Dallas, TX – Shawn Marion scored 29 points against his former 87, on Monday night.
The Mavericks started a four-game homestand without their best player, who is nursing a sore right knee. Nowitzki is expected to sit at least two more games and could return against San Antonio on Sunday.
Marion, who played his first eight-plus NBA season for Phoenix, scored 17 of his 29 points in the second half as Dallas pulled away for its eighth win in 10 games.
Ian Mahinmi added 17 points and Jason Terry scored 12 in the victory, both off the bench.
Grant Hill and Marcin Gortat had 19 points apiece to lead the Suns, who went 2-3 on a five-game road trip. They had a two-game winning streak and have lost six of eight. Shannon Brown contributed 14 points off the bench while Gortat grabbed 17 rebounds, Steve Nash had 12 assists and Markieff Morris added 11 boards.