DALLAS, May 13 (UPI) -- Amare Stoudemire poured in 37 points Friday night as Phoenix pulled away late to take the series lead with a 119-102 win over Dallas.
The Mavericks trailed by just one midway through the final period before the Suns ran off 14 straight points to take a 2-1 advantage in the conference semifinals.
Dallas, which gave back homecourt advantage to Phoenix, will host Game 4 on Sunday.
Steve Nash made a free throw with 5:31 to play to give the Suns a two-point lead and Dallas came downcourt with a chance to tie.
But over the next 75 seconds the Mavericks missed three shots while Shawn Marion and Jim Jackson both hit three-pointers for Phoenix to put the Suns in front by eight.
Dallas never recovered.
The Suns won without shooting guard Joe Johnson, the team's second leading scorer who suffered a broken orbital bone during the second game of the series.
Nash added 26 points, Marion had 20 and Jackson 18 for the Suns, who bounced back from their first playoff loss. Dallas was led by 21 points from Dirk Nowitzki.
