maybe been more aggressive," Nash said. "But I felt like I was making the right play. I was drawing two players and throwing it to the open man."

Johnson blasted his team Thursday, primarily for allowing 32 fast-break points in Game 1. Phoenix had only 21 this time, and plummeted from 72 points in the paint to 46.

"We were just better at getting back defensively," said Jason Terry, who scored six of his 18 points during the game-changing spurt.

Phoenix had the attitude of happy to have gotten one in Texas.

Now, the Suns head home for Game 3 on tonight with the familiar feeling of being tied 1-1. Phoenix has lost all three of its Game 2s this postseason and five straight dating to last season.

Howard was considered iffy to even play because of a bone bruise that knocked him out of Game 1 in the opening minutes.

He scored 13 in the third quarter and finished one shy of his career high. The Mavericks are now 22-0 this season when he scores at least 20.