The Phoenix Suns rallied to beat the host Dallas Mavericks 130-126 in overtime and advance to the National Basketball Association Western Conference finals for the first time in 12 years.
Regular season Most Valuable Player Steve Nash scored 39 points, and Shawn Marion added 38 to lead the Suns Friday.
Phoenix erased a 16-point deficit in the second half, and took the lead midway through the fourth quarter, only to fall behind again late in regulation.
Nash - who played for Dallas last season - forced overtime on a three-point basket with five seconds left. He and Marion then combined for 18 of the Suns' 19 points in the five-minute extra session.
Phoenix won the hard-fought, best-of-seven series 4-2. The offense-heavy Suns host the tough defense of the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday in the opening game of the best-of-seven Western Conference finals.
The Eastern finals get under way Monday in Miami where Shaquille O'Neal and the Heat take on the NBA defending champion Detroit Pistons. The East and West winners will meet play for the NBA Championship.
Some information for this report provided by AP
