Nowitzki sits again as Mavericks lose to Suns

Nowitzki sits again as Mavericks lose to Suns

Published Oct. 17, 2012 10:21 p.m. ET

DALLAS (AP) -- Jared Dudley scored 10 of his 16 points in the third quarter and the Phoenix Suns beat the Dallas Mavericks 100-94 Wednesday night.

The Suns made 75 percent of their shots in the third quarter, outscoring the Mavericks 32-20.

Dudley, the longest-tenured Suns player after the departures of Steve Nash and Grant Hill, hit 7 of 9 shots. Goran Dragic added 12 points to help Phoenix win its second straight preseason game.

Dallas' Chris Kaman scored 16 points and Vince Carter added 15 points.

Dallas star Dirk Nowitzki missed his third straight preseason game with a swollen right knee.

The 11-time All-Star said Monday he will limit workouts to time in the pool and on the elliptical machine over the next few days. He wants to avoid surgery and hopes the reduced workload will bring down the swelling.

The Suns made 12 of 16 shots in the third to take an 81-74 lead after the quarter.

Dudley made a 3-pointer to tie the game at 61.

Dragic, who signed with Phoenix in the offseason and will replace Nash at point guard, hit a 12-footer to give the Suns the lead for good at 65-63 with 7:30 left in the third.

Dudley made a reverse layup to stretch Phoenix's lead to seven, and Dragic hit a 3-pointer to give the Suns an 81-71 advantage.

Dallas got within a basket in the final minute. Ike Diogu had a dunk and Sebastian Telfair hit a pair of free throws to close out things for Phoenix.

Wesley Johnson had 11 points and Marcin Gortat added 10 for the Suns.

Mavericks reserve guard Delonte West played after being reinstated from a brief suspension.

After Monday's 123-104 win over Houston, Dallas coach Rick Carlisle suspended West without offering any details. The ban was lifted Tuesday night after the ninth-year guard met with Carlisle and president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson.

West entered the game midway through the first quarter and finished with seven points and four assists in 19 minutes. He also went into the stands early in the fourth quarter trying to save a loose ball.

O.J. Mayo had 14 points and Elton Brand added 11 for the Mavericks.

Dahntay Jones and Mayo finished an 8-0 run with consecutive 3-pointers to give the Mavericks a 54-49 halftime lead.

Mavericks reserve guard Rodrigue Beaubois missed his third straight game with a left ankle sprain.

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